Jump starting a car?

[Uclagamer_99]

Is it normal for the jumper cable connection to spark when you connect it to your engine block?

I did (+)booster (+)dead.
Then (-)booster engine block.

It scared the crap out of me when it happened...so being the weeny that I am called a tow truck to come jump it for me for a small fee. Now I'm a bit confused as he actually connected one of the jumper cables to the (-) terminal on my dead battery which I thought was supposed to be a BIG no-no as the sparks can ignite the battery.

Can anyone clear it up for me?

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Yep.

Usually happens that way.

Edit: I typically do the big no-no too and hook right up to the battery terminals.

 

[pontifex]

i thought it was + to + and - to -???
i've only jumpstarted 1 car and thats how we did it...

 

[Proletariat]

normal bro. You won't get killed theres rubber protecting you!

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, they sometimes spark when connected. You shouldn't connect to the dead car's negative terminal for safety (to minimize the chance of battery gases exploding).

 

[JohnCU]

There is a rush of energy, hence the sparks, when you connect to a dead battery.

 

[zanieladie]

Sometimes that has happened to me. It does startle you when it does...LOL

 

[Uclagamer_99]

Hmm...so why does it do this in some instances but not others? I've jumped my car twice before but there were never any sparks (hence why it scared the living crap out of me LOL).

Does it have anything to do with the quality of the cables? I borrowed a set from a local auto-shop and they were looking pretty beat up compared to the ones the tow truck guy used. I'm kinda sad that I spent money when I didn't need to...haha but I suppose it was worth the peace of mind (at the time at least)

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
Yep.

Usually happens that way.

Edit: I typically do the big no-no too and hook right up to the battery terminals.

I sometimes try to ground the cables, but I've had a battery not respond to that at all because it was drained too far. At that point, a quick change of + to + and - to - is usually enough to get it going.