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[dbug]

I've had a similar one for about a year now - used it recently to start a mate's Disco - fired it up straight away   Easily fits in my glove box.

[r1]

the leads are 2 short to start a car as you need to reach a earth point not the neg terminal

[Andy B]

the leads are 2 short to start a car as you need to reach a earth point not the neg terminal

they manage on the video. I know they always say about using an earth/ground point, but I've always managed by connecting to battery terminals (apart from my car ....... they built it around the battery which lives under my seat  )

[aaronjb]

the leads are 2 short to start a car as you need to reach a earth point not the neg terminal

I must have imagined starting mythe Omega I sold with it, then. Better get my meds checked.

[r1]

the leads are 2 short to start a car as you need to reach a earth point not the neg terminal

I must have imagined starting mythe Omega I sold with it, then. Better get my meds checked.

no you just did it old school way.not the right way.

[Andy B]

......

no you just did it old school way.not the right way.

So remind us ....... why should we use an 'earth' point & not the -ve terminal of the battery (which is connected directly to the chassis/ground/earth/-ve

[Doctor Gollum]

Looks precious to me. I knows its easy being wise after the event, but this seems to have proved my bs desifering mode still works. Going by my first impressions. Looks a genuine handy gadget. Thanks for posting

[zirk]

......

no you just did it old school way.not the right way.

So remind us ....... why should we use an 'earth' point & not the -ve terminal of the battery (which is connected directly to the chassis/ground/earth/-ve

In theory it provides a better earth connection (Neg, Ground, -V, chassis, whatever) to the Starter Motor from the good Battery rather than rely on the Vehicles Battery earth to chassis cable and or Engine Earth Strap, which could give potential voltage difference across the length of that cable under high current demands from the starter motor.

Downside is, depending on where you clamp the Neg Jump Lead to, means you might end up being further away from the Starter Motor and having to go through more rusty bolts, chassis joints to make the connection.

Personally I always jump directly to the Battery terminals, reason being when the car fires up on the key first time, it gives a good indication that the Battery terminals and cables are in good condition, which is something that could be missed and may even be the problem rather than a flat battery when using the clamp to chassis method. 

[henryd]

......

no you just did it old school way.not the right way.

So remind us ....... why should we use an 'earth' point & not the -ve terminal of the battery (which is connected directly to the chassis/ground/earth/-ve

In theory it provides a better earth connection (Neg, Ground, -V, chassis, whatever) to the Starter Motor from the good Battery rather than rely on the Vehicles Battery earth to chassis cable and or Engine Earth Strap, which could give potential voltage difference across the length of that cable under high current demands from the starter motor.

Downside is, depending on where you clamp the Neg Jump Lead to, means you might end up being further away from the Starter Motor and having to go through more rusty bolts, chassis joints to make the connection.

Personally I always jump directly to the Battery terminals, reason being when the car fires up on the key first time, it gives a good indication that the Battery terminals and cables are in good condition, which is something that could be missed and may even be the problem rather than a flat battery when using the clamp to chassis method.

I was always told that the reason to connect - to the engine block was to reduce the risk of sparks around a possibly venting duff battery

[zirk]

......

no you just did it old school way.not the right way.

So remind us ....... why should we use an 'earth' point & not the -ve terminal of the battery (which is connected directly to the chassis/ground/earth/-ve

In theory it provides a better earth connection (Neg, Ground, -V, chassis, whatever) to the Starter Motor from the good Battery rather than rely on the Vehicles Battery earth to chassis cable and or Engine Earth Strap, which could give potential voltage difference across the length of that cable under high current demands from the starter motor.

Downside is, depending on where you clamp the Neg Jump Lead to, means you might end up being further away from the Starter Motor and having to go through more rusty bolts, chassis joints to make the connection.

Personally I always jump directly to the Battery terminals, reason being when the car fires up on the key first time, it gives a good indication that the Battery terminals and cables are in good condition, which is something that could be missed and may even be the problem rather than a flat battery when using the clamp to chassis method.

I was always told that the reason to connect - to the engine block was to reduce the risk of sparks around a possibly venting duff battery

Heard that as well, along with the idea you connect the Poss first to the Battery, followed by the Neg to the Chassis, assuming any sparks will be on the second connection away from the Battery.

Other thoughts are that you connect the Poss first, that way should you accidently drop the Neg clamp in the engine bay etc, then less potential damage is done.

[aaronjb]

Positive on first, always. Negative off first, always. Same for connecting a battery as it is for jump leads - if you slip and bridge the spanner across the -ve and chassis you won't weld it together.. if you take the +ve off first and slip you'll DC weld the spanner to the car. Don't ask how I know.

If you want to avoid sparks near the battery (which might be venting gas) just connect the other end of whatever you're using last, surely (jump leads to the other car, booster leads to the booster pack etc)..

[TheBoy]

I was always told that the reason to connect - to the engine block was to reduce the risk of sparks around a possibly venting duff battery

Yup. Venting battery gives off hydrogen.  Not quite as good as a garage full of butane/propane mix, but...

[r1]

So remind us ....... why should we use an 'earth' point & not the -ve terminal of the battery (which is connected directly to the chassis/ground/earth/-ve

In theory it provides a better earth connection (Neg, Ground, -V, chassis, whatever) to the Starter Motor from the good Battery rather than rely on the Vehicles Battery earth to chassis cable and or Engine Earth Strap, which could give potential voltage difference across the length of that cable under high current demands from the starter motor.


I was always told that the reason to connect - to the engine block was to reduce the risk of sparks around a possibly venting duff battery
[/quote]

both good polnts plus
the dead battery offers resistance
but the most important reason is so you don't spike the ecu/brain of the car if you read the owners manual of most new cars this is the way to do it.but of course you could no better than vw.bmw Vauxhall etc

[Kevin Wood]

but the most important reason is so you don't spike the ecu/brain of the car if you read the owners manual of most new cars this is the way to do it.but of course you could no better than vw.bmw Vauxhall etc

I don't see how it could make any difference to the ECU, to be honest. Keeping the spark away from a potential source of hydrogen is about the only benefit I can imagine.

[05omegav6]

Jump starting from the aux battery is a pretty effective way to release the magic smoke