negative cable
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Hershey PA
negative cable
For charging a battery while in the car, my Die-hard" charger suggests a 24"(min) length of negative cable to hook up the charger. Clamp the 24" piece to the block, then the charger's negative cable to that piece. Never hook up the charger's neg. cable directly to the battery post. So, I suppose I have to make my own 24" piece from Home Depot or such. What say you?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Just connect the negative clamp from the charger to a grounded piece of metal under the hood.
Chargers recommend not hooking both cables to the battery because of the remote chance that a spark that forms when the last connection is made will cause Hydrogen gas from the battery to ignite and explode the battery.
You;ll see this same recomendation in most instructions for jump starting a car too.
HTH
Chargers recommend not hooking both cables to the battery because of the remote chance that a spark that forms when the last connection is made will cause Hydrogen gas from the battery to ignite and explode the battery.
You;ll see this same recomendation in most instructions for jump starting a car too.
HTH
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 17
From: Tempe AZ
A bad battery does emit a gas. I've seen plenty of battery cases ripped open. Not pretty and acid everywhere
Plus sparks near gasoline is never good. Unlikely a fuel leak (however small) is near the battery but .....
Plus sparks near gasoline is never good. Unlikely a fuel leak (however small) is near the battery but .....
