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OK I don't like to admit this, but I am afraid of jumper cables. I have no idea which color is supposed to go first and have the distinct impression that if I do it the wrong way, my car and I will blow up. Just came across this quick article at VIP website that explains how to use them. Thought there might be someone out there who would appreciate it as well! Connecting Jumper Cables
if you connect them wrong...it will just spark....normally the colors are on the battery will let you know where the red goes and where the black goes...you may need to ask someone..maybe a neighbor or something
Colored electrical tape works well too. As far as "just sparking" goes it's the sparking which ignites the hydrogen gas in the top of the battery and causes it to explode. Just sparking is not good. Reversing the connections can cause the cable ends to melt! You can actually weld with a car battery so they should ALWAYS be treated with care and respect. You should make the positive (red) + and negative(black)- connections on the dead battery first followed by the positive connection (red) to the good battery and make the last negative (black) connection away from the battery to the frame of the car or the engine. If the spark occurs away from the battery vents there is less chance of the hydrogen igniting. Get AAA and call them.
Status:
"ticking off Trolls, one at a time"
(set 20 days ago)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: West Michigan
7,355 posts, read 4,685,025 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417
i know a spark would cause me to jerk away...thus eliminating an explosion
You cannot "jerk" that fast. If Hydrogen is present and there is a spark (which happens at close to the speed of light) it will ignite and explode before the nerve impulse to jerk away will even reach your brain.
You cannot "jerk" that fast. If Hydrogen is present and there is a spark (which happens at close to the speed of light) it will ignite and explode before the nerve impulse to jerk away will even reach your brain.
that is so not true...where did you get that theory from
that is so not true...where did you get that theory from
anyway it has happened to me....
You should read at least the first two sentences of this information North Dakota State University. There isn't anyone here who will fool around with your safety.
that is so not true...where did you get that theory from
anyway it has happened to me....
Facts are facts. Bydand's statement if NOT a theory. You cannot react fast enough to avoid an explosion if hydrogen gas is present.It isn't always present so consider yourself fortunate it was not there in your case. Since you cannot smell it or see it you really are taking an unessessary risk by hooking up cables directly to the terminals. Do as you like. I have witnessed batteries explode, once sending a shard of plastic straight through a serviceman's cheek. He ended up with many stitches and a nasty scar. Luckily it was below his eye.
Good info on the website posted by Maine Writer too!
Status:
"ticking off Trolls, one at a time"
(set 20 days ago)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: West Michigan
7,355 posts, read 4,685,025 times
Reputation: 7471
Quote:
Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417
that is so not true...where did you get that theory from
anyway it has happened to me....
That is true, you just were lucky enough not to have hydrogen gas present from the battery.
The "theory " is basic middle school physics. guess you missed that day. Here is a few places to see how fast that particular reaction works. If you are faster than these, you are the Worlds fastest human.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
How to Use Jumper Cables
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