- With an AutoXtreme jumpstarter the order is simple: red on the positive terminal, black on the negative terminal, wait until "12V Ready" shows, then start.
- You disconnect in reverse order: first the black clamp, then the red one.
- The smart clamps are protected, so you clamp straight onto the battery. A ground point is the exception, only when the clamps are too short.
- With classic jump leads between two cars the order does matter. More on that below.
Red first or black first? When connecting clamps, a lot of people hesitate about the right order, and rightly so: with old school jump leads, the wrong order can cause sparks. With a modern jumpstarter this is a lot simpler. Below you'll read exactly in what order to connect, how to disconnect again and why jump leads are a bit more particular.
The order with an AutoXtreme jumpstarter
An AutoXtreme jumpstarter works with smart clamps that are protected against reverse polarity, short circuits and sparks. That means you simply clamp straight onto the battery terminals, and these 3 steps are enough.
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Red on the positive terminal, black on the negative terminal
Clamp the red clamp onto the positive terminal of the battery and the black one onto the negative terminal. You recognize the positive terminal by a plus sign or a red cap. Make sure both clamps sit firmly.
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Wait for 12V Ready
With a correct connection the screen shows "12V Ready". Don't see that message? Check whether red is on the positive terminal and black on the negative terminal, and whether the clamps make good contact.
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Start, then disconnect in reverse order
Start your vehicle. Once the engine catches, disconnect the black clamp first, then the red one. So disconnecting is exactly the reverse of connecting.
Watch the order when disconnecting. After starting, always disconnect the black clamp first and then the red one, so you don't cause a short circuit. Never let the red and black clamp touch each other. If the clamps are too short to reach the negative terminal, clamp black onto a bare, unpainted ground point on the chassis instead. That's the exception, not the standard. Is the battery deeply discharged and nothing happens? Then use ForceStart, and only when it's really needed.
And with classic jump leads between two cars?
If you don't have a jumpstarter but jump leads and a second car, the order matters more. Turn off both cars and follow this order.
- Red clamp on the positive terminal of the flat battery.
- Other red clamp on the positive terminal of the full battery.
- Black clamp on the negative terminal of the full battery.
- Last black clamp on a bare, unpainted ground point of the car with the flat battery, not on the negative terminal itself.
Then start the helper car first, then the car with the flat battery. Disconnect in reverse order: from 4 back to 1. That last ground point instead of the negative terminal keeps a spark from forming right next to the battery. A jumpstarter takes exactly this hassle off your hands.
Why a jumpstarter makes the order simpler
With jump leads you place four clamps in the right order and look for a ground point, with two cars parked next to each other. A jumpstarter has only two clamps and built in protection, so you clamp red on positive and black on negative, straight onto the battery. You also don't need a second car. Want to know how powerful your model needs to be? Check the CCA and EN on your battery label and compare that with the CCA of the jumpstarter. For most cars the Boost Mini 3750 is enough, for diesels and larger engines you go for the Boost Pro 8250.
- 960 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps, the real starting power in a cold start), enough for most petrol and diesel cars
- Smart clamps with protection against reverse polarity, short circuits and sparks, so you connect without hassle
- Ordered before 5pm, shipped the same working day
Frequently asked questions
Do you connect red or black first on a jumpstarter?
Clamp red onto the positive terminal first, then black onto the negative terminal. The smart clamps are protected, so the order isn't critical, but red first is a good habit. You disconnect the other way around.
In what order do you disconnect the clamps again?
In the reverse order of connecting: first the black clamp, then the red one. That way you avoid a short circuit at the moment you disconnect.
Does the order really matter with a jumpstarter?
Less than with jump leads. The clamps are protected against reverse polarity, short circuits and sparks, so you simply clamp straight onto the battery. Do keep red on positive and black on negative.
What's the right order with jump leads between two cars?
Red on the flat positive terminal, red on the full positive terminal, black on the full negative terminal, and the last black on a ground point of the car with the flat battery. Disconnect in reverse order.
Why does the last clamp with jump leads go on a ground point?
That way any spark doesn't form right next to the battery, where hydrogen gas can build up. With an AutoXtreme jumpstarter this isn't necessary, because the clamps are protected.
