A portable jump starter is a must-have essential for all motorists. It can juice up your dead car battery whenever it dies on you on the road or even when you are at home. Recently, has one of your portable jump starters stopped working? Wondering whether you can fix it? Here is a guide on how to fix a portable jump starter. So Let’s start with the causes, why a portable jump starter is not working.
Why Portable Jump Starter Not Working?
In most cases, a spoilt portable jump starter is mostly caused by a faulty battery or damaged terminals. You can only know this when you open up the jump starter. There are, however, some apparent conditions that might cause the malfunctioning of a portable jump starter. A good example is, if the cables appear worn out, there might be a disconnection along the line. A replacement of the jumper cables might be a quick fix for this problem.
Additionally, the plastic surrounding the jump starter might also melt with extended use. And therefore it might stop working. All in all, for you to know the problem, you must open up the portable jump starter. You will need a regular set of tool kits such as screws and knives to repair a portable Jump-starter.
How to Fix a Portable Jump Starter?
1. Start by Opening Up The Portable Jump Starter
Due to its small size, conducting exploratory surgery on the jump starter might be a bit tricky. However, you can look for where the screws are located and open them up. If there aren’t any screws present, then look for openings joining the parts of the portable jump starter. With the help of a knife, make shallow cuts and try opening them. Be gentle so that you don’t expose the blade to the circuit board or jack. Doing this might make the problem more severe and complicated. A small flat-blade screwdriver can help you pry out parts easily without causing damage. Don’t force open any parts.
2. Analyze The Inside Parts
This is where it gets a bit technical. The inside elements of a portable jump starter differ from one manufacturer to another. However, there will be a circuit board, terminals, and battery cells. Look for anything that might look out of the ordinary, such as the accumulation of plastic wrappings on circuit boards, terminals, or the ends of the battery cells.
Take more interest on the batteries, if they look over-drained. Replacing them can make your jump starter begin working as they were. Before you close up the setup, you can always remove any plastic remains from the circuit board with a knife or screwdriver. Look for wires that might have been eaten up or have become loose. Ensure that they are also well connected from the batteries to the circuit board.
3. Battery replacement of Portable Jump Starter
It will depend on the make of your portable jump starter. In some of the jump starters, the batteries are located at the top opening of the portable jump starter near the circuit board. In others, they are placed at the bottom. During the jump starter battery replacement, you must be familiar with the connection sequence. You can take a photograph of the connection before dismantling them so that later on, you can reconnect it back to how it was.
You might also find a compatible match with batteries. You can quickly get this from your nearest electronics shop. The connection of the battery terminals also has to be soldered. You, therefore, need to have a soldering gun with you.
4. Replacing The Connector Jack
When you open up your portable jump starter, you might notice that the connector jack can be melted on one end. This is mostly due to exposure to electric currents and high temperatures. If the connector jack for your portable jump starter has melted, it might have also exposed the wires beneath it. You, therefore, have to look for any signs of wire damage. Start by cutting it entirely and analyze the thick gauge wires beneath it.
To replace the connector jack, you will need to have another connector jack. You can salvage this from another portable jump starter or buy it from an electronic shop. You can then solder the exposed terminal wires and out the connector jack back to its original place.
5. Insulating and Binding The Portable Jump Starter
Once you are sure that everything is working as it should be. The Best portable jump starter should be insulated and loose hanging elements bound together. You can use a silicone adhesive that is strong enough to ensure all parts stick well. Don’t forget to secure the connector jack so that you can avoid having it melt from the excess heat in the future. You can use a tie wrap to do this.
Now that everything is in place, with the assistance of silicone adhesive, you can do some finishing touches. Coat the entire charge board if possible and let it stick for the next day or so.
6. Recharge & Test a Portable Jump Starter Pack
You can then recharge your portable jump starters till they reach the 100% mark. Take them out for a test drive in your car and see if it works. If you had carried out the above steps carefully, then chances are the portable jump starters should be working. If not, the problem might have been with the circuit board, and you might have to take it to a technician for further repair. However, underlying issues with your portable jump starter, such as damaged wires, worn-out battery cells, and melted connector jacks, can be easily fixed at home. If your portable jump starter has undergone lots of repairs, then it could be high time you get yourself a new one.
