Jump starting from power pack - where to clamp the negative?

[philmc]

Morning all,
Pretty basic request for advice here - Eugene, my 2l Aircooled 1985 hi-top is coming out of hibernation. His battery has run down and turns over a bit but needs a boost. I know he will start as the AA got him going last week. Now I've got one of those nifty power packs to boost him myself. Idea is to have it on hand but get him going and do a good long run to get the battery (1yr old, Bosch) back into fine fettle. I know the alternator works ok and am aware that there may be a minor leccy drain from somewhere in the van - thats my next issue to sort.

BUT - I've only ever jump/boost started cars where the battery is in the engine compartment. My elementary schoolboy question is - can I clamp the negative lead of the booster to any metal part of the van, such as for instance the seat frame or door pillar? I want to jump the engine, not myself

Thanks for any advice!

Phil

[Wychall]

Just clamp the negative of the pack to the negative of the battery.

Clamping to the body anywhere would be fine but you would need to strip the paint to bright metal first.

[bigherb]

Good practise is not to connect the jump leads to the negative terminal of the battery unless the battery pack leads have an isolator switch in case a spark ignites any Hydrogen gasses around the battery. Good place to connect too is to the door striker plate on the B post.

[philmc]

Thanks for such rapid replies! I'm going to try the B post - am not known for my luck with electricity so rather not take a chance. All the best

[Aidan]

/\/\/\/\
what he said the door striker is an excellent earth and best place for jump pack connection, never use the battery earth as if the battery is the problem it can drain down the jump pack

on cars I find the front damper where it sticks through the arch is usually a good earth