Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Jimmy Jerms on 16 October 2008, 19:38:08

Title: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: Jimmy Jerms on 16 October 2008, 19:38:08
Does anyone know why the Haynes manual says that the Neg on the doner battery should be connected to the engine block on the vehicle to be started. I've always connected Pos to Pos - Neg to Neg and never had a problrm :-?
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: ian6pot on 16 October 2008, 19:54:49
It will do the same thing but conecting to the block will eliminate any resistance in the neg batt cable
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: Bandit127 on 16 October 2008, 20:20:11
And possibly reduce the chance of cross connection at the battery.
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: Malabo on 16 October 2008, 20:23:35
Not disputing the resistance possibility, being the last connection to make, any arcing/sparks are away from igniting any hydrogen around battery.
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: rickyboy on 16 October 2008, 20:31:10
Quote
Not disputing the resistance possibility, being the last connection to make, any arcing/sparks are away from igniting any hydrogen around battery.

That's my guess as well, not that I've ever followed the Haynes method anyways.
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: JasonH on 17 October 2008, 08:53:48
The reason for not connecting neg to neg and pos to pos at the battery is safety.

When jump starting you'll be stuffing current into the car battery and it will generate a lot of hydrogen.

When you disconnect the jumps lead there will be a spark, sometimes small sometimes large. If you ignite the hydrogen the battery will explode spreading suphuric acid everywhere.

If both jump leads are connected to the battery whichever one you disconnect first will spark - right in the area the hydrogen is being generated......

If you had connected the negative elsewhere in the engine bay it's safe to disconnect - but of course do it before the positive!!
Title: Re: Jump Start Battery Connection.
Post by: Phil B on 17 October 2008, 12:57:29
Quote
The reason for not connecting neg to neg and pos to pos at the battery is safety.

When jump starting you'll be stuffing current into the car battery and it will generate a lot of hydrogen.

When you disconnect the jumps lead there will be a spark, sometimes small sometimes large. If you ignite the hydrogen the battery will explode spreading suphuric acid everywhere.

If both jump leads are connected to the battery whichever one you disconnect first will spark - right in the area the hydrogen is being generated......

If you had connected the negative elsewhere in the engine bay it's safe to disconnect - but of course do it before the positive!!

You won't get a battery to explode that way, worst that will happen is any hydrogen that has escaped and therefore mixed with air could theoretically flash over, but in reality the amount released is so low you couldn't get a pop if you tried!