- Jump start safely by clamping the smart clamps directly onto the battery terminals: red on the positive terminal, black on the negative terminal.
- A battery can release hydrogen gas, and that is flammable. So prevent sparks and open flames near the battery.
- AutoXtreme's smart clamps are protected against reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks, so you do not need to look for a remote ground point.
- Never let the red and black clamp touch each other, since that causes a short circuit.
Jump starting sounds scarier than it is. With a modern jump starter and a few simple rules, it is a safe job that takes a few minutes. Still, you hear stories about sparks and damaged electronics. Those are almost always caused by an incorrect connection or old-fashioned jump leads. Below you can read why safety matters, how to start safely in 3 steps, and which mistakes you are better off avoiding.
Why safety matters with a battery
A car battery releases small amounts of hydrogen gas while charging and discharging. That gas is flammable. If a spark occurs right next to the battery terminals, it can, in the worst case, ignite the gas. With old-fashioned jump leads, that sparking happens easily, because you connect the clamps while they carry a charge. A good jump starter with smart clamps prevents exactly that sparking. That is why spark-free work is the core of safe jump starting.
Starting safely in 3 steps
AutoXtreme jump starters work with smart clamps that you clamp directly onto the battery. The screen itself tells you when everything is ready. Follow these three steps and you start safely.
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Connect
Connect the jump starter with the included smart clamps directly to the battery. Red on the positive terminal, black on the negative terminal. You recognize the positive terminal by a plus sign or a red cap. Make sure the clamps make solid contact and do not slip off.
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12V Ready
With a correct connection, the screen shows "12V Ready". That is your sign that everything is set up correctly and you can safely continue. Not seeing that message? Check whether red is on the positive terminal and black on the negative terminal, and whether the clamps are properly attached.
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Start
Start your vehicle. If the engine starts, disconnect the clamps again. If it does not start, wait half a minute before trying again.
Working safely with the clamps. The smart clamps are protected against reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks. So you simply clamp directly onto the battery terminals, without looking for a remote ground point. Do not let the red and black clamp touch each other, since that causes a short circuit. Is your battery completely empty or deeply discharged and nothing happens? Then use ForceStart. That function temporarily switches off the protections, so use it only when it is really needed and follow the instructions carefully.
The three biggest risks and how you prevent them
With jump starting there are three classic risks, and a good jump starter removes all three. The first is reverse polarity: red on negative and black on positive. The protected clamps then step in and do not deliver power, so your electronics stay safe. The second is a short circuit, when the clamps touch each other or a metal part. The third is sparks near the battery. Because you connect spark-free with smart clamps, that risk is small. If you are unsure which jump starter has enough power for your car, first read what CCA actually is.
What you are better off not doing
There are a few things you should skip. Do not smoke and do not use an open flame near the battery, because of the hydrogen gas. Do not let the red and black clamp touch each other. Always connect red on the positive terminal first, then black on the negative terminal, not the other way around. Do not look for a remote ground point if you can simply reach the battery, because that is not necessary with protected clamps. And use ForceStart only for a genuinely deeply discharged battery, not as a default button.
- 620 CCA, covers most petrol and diesel cars
- Smart clamps with protection against reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks
- Compact, fits in the glovebox
Frequently asked questions
Is jump starting dangerous?
No, as long as you prevent sparks and short circuits. With smart clamps protected against reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks, jump starting is a safe job that takes a few minutes.
Why should no spark occur near the battery?
A battery releases small amounts of hydrogen gas, and that is flammable. A spark right next to the terminals can ignite that gas. The smart clamps connect spark-free, which keeps that risk small.
In what order do I connect the clamps?
First red on the positive terminal, then black on the negative terminal. With AutoXtreme's protected clamps, the protection kicks in if you swap them. Do not let the clamps touch each other.
Do I need to put the black clamp on a ground point?
No. You simply clamp black directly onto the battery's negative terminal, because the clamps are protected. You only use a remote ground point if the clamps are too short to reach the battery.
Can a jump starter damage my car's electronics?
No, as long as you connect the clamps in the right order and use a model with protection. The smart clamps protect against reverse polarity, short circuits, and sparks.
