Topic: help with wiring issue, spark when touching the positive cable to batt

[andy8190]

when i touch the positive battery wire to the battery I get a spark. The negative is already connected. What does this mean. CB350f

[andy8190]

wait i think i figured it out, update to follow.

Update, yep like a dumba** i had the terminals backwards

[KRONUS0100]

not being a smartass.......but i was taught to hook the positive cable up first, and to disconnect the negative first

[tomkimberly]

not being a smartass.......but i was taught to hook the positive cable up first, and to disconnect the negative first

+1

[dave500]

did you have them reversed for very long?be prepared to replace the retifier maybe.

[andy8190]

No I didn't have them hooked up really at all. I went to bolt down the positive side and every time I touched the positive to the terminal it would spark a little so I never actually fully connected it, think it'll be okay?

Also I don't take it as being a smartass, I was never taught anything about working on cars or any type of motors so it's all learn as I go or from what I read.

[2wheels]

I had a battery explode in my face when I was much younger.
That is the reason the positive should be connected first.  So if your wrench or tool touches the chassis when you are working on the positive terminal,  no problem because the negative terminal is not connected.

When removing the battery the negative must come off first.
And as long as the key is Off there should not be a spark, as you suspected.

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you have a multimeter test your rectifier according to the good book.
Just one spark has fried it's share of diodes, verify.

[andy8190]

Yep got the multimeter so I will rest it real quick this afternoon

[Xnavylfr]

HEY 2Wheels. if you disconnect the NEGATIVE wire and then when disconnecting the positive you touch the wrench to the frame ,,YOU JUST GROUNDED THE BATTERY and you will get an ARC/SPARK!!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[bjbuchanan]

HEY 2Wheels. if you disconnect the NEGATIVE wire and then when disconnecting the positive you touch the wrench to the frame ,,YOU JUST GROUNDED THE BATTERY and you will get an ARC/SPARK!!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

It still won't be as bad as if you had that negative cable hooked up

My best friend convinced some sped sled kid we knew to take a big fat screwdriver and touch the car battery terminals together and needless to say sh!t got real

Welded the screwdriver to atleast one terminal, it was a sealed battery and everything smelled terrible and the batt was swelled

[dave500]

if you disconnect the negative from the battery,then touch the positive to the frame you will not get a spark,,if you touch it to the negative terminal you will.

[jason41987]

i learned to connect the positive terminal first because if your socket wrench smacks the frame, or something grounded while tightening, you could get zapped... so if the negative is disconnected, no risk, and when youre tightening the negative down, hitting something grounded isnt going to do anything... common sense

[RAFster122s]

It is a good idea to cover the terminal if disconnected when working near the battery to prevent a wrench from accidently completing the circuit. A shop rag works well for this. I like to clean the terminals and battery external surface if I have the battery disconnected. It is a good preventive maintenance action that helps with acid control for std lead acid batteries and I think it helps any battery by removing any potential path for discharge. More of an issue when dealing with acid as it conducts some of the electricity to any metal contact it makes. Sealed batteries (non vented designs like SLA/AGM) don't have acid leaking causing these minor drains nor more importantly the corrosion from the acid.

[2wheels]

HEY 2Wheels. if you disconnect the NEGATIVE wire and then when disconnecting the positive you touch the wrench to the frame ,,YOU JUST GROUNDED THE BATTERY and you will get an ARC/SPARK!!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

no, I think your wrong.
If the negative battery wire is removed from the battery.  You can touch the positive battery to the frame all you want.  No sparks, no shocks, nothing.
Just make sure the battery negative post isn't touching anything.  A rag over top of it is a good idea.

Apologies to Andy for side tracking the thread.