The simple answer to this question is yes or maybe. How? This guide will tell you about it.
Helping somebody start their car with a jump start can have dangerous consequences. While you try to help someone, you need to be careful and do it the right way. A wrong connection may cause a short circuit and damage your car’s electrical system. It may also cause the battery to explode. So, if done wrong, a jump start can be bad for your vehicle.
If you need to give a jump start to another car. This article will help you do it the right way. Read more to find out!
Connecting the Cables
Before jump-starting a car, you need to have a thorough look at the dead car’s battery. Find out the negative and positive terminals. Then check your cables. Make sure the cables are not broken, worn out, or twisted. This might cause a short in the cables and cause damage to the working car.
When making the connections, you need to first connect the positive terminal of the working car to the positive terminal of the dead car’s battery. Make sure the connecters fix properly and aren’t lose. Then take the other cable, connect the negative terminal of the working car to the negative terminal of the dead car’s battery. The last step is to connect another negative cable to the frame of the dead car. Make sure that you connect to an unpainted metal part. It should be far from the car’s battery.
Why Positive’s First?
But why do we connect the positive terminals first? The answer is to avoid a short circuit. The negative terminal is the live terminal from where the electrons start to flow. So, you need to connect the positive first, and then the negative. You should also avoid keeping the cables close to each other. While keeping them close and trying to open the dead car’s hood. They might touch and cause a short or explosion in the working car’s battery.
Is it Necessary to Connect the Last Negative to Car Body?
Connecting the last negative cable to the car’s frame is necessary. It reduces the risk of damage to the dead battery. You never know what goes wrong with a car’s battery. The battery might be discharged, overcharged, or there may be a leakage from the dead battery too. When you connect the last negative to the metal frame. It might cause a spark. That is why you connect the cable as far as possible from the battery to avoid ignition and prevent an explosion.
Important Note:
Before jump-starting a car, you need to ensure you are following these steps:
- Use quality jumper cables that have spike protection.
- Make sure that the jumper cables have proper crocodile connectors.
- If a car’s
battery seems broken or produces a smell like a rotten egg. Do not try and jump
-start it. Replace the battery.
Keep your car’s battery charged and in good condition. It will not just keep your car’s electrical run smooth but will also help you clear the MOT class 7.
