Booster cables

The quickest way to charge a dead car battery is to use jumper leads (booster cables) and a second vehicle. Pull the running vehicle up sufficiently close to the dead vehicle so that the booster cables can connect both vehicles’ batteries.

Turn off the engine of the running vehicle. Open the bonnets (hoods) of both vehicles.

Cable connections

Take out the booster cables. First, work with the running vehicle. There are two posts on the battery, one positive and the other negative. The positive post is usually bigger than the negative, is coloured red and has a + sign beside it.

Clamp the red end of the booster cable to the positive post on the battery. Next clamp the black end of the booster cable to the negative post.

Note: Make sure that the clamps of the booster cables on the free non-attached ends do not come into contact with each other. Otherwise there will be a dangerous burst of sparks.

Moving on to the vehicle with the dead battery; repeat the procedure. First attach the red  bettery clamp  to the positive post, and then the black negative clamp to a grounded piece of sheet metal on the vehicle.

Note: Make sure to attach the red positive clamp first, then the black negative clamp.

Connecting the black (ground) booster cable to the sheet metal of the dead vehicle, rather than the negative terminal of the dead battery, is a very important safety feature. Batteries can and do emit gas, and if a spark occurs while connecting the cable to the negative terminal of the battery, the gas can result in a battery exploding.

Fire up the engine

With all the booster cable clamps attached, turn on the working vehicle’s engine. Then try starting the vehicle with the dead battery. If the engine of the dead car does not start straight away, let the car stand for a minute or two while its battery charges. Then try starting the dead vehicle again.

If the dead vehicle still fails to start, make sure the clamps are all securely attached. Once the vehicle with the dead battery fires up, keep it running to charge up the battery.

Remove the booster cables from one vehicle at a time. Note: First remove the black negative clamp, then the red positive clamp. Remove the booster cables from the second car and store safely.