Jump starting a car is a very simple procedure. Basically you connect two batteries in parallel, starting with the positive terminals and then connect the negative terminals. It helps of course if the booster car has its engine running to ensure that maximum voltage and current is being supplied to the car with the dead battery.
Sometimes, for a really dead battery, batteries would be connected in series to give a higher voltage, but spiking your car's voltage this way is definitely not recommended, especially for cars nowadays that have voltage-sensitive electronic control modules. Note that commercial trucks and industrial equipment normally have 24-volt systems and these vehicles should not be used to boost 12-volt electrical systems for the reason stated above. It's also not possible to use a 12-volt system to boost a 24-volt electrical system.
In vintage cars, the electrical system may be positive grounded or use a 6-volt system. But, these are exceptions to the rule, as the majority of cars and pickups on the road today use 12-volt, negative ground electrical systems. You may think that hybrid cars, having a car full of batteries, would make a good booster car. However, hybrid electric cars use small starting batteries and would not be a good choice for a booster car.
Connecting two cars' batteries is done this way:
1. Ensure that both cars' ignition switches are OFF.
2. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of both batteries. Most batteries nowadays have a red plastic washer inserted at the bottom of the positive terminal, with a corresponding + marking.
3. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal of the booster battery. Attach the opposite end of the red cable to the dead battery's positive terminal.
4. Clamp the black cable to the negative terminal of the booster battery and attach the other end to the negative terminal of the dead battery. Alternatively, you can clamp the black cable to a bolt which you are sure attaches to a metal part of the car with the dead battery.
5. Start the car with the good battery, turn off all lights and accessories and leave the engine running. Leave both cars connected for a minute or two to build up a small charge in the dead battery. Then start the car with the dead battery.
Remember that you should use good, thick jump starting cables. Cheap, thin cables don't work reliably as there is high resistance to the current flow. It's best to disconnect the black, or negative, cables first before disconnecting the red cables. Note that the red cables are the ones that can cause a short if they touch metal parts of the car while connected to the battery.
Sometimes, for a really dead battery, batteries would be connected in series to give a higher voltage, but spiking your car's voltage this way is definitely not recommended, especially for cars nowadays that have voltage-sensitive electronic control modules. Note that commercial trucks and industrial equipment normally have 24-volt systems and these vehicles should not be used to boost 12-volt electrical systems for the reason stated above. It's also not possible to use a 12-volt system to boost a 24-volt electrical system.
In vintage cars, the electrical system may be positive grounded or use a 6-volt system. But, these are exceptions to the rule, as the majority of cars and pickups on the road today use 12-volt, negative ground electrical systems. You may think that hybrid cars, having a car full of batteries, would make a good booster car. However, hybrid electric cars use small starting batteries and would not be a good choice for a booster car.
Connecting two cars' batteries is done this way:
1. Ensure that both cars' ignition switches are OFF.
2. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of both batteries. Most batteries nowadays have a red plastic washer inserted at the bottom of the positive terminal, with a corresponding + marking.
3. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal of the booster battery. Attach the opposite end of the red cable to the dead battery's positive terminal.
4. Clamp the black cable to the negative terminal of the booster battery and attach the other end to the negative terminal of the dead battery. Alternatively, you can clamp the black cable to a bolt which you are sure attaches to a metal part of the car with the dead battery.
5. Start the car with the good battery, turn off all lights and accessories and leave the engine running. Leave both cars connected for a minute or two to build up a small charge in the dead battery. Then start the car with the dead battery.
Remember that you should use good, thick jump starting cables. Cheap, thin cables don't work reliably as there is high resistance to the current flow. It's best to disconnect the black, or negative, cables first before disconnecting the red cables. Note that the red cables are the ones that can cause a short if they touch metal parts of the car while connected to the battery.
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