Booster Cables

The first time you use your booster cable you will save yourself a costly tow charger and hassle of waiting for wrecker service.

There are a few important things when shopping for BOOSTER CABLES. The most important thing to look for is the (AWGAmpsAmps AWG AWG) or gauge. This is a measurement of the size of the wire. The size in turn defines how much electricity or current the wire can safely carry. Most booster cables that you buy at your local retailers are generally 12 AWG. See table 1. below for Maximum amps per AWG that is recommended for chassis type wiring.

Table 1.

As you can see in the table 12 AWG wire is only suitable for 41 Amps, that is barely enough to run a car stereo amplifier never mind start a car when the batter is low or dead.
If you have ever used booster cables you probably had to rev the engine of the other car and wait a few minutes before the vehicle with the dead battery would turn over or start. The solution to this is  to purchase a booster cables that are built with a heavier gauge (smaller number) wire. For example a 6 AWG booster cable would boost a dead battery much quicker then the 12 AWG. I can not truthfully give you an exact time it would take to boost a particular vehicle since there are many variables I cannot account for but in most scenarios it will be quicker.

Booster Cable Connection Procedure

1. Ensure the powered vehicle is off.
2. Turn off all components in the dead vehicle and ensure the key is in the off position.
3. Connect the Black cable to the negative terminal on the running vehicle and the other black lead  to the engine block(something metal on the engine) on the dead one.
   1. This is because the engine starter is grounded to the engine block. (It is bolted to it). This provides the shortest route for the current to travel. Remember, you are not charging the battery you are merely boosting the dead one.
4. Connect the Red lead to the Positive (red) lead on the dead battery first.
5. Connect the other end of the Red lead to the good battery.
6. Start the operational vehicle to provide as much current to the dead battery as possible.
7. Attempt to start the dead vehicle. If the engine turns slow wait for a few minutes to allow the battery to charge.
   1. Check the connections to ensure they are secure.
8. Once both vehicles are running remove the cables.
9. Remove the Black Negative leads first to prevent an potential sparks or shorting of the cable.
10. Remove the Red Positive leads from each battery and store the cables as normal.

Safety: Lead cell battery's (Like the ones used in most all automobiles) will off gas small amounts of hydrogen gas. This is why you have heard people cautioning of explosion risk. Granted it is possible but unlikely especially if there is a breeze and you are doing this outside. Remember, hydrogen is lighter then air so it will rise and dissipate rather quickly. I would advise not smoking while performing this.

So to sum this up, the few extra dollars you have to spend to buy a quality booster cable pays for itself the first time you use it.