What would happen?

   / What would happen? #1  

betty2017

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Messages
47
Location
NYC,New York State
Tractor
Kubota BX-25D
What would happen if we connect the positive and negative poles together?

what.jpg
 
   / What would happen? #2  
If the device pictured doesn't have output current limiting, is not able to detect a short, and depending on its charge state, the jumper cable wires will have a very short life as will the device.
 
   / What would happen? #3  
For a really fun time connect a telephone central offices -48 volt power buss to ground before the main fusible link. Yes, large copper buss bars can and will turn white hot, melt and fall onto the floor.
 
   / What would happen? #4  
A friend in high school hooked up the jumper cables backwards on a car battery once and it exploded on him. I accidentally touched a wrench to both polls on a battery while taking off a cable and it melted a bit of the wrench off in about a second.
 
   / What would happen?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Oh, how was your friend? Was he OK?

A friend in high school hooked up the jumper cables backwards on a car battery once and it exploded on him. I accidentally touched a wrench to both polls on a battery while taking off a cable and it melted a bit of the wrench off in about a second.
 
   / What would happen? #7  
I was under a tandem truck removing the starter, being a duma$$ or lazya$$, take you choice, I shorted the battery wire to ground, burnt my hand a bit and soiled the shorts and wrote the wrench........Mike
 
   / What would happen? #8  
I had a friend that after starting on his second six pack touched the positive and negatives together on a truck to see what would happen. After he got out of the hospital people referred to him as one eye.
 
   / What would happen? #9  
A friend in high school hooked up the jumper cables backwards on a car battery once and it exploded on him. I accidentally touched a wrench to both polls on a battery while taking off a cable and it melted a bit of the wrench off in about a second.

This is equivalent to touching a wrench to the frame and the positive (+) pole of the battery if the battery's negative pole is connected. (Assuming a modern (post-1960 12V) negative ground system)

We should all remember that this is why you should disconnect the negative post first when removing a battery, and connect it up last when installing a battery. That way there is no short circuit path from the + terminal to the - terminal of the battery through the frame, and you won't melt your wrench if you touch the frame when putting on or taking off the +terminal.

^It seems backwards to disconnect the "ground" before the hot (opposite doing work on your household AC circuit), but.....
 
   / What would happen? #10  
Positive cable "welded" a hole through a brand new header one time as we were so excited to fire the new engine for the first time no one noticed the cable resting against it.
 

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