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Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 19:52
by womad
Hi all

Have bought myself an emergency battery booster to keep in the van in case i get caught short on the road

According to instructions i have to attach negative lead to non moving metal part of engine. Obviously as battery under drivers seat this will be impossible so contacted the company and asked if i could connect to other end of battery earth lead where it bolts to the body , they cannot give advice either way but i need to check the vehicle is negative earth ???

So can anybody please advise if my 1988 T25 is negative earth or suggest where i should be attaching the booster earth cable ??

Keith

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 19:55
by CovKid
Yes negative earth. Can't see why you can't just clip booster straight to battery.

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 20:06
by womad
Seems bizarre that i cannot connect straight to battery but the instructions say not in capital letters !!

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 20:26
by tonytech
No reason NOT to connect to battery earth, BUT if you connect to the engine you remove the resistance of the earth straps, and bodywork.
T

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 22:03
by bigherb
It is safe practise not to connect to the battery in case the battery has been gassing and you ignite any stray hydrogen gas.

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 08 Aug 2011, 22:08
by jamesc76
bigherb wrote:It is safe practise not to connect to the battery in case the battery has been gassing and you ignite any stray hydrogen gas.


All so on modern engines its to stop direct spiking of the ecu, no need to worry on these old things!

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 09 Aug 2011, 08:29
by womad
Ok so upshot is that I can connect booster to other end of battery lead where it bolts to chassis ?

Re: Negative Earth ??

Posted: 09 Aug 2011, 15:54
by jamesc76
bung it on both terminals be fine