So, red indicates the positive terminal, while black is the negative terminal.
Easily Identify the Car Battery’s Positive and Negative Sidesīy knowing the usual colors that represent the terminals of a car battery, you will easily identify the car battery’s positive and negative sides. If you are reviving a dead battery, you should not connect the red cable of the jumper set to the negative or black terminal of the dead battery. Do Not Connect the Jumper’s Red Cable to the Dead Battery’s Black Terminal The negative terminal usually has a minus sign and is black. So, red is the car battery’s positive color.
#Red positive black negative battery plus
Typically, the positive terminal has a plus sign and is red. Battery Positive Color and Negative Color Car Batteries Have Positive and Negative TerminalsĪll car batteries have positive and negative terminals. Read on to learn more about a car battery’s positive and negative colors and how a battery works. The negative terminal is the one that is connected to the vehicle’s metal chassis or engine block. Red is usually associated with the plus (+) sign, the battery’s positive terminal.īlack is typically used to identify the minus (-) sign or negative terminal of the battery. Most terminals of car batteries are color-coded. You should never connect the red cable of a jumper cable to the negative battery terminal but only to the positive terminal. Usually, the positive terminal is red, while the negative terminal is black. One is positive, and another is negative. What if the terminals of the battery have no colors? This article will discuss the battery’s positive and negative color – how a car battery works.Ĭar batteries always have two terminals. These simple on-off devices isolate the electric system and guarantee against any power drain.If you don’t know enough about a car battery, you may assume that the positive sign on the red cable means it is the positive terminal. The alarm system is one such drain, but there are very good reasons to leave it switched on-that’s why it’s there! You can have peace of mind by installing an under-hood battery kill switch, usually around $15. If your away time will be relatively short, you can probably leave your battery connected without a tender, but make sure all power drains are shut off. Do not put your fingers down the fill holes! Today, though, many newer batteries are maintenance-free flat tops that don’t permit refilling. And in batteries that allow the addition of electrolyte, carefully remove the covers (usually two) with a pry bar or screwdriver and, using a small funnel or turkey baster, add distilled, deionized or demineralized water (never tap) until you see the liquid covering the metal plates. Clean the terminals of debris and buildup (using a small brush and a mixture of water and baking soda), and add a dollop of dielectric grease as preventative maintenance. Getty Stay Level Headedīefore putting your battery away, two maintenance items are recommended. Keep in mind batteries are heavy and hard to access before you decide to store a battery outside the car. A properly stored lead-acid battery can be maintained for up to two years. The consequences of getting this wrong can include an exploding battery. When reattaching the battery, triple-check to see that the positive cable is attached to the positive terminal and negative to negative. If this sounds like too much work (batteries are heavy and sometimes hard to access), you can avoid some possible discharge by simply removing the cables in place. Make sure the battery is fully charged, then attach a battery tender. While the battery is out, inspect it carefully for leaks or case damage. The basement is OK, but not if it’s damp and not on the concrete floor-prop it up-very level-on plywood instead. Inside storage is a good practice during the winter months in very cold climates. The optimum temperature for car batteries is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Wearing gloves and goggles for this is a good idea. If it’s going to be a while and you’re good with a wrench, consider removing the battery from the car and bringing it into the house. Keep your car charged with a battery tender, which can give you other information about your car battery. In most cases with tenders, you can set it and forget it-though occasionally checking in to make sure all is well is a good idea.
Some of the more expensive units (still under $100) claim to be able to repair battery plates damaged by sulfation (the buildup of lead sulfate crystals on the plates). If the battery is near the end of its life, many tenders will issue a heads-up. They not only keep the battery topped off but will also issue a warning if you don’t observe polarity (red positive to red, black negative to black). Despite being available for less than $30 in many cases, tenders have become quite sophisticated.
The easiest way to keep your car charged is with an inexpensive battery tender.
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