This is something that has been in the back of my mind for along time. I have a 6 volt positive ground car. If I have to jump start the car, How would I hook up the jumper cables since today's cars are 12 volt negative ground? So far I have never had to do this.
Back in the day... when all I had to drive was the old 6V cars (those were the days) I had to jump start them quite often, from a 12V system. It never was a problem (outside of a few spark when you hook up) Positive to Positive, Neg to Neg. Never did burn a starter out, or any wiring. Good luck to you if you want to try it. I will myself, if the situation arises and I need a jump. One caution, never have your two cars touching bumpers unless they are both the same ground system when you are jumping.
SD Glenn
i agree with SD Glenn,
I have done this several times (DON'T TOUCH BUMPERS) with no ill effects.
Pat O'Connor (born in 1944)
Thanks guy's. I have never had to do it yet, and hope I never have to. At least now I will know what to do.
Chuck
You can bypass the battery while jumping, Attach the jumper cable negative to the starter side of the starter solenoid, and the positive tot he engine block. But be aware the starter will engage as soon as the positive cable is attached. So this is best done with an assistant.
Okay, this is a great question, and I have one point I'd like someone to clarify. If you are jumping from one of today's cars with their 12 Volt Negative Ground, would you connect their 12 Volt Negative Terminal you our 6 Volt Negative Terminal and then their 12 Volt Positive Terminal to our 6 Volt Positive Ground? Now by our "6 Volt Positive Ground" I mean the Engine Block or Car Frame, etc?
I ask this because you're never supposed to attach both Jumper Cables from the Strong, Helper Battery to the Weaker Battery. On today's cars you're supposed to go Positive to Positive of the Batteries and Negative of the Strong Battery to the Ground of the Weak Battery's Car Frame of Engine Block.
Thanks for the help. :)
Gaby51, your first paragraph is correct., pos to pos, neg to neg.. IF you hook up the 12V to 6 V pos to neg, neg to pos, you would have 18V battery system. I'm not sure what you would burn up in that case.... Right?
SD Glenn
Gaby51,
I re-read your last post. You are also correct on the 2d paragraph also, the 1st sentence threw me off. The idea of hooking up positive first, then the ground to the frame/or other metal than the (-) battery terminal was so you don't blow up your battery from any hydrogen fumes coming off the battery. I did do that once (blew up the battery) but i was lucky. I had my hand in just he right place to protect my face from the acid, however the concussion hurt my hand pretty much. Good luck with your "jumping future" .
SD Glenn
Just to clarify that answer, the last connection should be made somewhere other than the battery. That is when you may have a spark and that may ignite the gasses from the battery. So whether it is the positive ground or the negative ground, that last connection should be to the frame, not the battery.