Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Jump Leads

It is very common to make mistakes while using jump leads, you want to avoid this to you can successfully use them and be safe to battery jump start. Jump leads are an essential tool but the wrong usage of them can damage the vehicle electrical system or cause personal injury. This blog will provide practical advice to avoid mistake.

Connecting the Leads in the Wrong Order

Connecting the Cables incorrectly (positive to negative or vice versa), Reversing the order can cause a spark, which may lead to battery damage or even an explosion.

How to prevent this:

Always connect the Positive (red) lead to the positive terminal of the dead battery and then to the positive terminal of the working battery. Connect the Negative (black) lead to the negative terminal of the working battery, and then attach the other end to a grounded metal part of the dead vehicle’s engine or chassis(not the battery).

Pro Tip: Double-check each connection before starting.

Using the Wrong Type of Jump Leads

The mistake of using jump leads that are not rated for your vehicle’s battery size or amperage, this can be dangerous cause by using cables that are too thin or weak for your vehicle’s battery can cause overheating, melting of the wires or even fire.

How to prevent this:

Pro Tip: if unsure, invest in jumper cables that meet or exceed the required amperage for both vehicles.

Not Checking Battery Health Before Jump-Starting

Don’t do the mistake of attempting a jump start on a battery that is completely dead or damaged beyond repair. this can be dangerous as trying to jump-start damaged battery can cause serious electrical problems or worse due to gas build up.

How to prevent this:

Pro Tip: If the battery is bulging, leaking, or showing other signs of damage, replace it before attempting to jump start.

Revving the Engine Too Hard

Revving the engine of the donor vehicle to high RPMs can be a mistake during the jump-start process because it can cause electrical surges that can damage the battery and electronics in both vehicle.

Pro Tip: If the vehicle still doesn’t start after a few minutes, stop and recheck your connections or consider a new battery.

Disconnecting the Leads Incorrectly

The mistake in disconnecting the jump leads in the wrong order or too quickly, can be dangerous as it can lead to sparks or electrical shorts, damaging the vehicle’s electrical components.

How to prevent this:

Disconnect in reverse order: start by removing the negative (black) lead from the grounded metal part of the vehicle, then remove the negative lead from the donor vehicle. Next, Remove the positive (red) leads, first from the working battery and then from the dead battery.

Pro Tip: Always remove cables slowly and methodically to avoid a sudden spark to short circuit.