Jumping with a jump pack

GoodLord

Jumping with a jump pack. The red cable goes to positive the black to negative or to a metal part? Which is right/best?

aujopimur

When you use the bodywork it avoids sparks near the battery, avoiding the risk of the battery gases going boom.

biko

Since you brought it up and will get a few different answers; there are 3 schools of thought. I've used all three with no issues.

• Donor red to receiver red and donor black to receiver black (from battery to battery)
• Donor red to receiver red and donor black to receiver metal (black to clean metal on receiver engine)
• Donor red to receiver metal and donor black to receiver metal (both go to engine and not battery)

Connecting battery to battery only is usually discouraged, particularly on old batteries, as any sparks may ignite leaking vapour from battery.
Connecting both leads to receiver engine metal takes longer (about 15 mins) and not everyone knows where to put the leads.
Connecting red to red and the black lead to a piece of clean engine metal is usually easiest.

GoodLord

biko wrote: »

Since you brought it up and will get a few different answers; there are 3 schools of thought. I've used all three with no issues.

• Donor red to receiver red and donor black to receiver black (from battery to battery)
• Donor red to receiver red and donor black to receiver metal (black to clean metal on receiver engine)
• Donor red to receiver metal and donor black to receiver metal (both go to engine and not battery)

Connecting battery to battery only is usually discouraged, particularly on old batteries, as any sparks may ignite leaking vapour from battery.
Connecting both leads to receiver engine metal takes longer (about 15 mins) and not everyone knows where to put the leads.
Connecting red to red and the black lead to a piece of clean engine metal is usually easiest.

where is the best place

jimgoose

GoodLord wrote: »

where is the best place

That depends. Many new-ish cars have a battery earth-point somewhere in the engine compartment, usually somewhere near one of the strut mounts. Failing that, any solid bit of engine that can be clamped by the jump-lead alligator clip will be alright.

aujopimur

Check your handbook, some newer cars have a procedure for jump starting, others must have the battery recharged off the car.

visual

Lead with my portable jump starter aren't very long so I alway use battery connectors red to red black to black. Impossible to go wrong unless your colour blind and event then I think you manage