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Once you can start the vehicle, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order that you attached them. If it doesn’t start, keep the jumper cables connected and let the working vehicle continue to idle while charging the dead battery. Try to start the car or rig with the dead battery. Let it run at idle for a few minutes to allow the dead battery to receive a charge. Lastly, attach the other black clamp to an unpainted piece of metal on the dead vehicle’s engine block, such as a nut or bolt.ĭo not connect the second black clamp to the negative post on the dead battery, as this may cause sparking and ignite battery gasses.Īfter connecting the jumper cables, start the working vehicle. Now, connect one black clamp to the good battery’s negative (-) post. Then attach the other red clamp to the good battery’s positive (+) post. With both vehicles turned off and in park, connect one red clamp to the dead battery’s positive (+) post. Just be close enough for the cables to reach.
#How to use jumper cables pro#
Pro Tip: Need to jump-start your RV? We uncovered Are Car Jumper Cables OK for RVs? What Is The Correct Way To Hook Up Jumper Cables?įirst, be sure that the batteries in each vehicle are of similar voltage.īefore hooking up jumper cables, position the working vehicle close to the car or rig with the dead battery. You could also purchase a pair of mechanics gloves to use when handling jumper cables for a little added safety. Purchase jumper cables with the greatest amount of rubber or plastic sheathing on the clamps to help prevent accidental contact. Jumper cables provide for a very real possibility of getting shocked. One last consideration is the insulation of the clips. You may not always be able to get two vehicle batteries near enough for shorter cables to reach. A longer cable can be a smart purchase, even for a passenger car. Particularly if you are purchasing jumper cables for a larger vehicle, such as a truck or RV, you may want to consider longer leads. It’s best to use 1- or 2-gauge rated jumper cables for trucks, SUVs, and RVs, while passenger cars can use 4- to 6-gauge cables.Īnother consideration is how long the cables are. For example, a 2-gauge wire is thicker than a 4-gauge wire. The lower the number, the thicker the wire.
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The thicker the wire, the more amperage it can handle or the heavier duty it is. One of the most important factors is the gauge of the wires in the jumper cables. It’s essential to know what the differences are between them. There are many cables on the market, but they all look relatively similar. When attached correctly, jumper cables allow the working auto or jump starter to provide enough power to start the vehicle with the dead battery. You attach one end to the dead battery and a grounding spot, and the other clips to a working battery. Jumper cables are a simple yet effective way to bring your vehicle back to life when the battery doesn’t have enough power to start your car or rig.īasically, jumper cables are a pair of thick wires with alligator clips on both ends.