when messing with wires you have to disconnect negative port for battery? right?

[crazyjeepkid]

pretty sure its the negative but im not positive it is

 

[new jeep owner]

always a good idea to disconnect the battery when working with anything electrical.
and yes you are right it is the negative cable you want to unhook

 

[crazyjeepkid]

thanks man

 

[cplchris]

where in new york state are you located?

 

[J-Thompson]

Either 1 opens the circuit
but the common thought is the negative

 

[crazyjeepkid]

where in new york state are you located?

just north of nyc

 

[SabaII]

You always un-hook the negative first. We do this so to protect ourselves and the components on the vehicle. So if you accidentally hit the wrench, or what ever you are using, to the vehicle while disconnecting the battery you will not short anything out. Once the negative is disconnected you can short the positive all day long and nothing will happen. If you are repairing sensitive electrical or you are worried about electrocution then disconnect the negative. Also if you are welding on the vehicle.

If you are replacing the battery then you want to disconnect negative then positive.
Reconnect positive then negative. And as long as you don't short the wrench between the posts on the battery you will be alright.

Figured one of us should explain why we do it that way.

 

[J-Thompson]

Any DC circuit can be opened by disconnecting
any part of the power supply
Disconnecting either the positive or negative opens the
circuit

Or maybe I have been wrong for the past 15+ years of
feild expenance as an instrument tech

 

[Paul M]

Any DC circuit can be opened by disconnecting
any part of the power supply
Disconnecting either the positive or negative opens the
circuit

Or maybe I have been wrong for the past 15+ years of
feild expenance as an instrument tech

No, you are correct...either way works. However, as SabaII points out disconnecting the negative completely negates any concern for a path for voltage flow. How? Despite modern electrical conventions, electrons actually move from the negative to the positive but we use the convention that current flows from the positive terminal to the negative. Yeah, it's backwards, but nonetheless that is how we think of DC current flow. Therefore, disconnecting the positive also does the same thing in preventing current flow, but everything in the vehicle is directly connected to the negative (ground) so the neg. cable disconnect tends to be "safer".

Bottom line: If you have any concern when you're working on your vehicle take another 30 seconds to disconnect both pos. & neg. cables from the battery terminals...there is too much sensitive electronics in the vehicle that an errant electrical zap could take out thru the electrical path of either cable or equipment (altho, modern vehicles tend to be pretty robust with grounding out electrical charges.)

 

[Dave]

No, you are correct...either way works. However, as SabaII points out disconnecting the negative completely negates any concern for a path for voltage flow. How? Despite modern electrical conventions, electrons actually move from the negative to the positive but we use the convention that current flows from the positive terminal to the negative. Yeah, it's backwards, but nonetheless that is how we think of DC current flow. Therefore, disconnecting the positive also does the same thing in preventing current flow, but everything in the vehicle is directly connected to the negative (ground) so the neg. cable disconnect tends to be "safer".

Bottom line: If you have any concern when you're working on your vehicle take another 30 seconds to disconnect both pos. & neg. cables from the battery terminals...there is too much sensitive electronics in the vehicle that an errant electrical zap could take out thru the electrical path of either cable or equipment (altho, modern vehicles tend to be pretty robust with grounding out electrical charges.)

That's what I would do and then take the opportunity to use my battery post and cable cleaner brushes before re-connecting. (even if they didn't look too bad). That is just me. Maybe I am OCD or something.....:shrug:

Dave

 

[Paul M]

That's what I would do and then take the opportunity to use my battery post and cable cleaner brushes before re-connecting. (even if they didn't look too bad). That is just me. Maybe I am OCD or something.....:shrug:

Dave

Better OCD than sorry...beats welding a wrench or screwdriver to something or blowing the battery up next to your head. :freak3:

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Better OCD than sorry...beats welding a wrench or screwdriver to something or blowing the battery up next to your head. :freak3:

I had a very stupid acquaintance that did that with a brand new battery and a
half inch wrench.
Welded it to both the positive and negative battery terminals, then subsequently
blew up the battery!:waytogo:loser.gif

 

[Paul M]

I had a very stupid acquaintance that did that with a brand new battery and a
half inch wrench.
Welded it to both the positive and negative battery terminals, then subsequently
blew up the battery!:waytogo:loser.gif

No sense taking chances...makes a heckuva noise and a mess, and every time you pull out that wrench yer reminded what a dolt you were.:Grenade: