Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter Review: Conveniently Jump Your Car without Calling for Service

The Lowdown

As much as I spend out in the woods away from people, the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter will be a perfect companion in my Jeep. I love that the case is super small, fits easily in my vehicle, and includes pretty much everything I might need to use the emergency power.

Overall
4.5

Pros

  • Compact case that doesn’t take up a lot of room
  • Easy to jump a dead vehicle battery
  • Tons of charging options for other devices
  • Wireless charging capabilities

Cons

  • It takes a long time to charge the battery completely

My vehicles always have jumper cables; whether to get my ride going or to help a stranded motorist, they are a handy tool to carry. What if there is no other vehicle around to jump the battery? That is where the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter comes into play.

The Shell jump starter features a high-capacity battery that can jump-start both gas and diesel engines. It comes in a convenient, compact carrying case that should fit in almost any vehicle. The case includes a smart and safe jumper cable for the vehicle battery, USB C to USB C cable, USB A-Micro cable, 2.4A car charger, and EVA storage case.

Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter kit

The Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter itself is quite compact for all it can do. It measures just under 9.25″ long, just under 3.5″ wide, and just under 1.5″ thick; imagine a portable phone battery on steroids.

I say this is compact because the entire case takes up considerably less space than a standard set of jumper cables, yet this product does so much more. Four blue lights indicate the charge level near the power button; these lights will also indicate when the unit is fully charged.

Holding down the power button turns on the light feature. There are four modes, including blinking white or red lights to be used in emergencies. This feature is super handy since it seems battery issues often happen in the dark. The lights are not super bright, but they are completely useful to get hooked up to a battery or warn oncoming traffic that you are stopped.

Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter

The end of the battery opposite the light includes all of the USB input/output ports. The Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter also serves as a portable battery for any device. Once again, perfect in an emergency or extended power outage.

Two USB A outputs are included on the sides, and there is one USB C port in the middle on the bottom. The USB C port can be used as an input or output charging port, and it offers fast charging for your devices. The included USB C to USB C cable is a great addition. Above that is a Micro USB port used only for charging the included battery. If your device uses wireless charging, you can simply set it on the lightning bolt symbol to charge wirelessly.

Ports on the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter

While all of these features are fantastic, the main reason to buy this product is to jump-start a drained battery, and the process is super easy for anyone. First, turn on the unit, then insert the jumper cable clamps connecter into the Jump Starter’s port; this port is on the side near the other USB ports. Next, you’ll connect the clamps to the vehicle’s battery and start the vehicle.

Hopefully, once the vehicle starts, its battery will recharge while the engine is running for the next trip — without you having to call for help or wait on someone to come along with jumper cables. There are plenty of safety features to ensure this will not harm your battery or vehicle.

Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter with jumper cables attached

As much as I spend out in the woods and away from people, the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter will be a perfect companion in my Jeep. I love that the case is super small, fits easily in my vehicle, and includes pretty much everything I might need to use the emergency power.

Fortunately, I have not yet had to utilize the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter’s emergency power to get my vehicle running, but it’s great to have peace of mind from that feature. Not only will I not leave home without it in my Jeep, but I am seriously considering buying one for my wife’s car and my son’s truck. We all know, dead batteries never wait until it is convenient.

Give yourself — and your loved ones — peace of mind, and get the Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter. The version I have is 16,000mAh, and it sells for $129; it can jump-start dead batteries on most vehicles (for gasoline engines up to 7 liters and diesel engines up to 3 liters.). It will also work with cars, trucks, motorbikes, ATVs, lawnmowers, and boats.

There are two other versions available, including the 12,000mAh model, which sells for $89; it can jump-start dead batteries on most vehicles (for gasoline engines up to 6 liters and diesel engines up to 2 liters). The largest is the 24,000mAh model, which sells for $169.99; it can jump-start dead batteries on most vehicles (for gasoline engines up to 11 liters and diesel engines up to 8 liters).

The Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter retails for $129; it is available from Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Compact case that doesn’t take up a lot of room; Easy to jump a dead vehicle battery; Tons of charging options for other devices; Wireless charging capabilities

What Needs Improvement: It takes a long time to charge the battery completely

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About the Author

Travis Ehrlich
Travis is a high school teacher and coach in a small South Texas town. His love for gadgets began at a very early age, and he has been a cross between a jock and a geek for most of his life. He has two boys and a wonderful wife who lets him be a gadget freak. He is a Mac convert and has drank the whole pitcher of Kool-Aid! He is also an avid guitar player and loves the outdoors, especially hunting with both a bow and rifle.

1 Comment on "Shell 1200A 12V Portable Lithium Jump Starter Review: Conveniently Jump Your Car without Calling for Service"

  1. This is awesome! I always worry about needed a jump when I travel and getting stuck alongside the road at 3am waiting for a tow truck. The price is much more reasonable than I was afraid it would be; definitely worth it for piece of mind.

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