Battery hot wire (witch one is the hot?)

[BC4]

Hi All,

I have a 2816 Mahindra and I took the battery out. To put it back I am not sure
witch terminal is the hot side (or ground side). One has a yellow stripe down it
and I think that is it. It does not have any markings.

Anyone know for sure and how can I tell?

Bob

 

[Birdhunter1]

Follow the cables, the positive/+/hot will go to the starter solenoid, the negative/-/ground will go to the frame or engine block somewhere.

 

[grsthegreat]

not by color. can you follow the leads to see where they go. the ground side should lead to a bolt that is on the frame of the tractor. most use red color cable for hot (+) side.

 

[oldpilgrim]

my 3016 is the one with the big plastic connector attached to it along with the starter cable. It's the one on the 'driver's side of the tractor.

Should be the same as yours.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Are you saying that the cables are both Black? The positive should be red insulation all the way or at least have a red insulating cover on it to cover the battery terminal. The - or ground side wont have a cover on the cable and should be black. Failing those two requirement for electrical wiring, just do as suggested and find where the cable goes to ground and put it on the minus side (-) of the battery post.

 

[LD1]

Agree, follow the cables. I am betting the one with a yellow tracer is the ground.

 

[flyerdan]

Normally, battery cables will 'take a set' as to how they want to lay; replacing the same battery they should want to fall to the respective posts. Most batteries have the posts offset to one edge, so if the cables don't reach it needs turned around. As a last resort, the posts are different sizes and the negative clamp would have to be widened considerably to go onto the positive post, so that should be a red flag.