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Battery and charger

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 8:54 am
by southerly95
I need to charge my Morris’s battery which is a negative earth vehicle. So the red cable is on the positive terminal and the earth cable on the negative terminal.

I’ve a senior moment or three - just to check that I should connect the red charger clip to the red battery terminal likewise the black?

Thanks John

Re: Battery and charger

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:17 am
by Apolaustic
Morning John!

Yes. Make sure charger is switched off, connect positive from charger (red) to positive battery terminal, and then negative from charger (black) to negative battery terminal. Then switch on charger. After switching off, remove in reverse order.

Re: Battery and charger

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:26 am
by southerly95
Thanks for prompt reply! Best wishes, John

Re: Battery and charger

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:39 am
by KeithL
Most modern chargers have a polarity check should you get it wrong, not that I ever have...... :oops:

Re: Battery and charger

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:24 pm
by oliver90owner
Advice: Do not fit the earth charging clip directly to the battery terminal. It should be away from the battery and connected last or disconnected first, to ensure that any sparking (which might possibly occur) cannot ignite any hydrogen/oxygen mixture in or around the battery and cause an explosion. Doesn’t happen often, but you really don’t want to be close to the battery, should it disintegrate!

No option, if the battery is off the vehicle, unless a long lead is connected to one terminal (few do), so better left switched off for a while before disconnecting a battery charger.

Modern ‘sealed for life’ batteries are far better in this respect, but there is still a small risk, particularly if the battery is an old one.

I’ve never had a battery explode but a friend was welding/grinding across the other side of his garage and a stray spark exploded a battery which was on charge. Made a mess of everything close by, even though he washed every thing down. He now always takes precautions when charging a battery.🙂