HOw to use a jumpstarter?

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moviemakerguy, Jul 1, 1:22pm
I have a car that has not been used in a year so the battery is low

I bought a jumpstarter so i can charge the battery.

THe instructions say that i should connect one end to the red side of the batteyr and the other side to "a metal part of the engine and NOT the negative terminal of the battery" Where should i connect it? I am worried about doing it wrong (in the past i've always done it by connecting to the negative terminal)
skiff1, Jul 1, 1:27pm
Pretty hard to get it wrong. Stay away from the alternator, and I have found the exhaust system is often a poor earth. Almost anywhere else wher you can get on bare metal will do.
tweake, Jul 1, 2:20pm
really need a battery charger rather than a jump starter. it takes a long drive for a car to charge a battery fully.
pandai, Jul 1, 2:33pm
There is often a sticker on the underside of the bonnet saying where you should attach the leads.
kcc55a, Jul 1, 2:49pm
Negative terminal should be OK
kcc55a, Jul 1, 2:51pm
A Jump Starter isnt as good as jumperleads. The jumpstarter needs to be connected through the cig lighter
jmma, Jul 1, 2:54pm
Make sure the lead from jumper has also got a red end on it as well
EG: Red to red (o:
saxman99, Jul 1, 4:24pm
If the battery has been left uncharged for a year it may be stuffed. By all means jump it (straight onto the terminals is fine) and take it for a decent drive but don't be surprised if it won't take a full charge.
snoopy221, Jul 1, 4:26pm
Hey end of the day what you DO NOT WANT is a voltage spike-open bonnet ignition off doors closed and positive to positive negative to negative is okay.
connect then walk around and open the door-interior light is NOW not a voltage drain spike.
start and run for a minute or so before removing jump starter then drive for ten or twenty kilometers.
tweake, Jul 1, 5:09pm
i think the reason for the negative on the body/motor is to avoid sparks near the battery. under heavy discharge (trying to start an engine) batteries can give off hydrogen gas.
same as charging (which is far more common).

do know off mechanics who have blown up batteries when connecting jumpers.

with small jump start batteries you need to leave them for a while. don't try and start straight away. go have a coffee.
lookoutas, Jul 1, 5:11pm
Well it is right - if kcc means the cig lighter ones.
Which OP isn't alluding to. So they are wrong.
gunhand, Jul 1, 5:19pm
Yep you are correct. HOWEVER, always check the t & - on the battery itself. Why? I hear you ask. Well in days past some time ago I had the pleasure of having to jump start an older car that like many have flat bloody batteries. Ive jumped many many cars with no issue at all.
This time, up with bonnet, red to red black to black. Fried the stereo and some other item in the alternator.
Looked again and someone at some time had put red cabling to the negative. A lot of old and not so old cars etc are dirty and cables are discoloured to the point where you sometimes can not tell.
So that's my useless piece of advice lol.
Check check and double check.
lookoutas, Jul 1, 5:29pm
Some older cars are positive earth!
I seem to recollect that my Mk1 Z was.
brapbrap8, Jul 1, 5:29pm
I assume this is an older car OP? On many newer vehicles (e.g Holden Commodore VE) you do not attach a jump starter to the battery at all as they have special points to attach jump starters to that protects the cars electrics from voltage spikes.

Portable jumper packs are awesome, I use mine quite often.
gunhand, Jul 1, 5:36pm
Yes much older car, and no nothing to do with negative earth. Someone for whatever reason put red cabling to neg terminal. Part of a stereo install from memory. Just pays to never trust anything and check. You know, the old measure twice cut once scenario.
m16d, Jul 1, 5:37pm
Buy a new battery and you'll never need the jump start again.
2sheddies, Jul 1, 6:35pm
Until they forget to turn the lights off.
bigfatmat1, Jul 1, 7:27pm
make sure cars are not touching or you do not open your door onto other car when Jumpstarting
mack77, Jul 1, 7:46pm
The best place to connect the thick negative jumpstart cable is to the starter motor casing or its mounting bolts, because that is the primary item that you want to supply 12V at 200A (or as much current as you can supply). If that's not possible connect it to the engine block.
Reverse these polarities of course if it's a positive earth vehicle.
Always wear safety glasses when doing this because if you make a mistake the battery can explode-it has happened, especially if you short circuit the live side to earth.
When disconnecting batteries, always disconnect the earth lead first and then it won't matter if you short circuit the other lead to the chassis when you are removing it.
lugee, Jul 1, 9:18pm
If it's been sat for one year connected, the battery will be absolutely stuffed.

Just had it happen to two stored vehicles only for 6 months (every week I said "I really should take those batteries out. ")

Now they're swollen and won't charge.
clark20, Jul 1, 9:38pm
They do have special terminals under the bonnet, not for spikes, it is because the battery is in the boot.
horsygirl, Jul 2, 10:12am
We just use the defibrillator from the first aid room.
moviemakerguy, Jul 2, 4:50pm
THanks for the info guys. I'll give it a go by connecting the black cord on the jumpstarter to the bolt that holds down my strut bar (although scream out if that is going to break something) :)
jubre, Jul 3, 8:54am
If the battery is dead flat then it might be stuffed already. They sulphate, and die when not being used.

Also, I know someone who bought a jump starter pack from The Warehouse and due to the battery being so flat, it would not even start it.
yz490, Jul 3, 12:06pm
I think [might be wrong] jump start it from a known good car battery using heavy jumper leads then leave it running at a fast idle & go n have a cuppa. No need to drive it unless you want too, alternator should be trying hard at about 2 grand on a flat battery [if it's still a good battery]. Watch the lights on the wall at night & they'll come up just above idle [charging]. Have a couple of jump start packs & only good for bringing a 'good battery' back up quickly like say i left the lights on & went shopping. Mind you, my jump packs are pretty old ones. Modern ones no doubt are better. Anyway, just my 2 cents worth to add to the confusion.