Jump lead test

It is all too easy with today’s gadget-laden cars to come out in the morning and find a flat battery.

The solution to that dreaded ‘click’ as you twist the ignition key is a set of jump leads, because if you try to bump start your vehicle, it can damage your catalytic converter. With a pair of leads tucked in the boot, and the help of another driver and their car, you can be going again in only a few minutes.

So, which is the set to put in your boot? Despite all looking much the same, there are real differences in quality and performance. We hooked up seven to find the best buys.

The test

We checked how well each pair coped with a typical cranking current. First, we did a real-life test on a 2.3-litre petrol engine. We measured how warm the leads got – a key sign they are struggling – and the speed they cranked the engine.

The jump sets were used to power a continual load of 90 Amps – a typical starting current – and we measured how much voltage was lost along their length due to resistance in the cable. We also factored in practicalities like clamp quality, size, ease of connecting, lead lengths and how tricky they were to pack in their case.

Verdict

Jump leads don’t come much easier to use than the winning Halfords Heavy Duty cables.

They are electrically efficient, easy to use – thanks to slim clamps – and the neat plastic case makes them a doddle to pack away afterwards, too. They are also strong enough to handle most petrol and diesel cars that you are ever likely to own.

Screwfix’s 85886 performed incredibly well for a budget set, and the cracking price more than made up for the bulky clamps. Draper’s premium 54600 takes the final podium spot, thanks to electrical excellence and a generous five-metre length. But the hefty price means the tool giant couldn’t quite make the top two.

Contacts
Clarke: 01992 565300, www.clarkeinternational.com
Draper: 023 8049 4333, www.draper.co.uk
Halfords: 08457 626625, www.halfords.com
Kennedy: 0116 288 8000, www.cromwell.co.uk
Ring: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.co.uk
Screwfix: 0500 414141, www.screwfix.com