Battery Jump Starting Safety Factors

[lrobe22]

It's well-established when using jumper cables to connect the negative cable to a ground on the frame or engine block as far away from the battery as possible in order to prevent an explosion due to sparks and battery gases. *But what about portable jump packs with on/off buttons and spark protection? *Example being the NOCO Genius Boost battery jumpers. *Are they safe to connect directly to the car battery's negative terminal? *It seems they were designed that way since the leads are so short on the GB units.

[Unsuspicious]

Not an issue because when you're hooking up the clamps, the power from the jumper isn't live. It's not going to spark.

[lrobe22]

Yep, that's why I posed the question. Since the procedure is to connect the clamps with the jump unit off, there is no live voltage. There is additional spark protection built in as well including other safety features.

[KenHorse]

If you have to ask, maybe you should leave it to someone else to jump your car

[Vandelay Industries]

Maybe this will help.

YouTube (Short URL)

[Unsuspicious]

Not seeing much of a question here. More like AI hacked this guy's account to post a poorly formed ad for a NOCO jump starter.

[lrobe22]

[lrobe22]

Originally Posted by KenHorse

If you have to ask, maybe you should leave it to someone else to jump your car

very helpful. thanks for your insight

[RedLS1GTO]

When is the last time anybody here saw a battery “blow up”?

I’m going out on a limb and say it’s been a long while. Why? 99.9% of modern batteries are sealed and don’t gas out.

Short answer. Things have changed. Unless you are jumping something with a historic tag or maybe a lawn mower, it really does not matter anymore.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

When is the last time anybody here saw a battery “blow up”?

I’m going out on a limb and say it’s been a long while. Why? 99.9% of modern batteries are sealed and don’t gas out.

Short answer. Things have changed. Unless you are jumping something with a historic tag or maybe a lawn mower, it really does not matter anymore.

Well in the old days you "jumped' wrong you got a spark.

Now today among other things you could fry a computer or two. Mucho money!

BTW I'm referring to any kind of jumping, I still have my made up 25' cables made with welding stinger cable.

[Steve_R]

Better answers here than you got on CFOT.

[KenHorse]

Originally Posted by lrobe22

very helpful. thanks for your insight

Just keepin' it real

[Bill]

I'ma wait for my boy @Aerovette to chime in here, as he's the recognized expert in this field.

[lrobe22]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

When is the last time anybody here saw a battery “blow up”?

I’m going out on a limb and say it’s been a long while. Why? 99.9% of modern batteries are sealed and don’t gas out.

Short answer. Things have changed. Unless you are jumping something with a historic tag or maybe a lawn mower, it really does not matter anymore.

Fair points. I've stuck to AGM's in the cars and always use a frame or engine ground whenever possible however some cars don't have a good ground within reach of the chargers with shorter leads like the one I mentioned in the OP. Reading over Noco's instructions, their procedure is to use the negative battery post. Reading over another brand like Clore's JNC they advise to not use the battery negative post - most of their models have longer leads which have plenty of reach.

I have 3 jump packs however each has had issues. Noco GB40 - used it several times with great results however recently would not sequence the modes however it was pretty simple to disassemble and do a minor repair. Noco GB150 - also used several times with great results however now the fugger won't recharge. Clore JNC345 - will not sequence to a jump starting mode. Of course they all only have a 1 year warranty. So now I'm shopping for replacements.

[Steve_R]

I have a charger, two maintainers and two sets of long cables. Haven’t used any of them in years.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Well in the old days you "jumped' wrong you got a spark.

Now today among other things you could fry a computer or two. Mucho money!

BTW I'm referring to any kind of jumping, I still have my made up 25' cables made with welding stinger cable.

I'm very familiar with "the old days". I also realize that things have changed. You may also be shocked to learn that you don't have to change your oil at 3,000 miles on new cars anymore either.

I have jumped many hundreds of cars (at auctions). I have never fried a computer. Maybe I am just very lucky.

Originally Posted by lrobe22

Fair points. I've stuck to AGM's in the cars and always use a frame or engine ground whenever possible however some cars don't have a good ground within reach of the chargers with shorter leads like the one I mentioned in the OP. Reading over Noco's instructions, their procedure is to use the negative battery post. Reading over another brand like Clore's JNC they advise to not use the battery negative post - most of their models have longer leads which have plenty of reach.

I have 3 jump packs however each has had issues. Noco GB40 - used it several times with great results however recently would not sequence the modes however it was pretty simple to disassemble and do a minor repair. Noco GB150 - also used several times with great results however now the fugger won't recharge. Clore JNC345 - will not sequence to a jump starting mode. Of course they all only have a 1 year warranty. So now I'm shopping for replacements.

The small "start assist" jump packs are garbage and inevitably won't work when you need them to.

Get a JNC660 and stop worrying about it. I have a pair of them that have been used daily and have jumped hundreds of cars and bikes each. If/when you do manage to kill it, simply replace the battery and go for a few more years.

[KenHorse]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

I have a charger......

I've only owned one Mopar in my life.....

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

I'm very familiar with "the old days". I also realize that things have changed. You may also be shocked to learn that you don't have to change your oil at 3,000 miles on new cars anymore either.

I have jumped many hundreds of cars (at auctions). I have never fried a computer. Maybe I am just very lucky.



The small "start assist" jump packs are garbage and inevitably won't work when you need them to.

Get a JNC660 and stop worrying about it. I have a pair of them that have been used daily and have jumped hundreds of cars and bikes each. If/when you do manage to kill it, simply replace the battery and go for a few more years.

I'm far from a car start virgin myself. I have also done up in the hundreds starting best guess in 1957-58. That was in a much colder climate than today -20s were common and many vechicles did not start. FWIW the Chrysler products were the worst of the none starters made a lot of money jumping them or sometimes hooking up a chain and taking them to the garage. OBTW my first 3 cars were V8 Dodges, but mine started.

Then working under the table at my buddies garage for years. That why I have the long made by me cables so I can reach a car nosed in to a garage.

Oh as far as the 3,000 mile oil change I can remember that, in fact most cars in the owners manual said only change the filter every other time.(Rather stupid in my book) I always went 4,000 and changed the filter each time.

I have paid my dues working and playing with cars.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by KenHorse

I've only owned one Mopar in my life.....

Same here, a Dodge diesel truck to tow my Bronco rock crawler.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

I have paid my dues working and playing with cars.

It's a safe bet that most people on this forum have.

And it doesn't change the fact that jumping a modern car is not nearly the "event" that it used to be. You aren't going to blow it up and you are incredibly unlikely to damage a computer even if you do something horrendously stupid since an overwhelming majority have protections in place for surge, reversed polarity, etc.