Operation and maintenance manual

4-9
Starting the Engine with Jumper Cables
WARNINGS
Hazardous hydrogen gas and sulphuric acid. Check for required voltage
and polarity connections to discharged batteries. Excessive booster
voltage and/or incorrect jumper cable connections, open flame, lighted
cigar, or other ignition source can cause battery explosion/fire. Keep all
sources of ignition away from batteries. Do not lean over batteries, and,
wear eye protection at all times to prevent personal injury.
Do not jump start a vehicle by using arc welding equipment.
Currents and voltages are dangerously high and cannot be sufficiently
reduced to make the method safe.
Note: Be sure vehicles are not touching each other. Use cables that are equal to
cable size on the vehicle, for example (1/0) or (2/0).
If jumper cables are used to start an engine, be sure to follow this procedure:
Connect one end of a jumper cable, usually coloured red, to the discharged battery
'POSITIVE' (+) post. Connect the other end of the same cable to the 'POSITIVE' (+)
post on the booster or charged battery.
Connect one end of the second cable, usually coloured black, to the 'NEGATIVE' (-)
post of the booster battery. Connect the other end of the 'NEGATIVE' (-) cable to
machine frame for grounding so that if a spark occurs, it is away from battery fumes
(explosive hydrogen).
Check for cause of failure on the dead battery.