DeWalt Jump Starter offers portable roadside assistance
We've spent some time on this site expressing our enduring love for portable starters. Even this morning, our video editor Austin uses one to work. Today, we're looking at the DeWalt Portable Jump Starter and Power Station. The unit stands out for several features, including some diagnostic feedback.
DeWalt Jump Starter and Power Station Notable Features
Launcher
We love portable starters. Unlike the more traditional quick start method of "depleting" the battery, which usually requires another car and a few minutes, a jump starter eliminates the need for another car. Portable models eliminate the need for external power supplies.
This DeWalt DXAEPS14 jump starter delivers 1600 peak amps and 750 amps from its SLA battery. That's enough to get most V8s going, and it's pretty high compared to other portables.
When that time comes, the jumper cables are relatively easy to pull out of the side storage compartment. From there, you simply match the color on the cable to the battery terminal, turn on the device, and turn on your car or truck's ignition. Once you're up and running, the cables re-wrap around the unit to keep everything neat and organized.
Alternator Check
The really interesting thing about this unit is the alternator check. Like jumping a battery, an alternator check is simple. Press the alternator check button on the DXAEPS14 and connect to a fully charged battery with the engine running. The system will begin evaluating your alternator voltage range. If everything is OK, the LCD screen will display an "Alt Good" indication. If something is wrong, the system will warn you.
Before running the alternator check, turn off all accessories and anything that might draw power from the alternator. After the initial check is complete, turn all accessories back on (except A/C or defrost) and run the check again.
tire inflator
Pairing an inflator with a starter is a brilliant move that solves two of the most common problems you have with one tool. Similar to the LokiThor JA301 we reviewed earlier, the DeWalt DXAEPS14 also includes it.
DeWalt uses what they call a SureFit nozzle on the free end of the compressor hose. This screws onto your valve stem instead of the clamping system that comes with most inflators. The rubber gasket in the clip has a tendency to wear and leak over time. DeWalt's setup may last longer.
You can inflate from 3 PSI all the way up to 120 PSI. As with other cordless inflators we've tested, you can set a target pressure on the controls, and the compressor will automatically stop when it reaches that pressure.
When the job is done, you can loop the hose back onto the holster for easy storage. DeWalt also includes needles for inflating sport balls, but does not include adapters for pool inflators or air mattresses.
power Bank
DeWalt Jump Starter and Power Station also offers products that can be used as portable power supplies for sensitive electronic equipment and some limited AC power usage. It has four USB ports and two 120V outlets for plugging in small appliances.
The four USB ports provide a total of 6.2A, while the dual 120V AC outlets provide a total of 500W.
It's handy in a pinch if you're stuck and need to charge your phone, but remember, you're running out of emergency power.
power supply
You may have mentioned the SLA battery reference earlier in the comment. If you're not familiar with battery technology, that stands for Sealed Lead Acid – a modern lead acid battery. While they're far better than the batteries we used decades ago, the choice has consequences.
We've used a lot of starters over the last few years and one of the great things about them is that they're so light and compact that you can actually store some of them in some oversized glove boxes if you need to. DeWalt is not that kind of starter.
Weighing over 20 pounds, it's not outrageously large, but it's about the size of your car battery. It won't have any problem hanging in your trunk, but the glove box is out of the question, and it'll take up some major space anywhere in your cab.
There is also the issue of charging time. We haven't run out of it to see how long it takes to recharge, but DeWalt warned us to give it 40 hours of initial charge time. From there, a full charge cycle takes close to 10 hours. Contrast this with the hours it takes to charge a standard jump pack…well, it's going to take a lot longer than that.
You also need to maintain it by keeping it charged. Lead-acid batteries drain themselves faster than Li-ion batteries, and if drained too deeply or too often, your overall lifespan may be limited.
other features
- Backlit LCD screen
- LED Area Lights
The DeWalt DXAEPS14 is available now at The Home Depot for $199. It comes with a 1-year warranty and a 1-year free service agreement.
the bottom line
DeWalt packed some impressive features into their starters, and the starter amps are pretty solid. The ability to jump, inflate, test the alternator, and charge your device via USB or AC outlet covers more bases than most. Overall, it does what it was designed to do. What you need to decide is whether the feature set is worth the trade-off compared to the lithium-ion option.
DeWalt Jump Starter and Power Station Specifications
- Model: DeWalt DXAEPS14
- Amperage: 1600 peak
- Wattage: 500W
- Battery: Sealed lead acid
- Dimensions (H x D): 12.5 x 13.5 inches
- Weight: 20.9 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: $199