Basic Question-Jumper machine

[Fred K OR]

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.

[Mike Peters]

Yes. Red goes to ground. Positive ground.

[burner31]

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

[dansluck]

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

[J Franklin]

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

[aermotor]

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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.

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by Fred K OR

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.

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

[rotorwrench]

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.

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by Fred K OR

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.

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.

[Big hammer]

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

[SDJason]

Originally Posted by aermotor

Whatever the color, charger + to battery negative...

Are you suggesting to hook positive to negative?

[J Franklin]

+ to +, - to - always

[katy]

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

[Keith True]

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.

[J Franklin]

Battery acid in the face is no fun!

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by Keith True

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.

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.

[Keith True]

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.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by aermotor

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.

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.

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

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.

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

[SDJason]

Originally Posted by aermotor

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