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1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter Crash Course
- Portable jump starters like the 1200A Shell provide the convenience of on-demand power when your car battery dies.
- Accommodates gasoline engines up to seven liters in displacement, suitable for almost all cars, trucks, and SUVs.
- Includes a built-in LED flashlight for jumping a car battery at night and a charging bank for a smartphone or tablet.
Automoblog Review & Evaluation Process
We received the 1200A Portable Jump Starter from Shell in the fall of 2021. While using the unit and writing this review, we kept three things in mind, outlined below.
1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter Review Summary
The 1200A is designed for vehicles with gasoline engines up to seven liters in displacement, which covers every late-model sedan, truck, SUV, and minivan. It can also jump vehicles with smaller displacement diesel engines (up to three liters).
This Shell portable jump starter is also great for winter emergency kits, especially since it has a built-in flashlight with an SOS sequence.
Although the jumper cables are a tad short for our liking, the clamps offer a firm bite and have a solid, heavy-duty feel. In addition to your vehicle, the 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter will accommodate motorcycles, snowmobiles, and personal watercraft.
The 1200A usually retails for about $130, not counting any deals or discounts. Below, we will cover the main features if you are in the market for a portable jump starter.
1200A Shell Jump Starter
As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases.
The 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter provides the convenience of on-demand power if your car battery dies.
Helpful features include a built-in LED flashlight, a charging bank for smartphones and tablets, and reverse polarity protection.
What Comes In The Box?
The 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter comes with jumper cables, a car charger (2.4A output), one USB-A to Micro USB cable, one Type-C to Type-C USB cable, an owner’s manual, a product warranty registration card, and a carrying case.
The integrated charging bank has two USB-A ports, an input/output Type-C port, and a micro USB port. The 12V jump port, where you connect the cables, is just to the side of the power button and battery level indicator (battery level for the Shell unit, not your car battery).
Charging
For optimal performance, Shell recommends charging the unit immediately after purchase, after each use, or every three months to prolong the internal battery life. Regular charging is preferred as it can take several hours to recharge if the internal battery is completely zapped.
To charge, simply connect the included Type-C cable to a USB power adaptor and plug it in. If you are on the go, you can charge the unit via the included car charger.
1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter Specs
- Weight: 3.1 lbs.
- Dimensions: 9.17 x 3.46 x 1.42 inches
- Amperage: 1200 amps
- Voltage: 12 volts
- Wattage: 10 watts
- Warranty: Two years
- Manufacturer Part Number: SH916WC
Jumper Cable Connector & Status Indicators
The jumper cable connector is enclosed in a black casing, complete with a status indicator light and a boost button (look for the little blue piece on the end of the casing that plugs into the actual Shell unit). When you attach the jumper cables to the Shell unit, the status indicator will blink green.
Once connected to your car battery, that light will turn solid, indicating you are okay to proceed with the jump start. Shell recommends not attempting to jump your vehicle more than four consecutive times.
If there is a connection issue, the Shell portable jump starter will alert you with visible and audible cues. If the green light is off and there is continuous beeping, it could mean a loose connection or reverse polarity (the positive and negative clamps are connected to the wrong battery terminals). There are additional notifications if the jump starter is running hot or at risk of short-circuiting.
The only downfall here is the short length of the jumper cables. Even a slight increase would be beneficial, especially as there is enough room inside the carrying case to accommodate longer cables. If your battery is tucked away under the hood, you might have to get creative in how you maneuver the unit with its shorter cables.
The Boost feature generates the highest possible current, but Shell recommends using this only when absolutely necessary. It’s advisable to attach the clamps first to your battery, then press the Boost button on the jumper cable connector.
Doing this will lessen the chances of accidentally touching the clamps (which will give off a spark) and damaging either the unit or your vehicle’s electrical system (or both).
Charging Bank & Flashlight
The unit’s charging bank can power other mobile devices with the included USB cords. During an emergency, the integrated charging bank will be worth its weight in gold. If you end up stranded due to a blizzard or car trouble, you can easily charge your phone or tablet with the 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter.
Likewise, the unit includes a built-in flashlight with four settings: a standard light, a white floodlight, a red strobe, and an SOS flash. Like the device charging capability, the flashlight settings would be invaluable during an emergency.
800A Verus 1200A: Which One Is Best?
The 800A and the 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starters (the one featured in this review) are similar in many ways.
Like the 1200A, the 800A has a flashlight and charging bank in case of an emergency, reverse polarity and overheat notifications, and a carrying case. Both units can handle a variety of other vehicles, including motorcycles, boats, campers, and snowmobiles.
Here is a quick look at the key differences between the two units:
Capacity & Capability
The 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter offers 16,000 mAh versus the 800A at 12,000 mAh. This is the most important difference between the two units.
The letters “mAh” stand for milliampere-hour, a standard unit of measurement that represents how long a battery can discharge its stored energy (i.e., how long it can last). On average, higher mAh is associated with longer battery life and more overall capability.
In terms of capability, the higher mAh of the 1200A unit allows it to jump gasoline engines as large as seven liters displacement, whereas the 800A will not handle anything over six liters. Likewise, the 1200A unit will accommodate diesel engines up to three liters. However, the 800A cannot jump a diesel engine over two liters in displacement.
If you drive a larger truck with a Duramax, Power Stroke, or Cummins, neither the 800A nor 1200A will cut the mustard. Consider upgrading to this Shell Rotella unit instead.
Size
The 800A is smaller than the 1200A (2.42 lbs. versus 3.1 lbs.), making it easier to stow.
Charging Time
Given its smaller size, the 800A will charge anywhere from an hour and a half to two and a half hours quicker than the larger 1200A. However, the 2.4A car charger only comes with the 1200A jump starter.
Making The Right Choice
Some of this will come down to necessity. For example, if you own a late-model GM truck or an SUV with the three-liter Duramax or a late-model F-150 with the three-liter Power Stroke, the 800A may not be enough if you need a jump. In that case, the 1200A is well worth the extra money.
The 1200A jump starter, with its higher mAh, will have a longer internal battery life, meaning it will better supply the necessary juice to your mobile devices via the charging bank in an emergency. All things being equal, the flashlight and emergency SOS lights will also run longer.
On the other hand, if you have a daily driver and only need something basic to jump your battery in a pinch, the 800A Shell portable jump starter will do the trick.
1200A Shell Jump Starter
As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases.
The 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter provides the convenience of on-demand power if your car battery dies.
Helpful features include a built-in LED flashlight, a charging bank for smartphones and tablets, and reverse polarity protection.
Is This Shell Portable Jump Starter Worth It?
The 1200A retails for around $130, not counting any deals or discounts. While your car battery may die only once in a blue moon, something like the 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter will have you covered. The integrated charging bank and flashlight add extra value.
While we enjoy having the 1200A Shell Portable Jump Starter, we are also fond of our NOCO GB40. Based on our experience, the GB40 is more robust than this Shell unit, as it has a harder protective casing. We prefer the clamp design of the GB40, and its internal battery seems to last longer.
That said, we are still grateful Shell sent us this portable jump starter to test out. We continue to use it and think it’s an excellent addition to a winter emergency kit. If you believe it’s the right portable jump starter for you, click the red “Best Price” button in the box above.
Carl Anthony is the Managing Editor of Automoblog and the host of AutoVision News Radio and AutoSens Insights. As a respected automotive industry thought leader, Carl has appeared on numerous podcasts and radio shows, including Wrench Nation, Cars Yeah, The Car Doctor, and Brains Byte Back, in addition to appearing as a regular contributor on MotorMouth Radio on WHPC 90.3 FM. His work can also be seen and heard 24/7 on the Automoblog YouTube channel.
Photos: Alex Hartman.
