Jump starters are emergency appliances that you usually keep stored in your vehicle. You must charge them from an AC source before they can be used. The charge is stored in an internal battery. Most batteries are lead-acid, although there are now lithium-ion battery jump starters made, too.
Most jump starters have other accessories that can be of use in an emergency. Some have compressors that can pump up a partly flat tire. Many jump starters have a light or a power outlet, which could be a combination of 12V DC, USB, or AC.
It’s important to remember that a jump starter won’t solve a poor battery issue or an alternator issue. Get your electrical system checked out when you get back to town.
Top 3 Schumacher Jump Starters
 Schumacher SJ1332 1200 Peak Amp Jump Starter |  Schumacher DSR114 DSR Pro 2200 Peak Amp Jump Starter |  Schumacher SJ1289 1200 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter |
|
| Rating |  | |  |
| Price |  |  | |
| Battery voltage | 12V | 12V | 12V |
| Peak amp | 1200A | 2200A | 1200A |
| Mains charging | Through separate cord | Through separate cord | Through separate cord |
| USB ports | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Battery indicator | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 12V output socket | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air compressor | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| AC sockets | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Work light | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Weight | 19.7 pounds | 24.5 pounds | 22.8 pounds |
| Dimensions | 14 x 13 x 13 inches | 20.8 x 14.6 x 6.3 inches | 12.5 x 13.3 x 1.5 inches |
Best Schumacher Jump Starters
1. Schumacher SJ1332 1200 Peak Amp Jump Starter
The Schumacher SJ1332 1200 peak amp jump starter is a medium weight entry into the jump starter market. Its 1200 peak amp delivery capability means that it should reliably be able to jump-start most small to medium-sized vehicle engines.
This Schumacher jump starter has other useful accessories that make it an emergency extra to be kept in your vehicle, especially if you are going on a long trip or into remote parts of the country. The Schumacher SJ1332 1200A jump starter has a 150 psi air compressor for filling tires that are flat or down in pressure. You can also fill things like bicycle tires and air beds.
Additional accessories include a 12V socket for 12V devices, a USB socket for recharging small electronic devices, and a clear digital display that shows the charge status of the internal 12V battery of the jump starter and how well charged up is the battery in your vehicle.
Topping off the accessories is a bright, in-built LED light.
Pros
- Can start most light to moderately sized engines
- Has emergency air compressor for pumping up tires
- Has USB and 12V DC outlets
- Good in-built LED light
- Clear digital readout of battery state of charge and voltage
Cons
- Quite heavy and bulky for its capabilities
- Some reviewers say it takes a long time to recharge
Verdict
This is a handy jump starter that will do the job and provide peace of mind as an emergency accessory in your vehicle if you can fit it in. Don’t forget that, like all jump starters, you should keep an eye on its internal battery state of charge as the jump starter must be recharged using mains power every month or so, even if it hasn’t been used.
Check Price at Amazon2. Schumacher DSR114 DSR Pro 2200 Peak Amp Jump Starter
The Schumacher DSR114 is one of the most powerful jump starters on the market and not much larger than other powerful jump starters in size or weight. This is the sort of jump starter that could be handy if you drive a large truck. There are other jump starters that can do the job just as well for smaller vehicles like trucks and SUVs.
It doesn’t have quite the same variety of accessories as some the Schumacher jump starters. There is no air compressor, for example, for filling tires that are too flat. It does have some power outlets that can be used, including a single 12V socket and a single USB socket for recharging or powering small devices.
Pros
- Can jump start any size engine
- Powerful 2200A charge available
- Digital display for monitoring state of charge of batteries
- 12V socket for powering 12V devices
- 1 USB socket for small electronic device charging
Cons
- No air compressor
- No light
Verdict
If you have a large vehicle that needs a lot of cranking amps to get its engine started, then this jump starter is a perfect choice. It is quite a heavy item, so if you have a smaller vehicle, it may be worth looking at a smaller, lighter jump starter.
Check Price at Amazon3. Schumacher SJ1289 1200 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter
The Schumacher SJ1289 1200 peak amp jump starter is an all-round good choice. Its cranking amps, rated at 1200A, are adequate for all except the largest of engine sizes.
It has an amazing range of accessories, including an emergency 100 PSI air compressor, 12v, USB, and AC sockets.
The AC socket is on a dual-purpose plug, so it can be used to provide AC power using the machine’s internal inverter as well as to plug into a wall socket or extension cord for recharging.
The Schumacher SJ1289 has a Flexi light if you break down in the night time and a digital readout It shows the charge status of the internal battery and the battery that it is attached to.
Pros
- Powerful jump-starting charge rate with 1200A of cranking capacity
- 100 PSI air compressor
- Flexi light
- 200W AC socket running off an internal inverter
- 4 USB sockets and a 12V socket for small device charging or powering
- Digital readout for monitoring state of charge of internal and external batteries
Cons
- Heavy and bulky for the size of cranking capacity
Verdict
This is an all-round Schumacher jump starter with just about every accessory you could wish for, as well as the 1200A of cranking capacity. A handy emergency machine that you can use to jump-start your engine, refill tires, power any 12V, USB, or AC device and see what you are doing at night with the in-built flex light.
Check Price at Amazon4. Schumacher DSR119 DSR Pro 1800 Peak Amp Jump Starter
The Schumacher DSR119 is a no-nonsense powerful jump starter that will restart any size engine with its 1800 peak amp capacity. It is a fairly heavy and bulky machine, but if you have a truck, SUV, or other large vehicles that need some grunt to get your engine going again after a flat battery, then this will certainly do it.
This jump starter doesn’t come with any of the accessories you see on many other jump starters. What you see is what you get. There are no air compressors, power outlets, or fancy lights, just the ability to restart an engine.
The only real negative is that the monitoring of the internal 12V battery and the battery being recharged is a simple LED system, rather than a digital readout.
Pros
- Powerful 1800A jump-starting charge
- Can restart all sizes of engines
- LED indicators for monitoring battery state of charge
- Built-in power cord for recharging
Cons
- No air compressor
- Doesn’t come with light
- No power outlets
Verdict
This Schumacher jump starter is a powerful jump starter without the bells and whistles that other jump starters have. Its 1800A starting current capacity can recharge just about any size of the engine as long as the internal battery is recharged regularly.
Check Price at Amazon5. Schumacher SL1314 600 Peak Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter
The Schumacher SL1314 600 Peak Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter is unusual as it is far smaller and lighter than other jump starters. It is easy to store in a vehicle but may not have the cranking capacity to start any but the smallest of engines.
It has a12V lithium-ion battery, so it can be charged and discharged through more cycles than a conventional wet cell or AGM 12V battery.
This Schumacher jump starter has many useful accessories that can be used if you need auxiliary electrical power through the 2 USB sockets or to see at night with the built-in LED light.
The digital readout gives a clear idea of the state of charge of the internal battery.
Pros
- Very small and light in size
- Li-ion battery has a longer life span than ordinary wet cell batteries
- Digital readout
- 2 USB sockets for charging small electronic devices
Cons
- Only of use for small vehicles or motorcycles with 12V batteries
- No 12V or AC sockets
- No air compressor
Verdict
A small and easy to use jump starter for the very smallest of engine sizes.
Check Price at AmazonHow Many Amps Do You Need to Jump Start an Engine
Engines vary in the electrical power needed to start them. Generally, diesel engines need more cranking amps than similar sized petrol ones because they depend on good compression to start them. To choose a suitable jump starter, it is easiest to check the CCA (cold cranking amps) rating of the stating battery installed in your vehicle. You need a jump starter with equal or more amps than your own battery.
Note that to start an engine, the power needed is a function of volts and amps. A fully charged battery should be 12.7 volts. You are unlikely to start your engine if the jump starter internal battery or your own vehicle’s battery is less than 12.2V, which is half full. That’s why Schumacher jump starters with digital monitors are very useful.
Final thoughts
Schumacher jump starters vary widely in size from the smallest, the Schumacher SL1314 600 Peak Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter, right through to the bulky but extra powerful Schumacher DSR114 DSR Pro Series 12V DOE Jump Starter. You have a choice of accessories with air compressors, lights, sockets, and even an inverter fed AC socket for additional charging potential.
The most all-round Schumacher jump starter is the Schumacher SJ1289 1200 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter. This machine would be hard to beat for its combination of charging power and useful accessories ranging from an air compressor to USB, 12V, and AC sockets. It even has a light.
Note: Don’t forget that a jump starter is only as good as your vehicle’s electrical system and must be recharged regularly so that it can be relied upon in an emergency.