Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

When putting the jumper machine on to get rig started, is the red for to the ground and black go to the starter????? Haven't had to do this for awhile and forgot.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Yes. Red goes to ground. Positive ground.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Jumper machine?
Don't get me wrong...I like that term...I'm going "start" using it

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

They make a flashlight that will jump start your car. Its called Halo Flashlight Bolt.
Dan

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

It is best to remember to put the cables RED to +, & BLACK to --. Now there will be no room for error.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Whatever the color, charger + to battery negative and the other (-) to the post cable that goes forward to the starter. Unless, the battery is unhooked then charger+ to battery + and charger - to battery -. Should be clear as mud.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Correct, except if the battery is disconnected then its charger plus to battery plus and charger negative to battery negative.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

A word of caution. 12 V to 12 V and 6 V to 6 V. When running with a sub standard battery, there is a chance of generator damage if it's still original. If it has an alternator then there may or may not be a heavy load on it. It's best to charge a weak battery than to risk running with it. If the battery is bad, replace it.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Yes, but only if the car is still wired with "positive ground" like it was originally. That's the simple answer.

But, it was common for people in the past to rewire a Model A to negative ground, even if still 6 volts, just because they didn't know any better.

It is also very common to switch to negative ground at the same time as converting to 12 volts. Your "red to ground" above would then be incorrect.

So, not so simple answer: You really should look at the battery to confirm what you have before connecting a battery charger.

If your "Jumper machine" is an external portable jumper battery (I don't know what a jumper machine is) then it really needs to match the voltage of the battery (6 volts or 12 volts) AND you need to get the ground correct also. Don't use a 12 volt jumper battery on a 6 volt car.

Simple questions do not always have simple answers.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

If you get the polarity wrong … you’ll know it immediately from the sparks!!!!! What is a jumper machine??????? A jumper box???? A 12volt jumper box will recharge a 6 volt battery! Connect it to the dead battery with lights off ( or you’ll burn out the light bulbs) and let the electrons flow from the jumper box into the dead 6 volt or 8 volt or 12 volt battery……then after awhile remove the jumper box, then you can try starting…..DO NOT try to start your car with the jumper box connected to the battery !!!!! Read the instructions for the jumper box

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

:confused: Are you suggesting to hook positive to negative?

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

+ to +, - to - always

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

That's the way it goes, I'm positive.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Always positive to positive,and negative to negative.Doesn't matter if the battery is in the car or not,If you connect the positive jumper to the negative on the car,you stand a good chance of experiencing exploding battery syndrome.Big noise,and can be pretty spectacular.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

Battery acid in the face is no fun!

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

I think where all the confusion (me included) is why does the plus battery post go directly to ground if you are not to hook up plus charger clamp to plus battery post? Negative battery post to starter is disconnected.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

It's positive to positive and negative to negative.In a previous post you stated,hook charger + to battery negative.That is NOT something you want to be doing.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

You’re describing these two as if they’re different scenarios, but they’re actually the same. Unless the starter pedal is actively being held down, the battery is not in circuit with the starter.

So if you connect another power source’s negative terminal to the post on the starter switch (or clip it to the battery cable), and that power source’s positive terminal to the chassis, the only thing in the circuit with that power source will be the battery.

If that power source is putting out more voltage than the onboard battery, power will flow into the battery. If you then press the starter pedal, you’ll get the combined amperage of the two sources.

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

So. if we mark the battery negative post as plus and the positive post as minus or think that way, we are all set

Re: Basic Question-Jumper machine
 

:confused: