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Unable to start your car? Is your car’s battery flat?
While it is within most people to want to help someone jump-start their car using a set of jumpers, if not done correctly, the two jumper clamps can touch, producing a spark!
This in turn car sparks off (pun intended) worries about the possibility of unplanned costs if the car’s electrical system is damaged and even feelings of guilt or regret for having helped at all.
Is the car battery, alternator, and electronics damaged or intact?
So, read on to learn what happens when the jumper clamps touch, the likely dangers, and how you can prevent the jumper cables from touching each other.
Quick answer: The metal clamps on one end of a set of jumper cables may accidentally touch (with the opposite end still connected to a charged car battery) during connection or disconnection potentially causing damage to the car’s electrical system – battery, electronics, and alternator.
Note, that it may not always result in damage. In some cases, the car’s electrical system may be spared and continue working as expected.
What Happens when Jumper Cables touch Together?
When the jumper leads touch with a battery connected or the car engine is running then you’ll see sparks from the short circuit.
Depending on how long they touch, the age and charge status of the battery then any of the following can happen:
#1. Your car’s electrical system may remain intact with no damage suffered.
Is it Safe? What are the Risks?
#2. In the worst-case scenario, the jumper wires may melt, the car battery may be damaged, or explode from the heat generated when excessive current is drawn from it as a result of the short.
The hot or melting jumper leads and the exploding battery can also cause severe burns and injury to you.
Every attempt should be taken to avoid jumper cables from touching.
If the car engine is running when the jumper cables are shorted, the car may fail to start and some electronics.
Check the alternator fuse and other fuses in the car’s fuse box. Hopefully, there is no damage to the car beyond the fuses blowing.
Tips to Prevent jumper cables from Touching?
If you’ve ever spent a sleepless night wondering whether your car’s electrical system may have been damaged by accidentally touching the jumpers then preventing it from happening will be of interest.
Follow these tips to help you avoid such a scenario.
#1. Connect One Jumper Lead at a Time
If using jumper cables, connect or disconnect one lead at a time.
This way you are not holding both positive and negative cables with either battery connected which increases the likelihood of a short-circuit.
To illustrate, when connecting jumper leads, for example, you start by connecting the positive (red) lead on the battery post of the charged battery and then move to connect the other positive (red) lead on the battery post next.
Take care to always work with one lead at a time until the connection is complete on both ends before moving to the next.
#2. Use a Jumper Starter Box with Short-Circuit Protection
You can also use good quality battery-powered jumpstarter.
These usually have a number of protection features such as short-circuit protection and reverse polarity protection to prevent damage to the car’s electronics and the battery should there be a short-circuit.
Lastly, take your time. As simple as this may sound, jumper cables usually touch because one is in a hurry to connect or disconnect.
So, take time to identify the battery positive and negative terminals and make the connections and disconnections without rushing. This will minimize the likelihood of accidents.
What checks to Do on Car if Jumper Cables touch?
If the car jumper leads touch, it may not be apparent at the time if any damage has been caused.
Here are some checks you can do:
Is the car able to start smoothly?
Are the car’s electronic accessories (- radio, clock, GPS, and others) working well?
Note, that the battery may not always explode but the battery’s lifespan may be shortened. This may not be evident immediately. When this is the case, you may observe the battery draining overnight and the need to frequently jump your car.
You can confirm this by having your car battery load tested at an auto repair shop.
Related Questions
#1. Is it safe to Touch Battery Terminals (Posts)?
Yes, you can touch battery terminals without the danger of electric shocks.
Be careful though as they may be extremely hot – if the connections are loose and cause injury to you.
Also, the battery surface may have spilled electrolyte which can cause injury.
So, wear gloves and protective eyeglasses when working around batteries.
#2. Can Jumper Cables give you an Electric Shock?
No, the 12V DC car battery voltage is not enough to cause an electric shock, so no need to worry about that.
The high currents drawn when the car is starting or when the battery clamps touch generate heat, can melt and cause injury to you though especially if you hold the exposed metal of the battery clamps or use undersized jumper leads.
Final Word
If the car jumper cables touch, you’ll have lots of sparks flying if they are connected to a charged car battery.
Your battery and car’s electronics may be damaged as a result of the short circuit.
To avoid the risk of clamps touching, connect one jumper lead at a time or you can use a jump starter box with short-circuit protection
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