How to connect a battery...

Am I correct in thinking that for a negative earth landy, the correct method
of connecting the battery is POSITIVE first, and then the NEGATIVE? (And
for 24v the cross cable first, then POS then NEG?) or is it the other way
round...?

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 11:53:59 -0000, "anon4186"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Am I correct in thinking that for a negative earth landy, the correct method
>of connecting the battery is POSITIVE first, and then the NEGATIVE? (And
>for 24v the cross cable first, then POS then NEG?) or is it the other way
>round...?
>

You connect the jumper cable(s) first if you have more than one
battery in series (ie 24v FFR or early Diesel with 2x 6v) you then
connect the terminal which is NOT connected to the body first, (ie
supply) then the terminal which is connected to the bodywork. (ie
earth) Always the supply first, then the earth.

For most vehicles this means Positive first, then Negative, but for
older vehicles which are +ve earth (S1/SII) it is the other way
around.

If you think logically, it can be worked out anyway. If you connect
the bodywork first then the supply terminal, you are likely to get a
very fat spark if the spanner you are using on the supply touches the
bodywork. Thus you connect the supply terminal before the bodywork to
avoid this hazard.

Alex

In <[email protected]> anon4186
wrote:
> Am I correct in thinking that for a negative earth landy, the correct
> method of connecting the battery is POSITIVE first, and then the
> NEGATIVE? (And for 24v the cross cable first, then POS then NEG?) or
> is it the other way round...?

Electrically it doesn't make any difference what order you connect them
in as long as you connect them the right way round.

Having said that it is normal to connect the chassis last in case you
are a bit clumsy when using a spanner to tighten the connections. By
connecting the chassis last, any accidental touch of the spanner to a
body or other item connected to the chassis won't then cause a short
across the spanner. So, you shouild connect and tighten the positive and
any link cables first with the chassis (negative) disconnected, then
connect and tighten the chassis side. Obviously this doesn't help if you
put the spanner between the battery terminals !

cheers

Dave W.
http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/

On Monday 03 Jan 2005 11:53, anon4186 <[email protected]> wrote
in message <[email protected]>

> Am I correct in thinking that for a negative earth landy, the correct
> method
> of connecting the battery is POSITIVE first, and then the NEGATIVE? (And
> for 24v the cross cable first, then POS then NEG?) or is it the other way
> round...?

The earth cable (the one to the bodywork) goes last.
As far as I know it's only from a safety point of view to prevent short
circuits from occuring should your spanner touch the bodywork while
tightening the other terminal clamp.

--
FZS600 - Silver/Black
GS125 - Black/Rust
Ford 100E Prefect - Black, naturally
Whisky - Aberlour Cask Strength