AN APPARATUS FOR JUMP STARTING A VEHICLE

An apparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a battery and an alternator is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rechargeable power supply, an isolator electrically connected to said rechargeable power supply and configured for transitioning between a closed position to establish a low impedance electrical path between the rechargeable power supply and the alternator, via the vehicle battery, and an open position to close the electrical connection between the rechargeable power supply and the alternator, a cell voltage sensing and balancing circuit electrically connected to said a rechargeable power supply, and a controller electrically connected to said rechargeable power supply via said cell voltage sensing and balancing circuit, and electrically connected to said isolator, wherein the controller comprises a processor for processing digital data and a memory device coupled to the processor and configured for storing digital data including computer program code, wherein the processor is controlled by the computer program code to: (i) monitor a cell voltage in said rechargeable power supply via the cell voltage sensing and balancing circuit, and if the cell voltage is less than a first predetermined threshold voltage, cause the isolator to transition to the closed position to charge said rechargeable power supply from the alternator, if the cell voltage is greater than the first predetermined threshold voltage, cause the isolator to transition to the open position to close the electrical connection between said rechargeable power supply and the alternator; and (ii) when said rechargeable power supply has sufficient charge, cause the isolator to transition to the closed position to allow an electrical current to flow from said rechargeable power supply to the vehicle battery to jump start the vehicle via said low impedance electrical path.