How to Connect the Positive and Negative Terminals of a Car?
2 Answers
Before charging a car battery, first observe the color of the wiring harness to distinguish between the positive and negative terminals. If it is red, it indicates the terminal is positive. In addition to distinguishing by color, you can also check the markings on the battery. The positive terminal has a "+" symbol, while the negative terminal has a "-" symbol. Furthermore, there are significant differences between the positive and negative terminals. Connect the corresponding terminals based on their features to charge the car.
When I first learned about jump-starting a car, I was completely clueless about connecting the battery terminals. A friend taught me to first make sure the car was turned off. The positive terminal is the red battery post, and I used the red clamp to attach to it. The negative terminal is black, and it's best not to clamp directly onto the black post because sparks can occur, which is too dangerous. He advised me to attach the black clamp to an unpainted metal part under the hood, like a bolt or bracket, for safety. Jump-starting follows a similar process: first, connect the donor car's battery—red clamp to positive, black clamp to a metal part; then, do the same on the dead battery car—red to red, black to metal. After completing the connections, double-check that all clamps are secure before starting the engine. I also wore gloves to protect my hands, and as a beginner, I succeeded on my first try. Remember not to let the clamps touch the car's metal body to avoid short circuits and smoke. This experience taught me that attention to detail is crucial.
