Is the red terminal on the battery positive or negative?
2 Answers
The red terminal on the battery is positive, while the negative terminal is black. Be careful not to reverse the connections when wiring, as doing so can damage all the electronic devices in the vehicle. There are plus and minus signs next to the battery terminals; simply follow these signs when connecting the wires. The battery is a crucial component in a car, responsible for powering all electronic devices when the engine is not running. Car batteries, also known as storage batteries, are a type of battery that works by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. The commonly referred-to car battery is a lead-acid battery, which is primarily made of lead and its oxides, with a sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte.
I've seen too many people mix up battery terminals causing trouble. The red terminal is definitely positive, and the black is negative. Reversing them can blow fuses or even damage electronics - I once witnessed a car's engine management system fail, costing over a thousand in repairs. Standard procedure is to connect positive first when replacing batteries, then negative, using red/black to avoid short-circuit sparks. Also, positive terminals are usually slightly larger for easier identification. For corrosion, baking soda works for cleaning. Regularly check voltage - if it drops below 12 volts, it's time to charge or replace.
