First the clamp of the red cable is connected to the positive terminal of the assisting vehicle. The other end of the red cable is connected to the positive terminal of the broken down vehicle. Then the black clamp is connected to the negative terminal of the assisting battery.

What happens if you put the jumper cables on backwards?

When you reverse the polarity of the jumper cables, you create a drastic increase in the amount of electrical current that runs through them. As a result, the cables may melt or even catch fire.

Can hooking up jumper cables wrong way?

When the jumper cables are incorrectly connected, the polarity of the electrical system on the vehicle with the dead battery will be reversed for a few seconds. This can irreparably damage many of the sensitive electronic components that are common on todays vehicles, such as on-board computers and electronic sensors.

Can you ruin a car by jumping it?

Dangers of Jump Starting Your Car A damaged battery has the potential to start a fire when placing the jumper cables on. While it might not cause you injury, there is a potential of damage being done to your car. Jumping your own vehicle can cause damage to the car if not done correctly.

How long do you let a car run after jumping it?

Be sure to drive your car for about 30 minutes before stopping again so the battery can continue to charge.

How long should you let a car run after jumping it?

Be sure to drive your car for about 30 minutes before stopping again so the battery can continue to charge. Otherwise, you might need another jump start.