The Cables are not soulbound, so if they fail to resurrect but there is another Engineer with enough skill to use them, they can be passed to that player for another try.
NPCs cannot be resurrected, but you can resurrect pets and other players.
As of Patch 2.3, this item is no longer a trinket and can be used from a bag slot.
They have a success rate of about 50% and are an improved version of Goblin Jumper Cables.
These are useful if you are class that cannot resurrect normally, but are able to escape or avoid a fight. (Rogues, Hunters and Mages (with Invisibility) would be a good example)
Both types of the engineer made Jumper Cables now share a cooldown. It was never intended to allow a player to use jumper cables XL and jumper cables within the same period of time.
Jumper Cables no longer have a chance to break when they fail