What is jumper cable

Notice again which terminal on each battery is positive, and which is negative. Then, attach the jumper cables to the appropriate places. The positive red cable should be attached to the positive terminals on each battery. The negative black cable should have one end attached to the negative terminal of the dead battery, and one end grounded. Try to find somewhere away from the battery , to decrease the potential of sparks igniting any hydrogen gas that could be coming from the battery.

Next, start the car with the live battery. This will immediately start charging the dead battery. In some cases, the car with the dead battery will be able to be started immediately, but in others it will need some time to charge. Allow the engine to run for a couple of minutes in order to allow electrical current to flow from the working battery to the dead one. Then, attempt to start the car with the dead battery. Turn the key to start and hold for a few seconds, but no longer than that.

You may want to try this a couple of times. If your jump start was successful, the engine should spring to life. Depending on the cause of your dead battery, you may want to have the car immediately looked at. In other circumstances, your car may be okay after the jump start. Driving the car for a while will help to recharge the battery. The last step is to disconnect the jumper cables.

This ought to be performed in the reverse order that they were connected. Be sure to thank the good samaritan, friend, family member, or neighbor who helped you out by letting you use their live battery! Portable jump starters , battery packs and jump boxes are often small enough to be carried around in your car, stowed away in the glovebox or trunk just in case you need them.

Be sure to read their instructions, however, as not all are suitable to be stored in the high temperatures that cars can reach in summertime heat. As with using another car to administer your jump start, the jump starter should be off when you begin the process.

Be sure to leave some space between them. The vehicles should be close enough so the jumper cables can reach between the two vehicles but not so close that the two cars touch.

For best results, the two car batteries should have a similar voltage. You can confirm that the numbers are the same or close by reading the specifications on the top of the batteries. If the working vehicle has a significantly higher voltage, jumping the battery could damage the other car. In that case, consider asking another driver to help instead.

Once the two vehicles are in place, turn off both and open the hoods. Attach the red jumper cables first. Start by clamping one red cable to the positive side of the battery that won't start. Then attach the other red clamp to the positive side of the working battery. Next, clamp one black cable to the negative side of the working battery.

When you're ready to attach the other black clamp, don't connect it to the dead battery. Instead, find a metal component in your vehicle's engine block where you can attach it safely. Attaching the jumper cables incorrectly could lead to serious problems. Some of the most common issues with putting on jumper cables include:. After connecting all four ends of the jumper cables, turn on the working vehicle. Leave it in park and allow it to idle for at least a minute. Then attempt to start the other vehicle.

If a dead battery was the issue, then the second vehicle should turn on right away. As soon as both vehicles are running, you can disconnect the jumper cables.

More expensive than the others here. The extra length requires more storage space. Horusdy AB 20 feet. Reverse polarity protection. Its 4-gauge wire and amp rating will handle a wide range of vehicles, and the foot length will give you more flexibility in positioning the jump vehicle. Cables stay flexible down to degrees F.

Its foot length means it will take up more room than shorter cable when stored in your vehicle. Bestselling Battery Jumper Cables on Amazon. Sale Bestseller No. Bestseller No. Methodology Forbes Wheels examined more than 15 jumper cables and considered evaluations by critics and end users. We also evaluated key features. The five selected here represent the best combinations of price, performance, cable length, cable construction, wire thickness gauge , and special features such as polarity protection in case you mistakenly cross the cables.

Our choices reflect what users tpically want. A or foot cable works in most situations if the two cars are side by side or nose to nose.

If the cars are one-behind-the-other, 20 or 25 feet is preferable, and some reach 30 feet. Some will want thicker, heavier cables to start big V8 or diesel engines. What Are Jumper Cables?

Jumper cables , booster cables , or jumper leads all three terms describe the same product , let you get a jump start of your dead car battery. Even if you have auto club or new-car roadside service, you can be on your way in five minutes, quicker than waiting for a service vehicle. Do I Need Jumper Cables? Are There Alternatives? You can also call an auto club or, if you a have newish car with roadside assistance, contact them by phone or phone app.

These may start a car with a dead battery of a car with a manual transmission: The car can be push-started by a couple husky guys, probably. If you conveniently parked on a hill, rolling it downhill with the transmission in low gear and the left foot depressing the clutch then lifting may start the car.

Another car could push start your car. Or you can damage bumpers and headlamps. There are risks to each of these. If you have a battery charger, it should recharge in anywhere from a couple hours to overnight. How do I jump-start my car? Which wire goes on first? Attach the other red end to the positive terminal of the donor car. Attach the black cable to the negative terminal of the donor car. Connect the other end of the black cable NOT to the negative battery terminal but to an unpainted metal part of the engine compartment.

You may have to hunt around. Have bystanders step away from the engine compartments. Start the donor car, rev the engine a little, to 2,, rpm.

Start the engine on the dead car. Once the dead-engine car starts, disconnect the cables in reverse order: Black cable on dead car comes off first, then black on good car, red on good car, red on dead car. Keep the now-started car running at least 15 minutes.

Give it a good tug. It takes more effort than the button or lever that opens the trunk. The hood will pop open a little. Then go to the front of the car and find the safety-catch lever in the opening below the hood. A flashlight helps to see the lever.

Start in the middle and run your hand left or right to find it; it will be dirty, so use a paper towel or old cloth. Push it left or right, or up.