Battery Connecting Causing Damage?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
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From: Escondido CA
Battery Connecting Causing Damage?
When reconnecting the negative battery cable to the battery, I can never figure out why the relays/computers don't get messed up because I can't make a good solid contact while tightning the cables to the battery post. As I turn the wrench on the cable, I can hear the power intermittently going on/off, and some relays clicking on/off, until I get to a certain point that provides a good solid connection.
All this fast on/off power switching must cause some kind of damage to the electronics. Does anybody know if this is causing damage?
All this fast on/off power switching must cause some kind of damage to the electronics. Does anybody know if this is causing damage?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I have a technique for minimizing the drama. I hold the neg cable (ALWAYS the last one to be connected) end in my left hand and use my fingers to maintain contact between the battery bolt and the cable end itself and when I go to hook it up, I touch it to the battery quickly and (key) put constant pressure with my left hand against the battery after I make initial contact. The idea is to maintain contact at all times and not let there be any disconnect/connect taking place while you turn/thread and tighten the bolt with your right hand. Do not let off on the pressure until you have the bolt seated hand tight.
I've been using this method for awhile now and have it down to where there is only the briefest of relay clicking. Try it.
HTH
I've been using this method for awhile now and have it down to where there is only the briefest of relay clicking. Try it.
HTH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
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From: Escondido CA
Thanks Guys,
One of the things that bothers me is that you might get zapped holding the connector with your bare hands. Sure have seen a lot of arcing and sparking at the connection when I reconnect the negative cable. Any thoughts?
Don
One of the things that bothers me is that you might get zapped holding the connector with your bare hands. Sure have seen a lot of arcing and sparking at the connection when I reconnect the negative cable. Any thoughts?
Don
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
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From: Escondido CA
Good comments guys...
Still a little scary having my bare hands touching that close to the arcs and sparks. There must be a momentary voltage difference in potential between the battery post and the ground cable to cause the sparking. I've heard of people getting burned by touching the wrong things. I understand that it's the current, not the voltage that gets you. Lots of current available in these batteries even if they are only 12 volts.
Don
Still a little scary having my bare hands touching that close to the arcs and sparks. There must be a momentary voltage difference in potential between the battery post and the ground cable to cause the sparking. I've heard of people getting burned by touching the wrong things. I understand that it's the current, not the voltage that gets you. Lots of current available in these batteries even if they are only 12 volts.
Don
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Good comments guys...
Still a little scary having my bare hands touching that close to the arcs and sparks. There must be a momentary voltage difference in potential between the battery post and the ground cable to cause the sparking. I've heard of people getting burned by touching the wrong things. I understand that it's the current, not the voltage that gets you. Lots of current available in these batteries even if they are only 12 volts.
Don
Still a little scary having my bare hands touching that close to the arcs and sparks. There must be a momentary voltage difference in potential between the battery post and the ground cable to cause the sparking. I've heard of people getting burned by touching the wrong things. I understand that it's the current, not the voltage that gets you. Lots of current available in these batteries even if they are only 12 volts.
Don
People "getting burned" (with 12vdc) etc are almost always due to the fact that a body part (pick one) was in close proximity to sparks resulting from a DEAD SHORT, i.e. wrench, screwdriver making the connection from battery positive directly to ground.
It would seem that since you have still decided that your are in some sort of potential danger, perhaps you should consult or use the services of an electrician.
HTH
Good Luck
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: PNW
And that current is only presenting itself when there is a demand or load. When you make the connection here in this case, there is very low current demand (in the milli-amp range) and thusly very low danger, etc. These are relays and a few solid-state circuits that are powering up here. Again.....low demand.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Rubber gloves, a rubber floor mat and full face protection would be nice too.
mine did
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Have a look at this, a switch you can instal to give you a nice, clean disconnect/connect.
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Another point, you can put one finger on the positive post and another on the negative post. You won't feel a thing because 12 volts(pressure) can't push any current through the resistance of your body.
Now, a wrench or a ring between the positive post and a ground is another thing altogether!
RonJ ...
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Another point, you can put one finger on the positive post and another on the negative post. You won't feel a thing because 12 volts(pressure) can't push any current through the resistance of your body.
Now, a wrench or a ring between the positive post and a ground is another thing altogether!
RonJ ...
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 316
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From: San Deigo California
I've never done this, but I'm pretty good with auto electrics and have wired a few race cars. I think I would use a little clip lead to temporarly connect the battery cable to some part of the battery. Wouldhave to mess around to find a place to cilp it to, but should not be a big deal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: PNW
I've never done this, but I'm pretty good with auto electrics and have wired a few race cars. I think I would use a little clip lead to temporarly connect the battery cable to some part of the battery. Wouldhave to mess around to find a place to cilp it to, but should not be a big deal.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
Have a look at this, a switch you can instal to give you a nice, clean disconnect/connect.
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Another point, you can put one finger on the positive post and another on the negative post. You won't feel a thing because 12 volts(pressure) can't push any current through the resistance of your body.
Now, a wrench or a ring between the positive post and a ground is another thing altogether!
RonJ ...
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
Another point, you can put one finger on the positive post and another on the negative post. You won't feel a thing because 12 volts(pressure) can't push any current through the resistance of your body.
Now, a wrench or a ring between the positive post and a ground is another thing altogether!
RonJ ...
Check out this link:
http://www.saftek.com/train/ELECTRI.html
When your body resistance is close to zero (like when wet), the max current available is going to pass through it. Since current = voltage divided by resistance, you could have as much as 12 amps passing through your body. Depending on the entrance and exit points (the 2 points you touch), will determine how much damage is done.
Don
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
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From: PNW
Check out this link:
http://www.saftek.com/train/ELECTRI.html
When your body resistance is close to zero (like when wet), the max current available is going to pass through it. Since current = voltage divided by resistance, you could have as much as 12 amps passing through your body. Depending on the entrance and exit points (the 2 points you touch), will determine how much damage is done.
Don
http://www.saftek.com/train/ELECTRI.html
When your body resistance is close to zero (like when wet), the max current available is going to pass through it. Since current = voltage divided by resistance, you could have as much as 12 amps passing through your body. Depending on the entrance and exit points (the 2 points you touch), will determine how much damage is done.
Don
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Mar 16, 2009 at 01:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
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From: Escondido CA
If shocked while wet by a 12v battery, the current would probably take the path of the wetness along the outside of the body and not put any across the heart. But of course, if you were naked, wet and hooked your feet to the + terminal and your heat to the - terminal it might put some amps through your heart. In high voltage electrocutions, the earth is always the negative plane, so at least with a battery you'd have to try pretty hard to setup the right electrical path for a major damage shock.
Don
Last edited by Don Lindeman; Mar 16, 2009 at 01:26 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
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From: PNW
