How to Connect Two Car Batteries for Jump Starting?
3 Answers
Here are the steps for connecting two car batteries for jump starting: 1. Always identify the positive and negative terminals correctly - red is positive, black is negative. First, connect the red clamp to the positive terminal of the charged battery, then connect the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery. 2. Next, connect the black clamp to the negative terminal of the charged battery, then connect the other end to the negative terminal of the dead battery. After this, you can start the car. Once the car is running, first remove the negative clamp, then remove the positive clamp. Note that the batteries must be connected in parallel, not in series. 3. Parallel connection maintains the battery voltage at 12V, which meets the voltage requirements of the engine and car control circuits. If connected in series, the battery voltage would exceed 12V, which could potentially damage the components of the car's control circuits. The starter motor would have to withstand extremely high voltage with low current, which is not conducive to the car's starting requirements.
Last time I helped my neighbor jump-start his car by following these steps. Park the two cars close to each other without touching, and turn off both engines. Locate the positive and negative terminals of the batteries; the positive terminal usually has a red cover or a plus sign, while the negative is black or marked with a minus sign. First, attach the red clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery, then to the positive terminal of the booster car's battery. Next, attach the black clamp to the negative terminal of the booster car's battery, and the other end to the engine block or metal frame of the dead car—never directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery. After starting the booster car's engine, wait for two to three minutes before attempting to start the dead car. Once successful, immediately turn off high-power devices like the air conditioner. When removing the clamps, reverse the order: first remove the black clamp, then the red one. Remember to wear insulated gloves throughout the process, and be extra cautious in winter when the battery might be frosted. After jump-starting, it's best to drive the car for about half an hour to recharge the battery.
My mechanic taught me the standard procedure: Both cars should be turned off and parked facing each other, then open the hoods. First, connect the red alligator clip to the positive terminal of the dead battery, then to the positive terminal of the booster battery. Next, connect the black clip to the negative terminal of the booster car, then clamp it onto a metal part of the dead car's body—preferably a spot like the engine mount. Once connected, start the booster car and rev the engine to around 2000 RPM, maintaining this for at least one minute. Then, attempt to start the dead car; if the tachometer needle jumps, it means power is flowing. After a successful start, first remove the black clip from the dead car's body, then the black clip from the booster car, followed by both red clips. Be extremely careful not to let the clips touch each other during the entire process, as this could cause a short circuit and sparks. Once the dead car is running, avoid turning it off for at least half an hour to allow the battery to recharge—this step is crucial.
