question about car/boat jump starter

zenno

hello. my cars battery went low today and couldn't start the car. so a friend of mine gave me a 3 in 1 jump starter/air compressor charger sold by home living, there is no model number or manufacturer name for this thing.

also on the instructions it says connect the red positive clip to the red positive battery but then it says do not connect the black negative clip to the negative of the battery it says connect it to a non moving metal part of the engine ?. I never heard of that setup as you normally set red to red and black to black on the battery. does anyone know why this jump starter says this as it's the first jump starter i ever seen that doesn't allow you to connect the black crocodile claw to black negative on the battery. thanks.

MugMugs

Common suggestion. Potential consequence is spark spark bang bang and then the invariable "ah sh1t" as your disfigured face melts. :pac:

Justin10

Your meant to do it that way with jump leads too.

zenno

MugMugs wrote: »

Common suggestion. Potential consequence is spark spark bang bang and then the invariable "ah sh1t" as your disfigured face melts. :pac:

I understand now what you mean.

Your meant to do it that way with jump leads too.

well thats a first I never new that and I thought I new a fair bit about cars.:rolleyes:

MugMugs

zenno wrote: »

MugMugs wrote: »

Common suggestion. Potential consequence is spark spark bang bang and then the invariable "ah sh1t" as your disfigured face melts. :pac:

still doesn't answer my question

Sorry. Final neg on the flat battery completes the circuit. This can cause a spark. Gases potentially leak from batteries which could ignite and flash and hurt you. Was told the ECU could be damaged too but I don't know why or if that's true. First point is though. Hence the melting face.

bonzodog2

If you do the battery +ve first, then the charger -ve to some earthy part of the engine, it lessens the risk of a spark igniting hydrogen gas possibly emmited by the battery. Not very likely, but we don't want another Hindenburg, do we ? Their lawyers certainly don't. I guess they're just making sure, like those notices telling you not to try drying your pet cat in the microwave, or warnings that hot coffee may be hot, or that bags of nuts may contain traces of nuts.

zenno

MugMugs wrote: »

Sorry. Final neg on the flat battery completes the circuit. This can cause a spark. Gases potentially leak from batteries which could ignite and flash and hurt you. Was told the ECU could be damaged too but I don't know why or if that's true. First point is though. Hence the melting face.

my above post updated.

yeah well i'm glad i asked this question so i will do it that way in future, makes a lot of sense, i just assumed both connect directly to the battey terminals.

thanks for the quick replies folks. :pac:

MugMugs

You're not meant to dry pets in the microwave? :eek:

zenno

bonzodog2 wrote: »

If you do the battery +ve first, then the charger -ve to some earthy part of the engine, it lessens the risk of a spark igniting hydrogen gas possibly emmited by the battery. Not very likely, but we don't want another Hindenburg, do we ? Their lawyers certainly don't. I guess they're just making sure, like those notices telling you not to try drying your pet cat in the microwave, or warnings that hot coffee may be hot, or that bags of nuts may contain traces of nuts.

I see now lol, ok better safe than sorry cause if there is a slight possibility of explosion then no point in taking chances.

corktina

no, only cook them