# Jumpstart: Why does BLACK get grounded and not hooked to NEGATIVE on dead battery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 29, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155 "2012-04-29T01:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/41 "2013-09-24T07:04:50Z")
“I guess the only difference is that my directions said the connect the dead car black last” And I think folks here agree with that, just not on the frame, on the engine block. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/42 "2013-09-24T14:52:38Z")
Anyone else recall the guy who was intentionally drawing a spark on his battery terminals to check its condition? When warned about the risk he shrugged it off saying nothing bad has happened yet. Being ignorant is one thing, continuing the practice after hearing what is possible, perhaps even likely given the frequency of occurance, borders on stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/43 "2013-09-24T16:51:10Z")
@Used, I think you’re right, that I might have had it backwards. In any case, the last connection should be negative, and it should be made away from the battery to a grounded surface, whether that grounded surface be a part of the engine, a part of an accessory, like the alternator, or part of the car body that is bare metal and grounded. Evidently, the car body of the dead car wasn’t a good ground. In that case, look for another ground. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/44 "2013-09-26T02:34:34Z")
A further reason not to make the final jumper connection on a _terminal_ of a dead battery is that the dead battery is more likely than the “good” battery to have created a volume of hydrogen gas through the conversion of the (spent) battery acid into hydrogen gas (and lead sulfate, which is inert, but it’s the hydrogen gas that explodes.) ---
**Author:** ![linzystorm56\_192538](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@linzystorm56\_192538](https://community.cartalk.com/u/linzystorm56_192538)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/45 "2025-01-19T20:27:17Z")
A charging battery… Creates it. An over charged battery esp ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/46 "2025-01-19T20:49:10Z")
> **[Battery Safety & Jump Starting](https://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_safety.htm)** > > Battery Safety & Jump Starting [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/e/deea9b9d513b224590385511aa2ae5f9c42f64ad.jpeg "Accidently car battery explosion") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NqyDd574dE) Tester ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/47 "2025-01-20T01:09:57Z")
> [@linzystorm56\_192538](#): > > A charging battery… Creates it. An over charged battery esp Whew! Finally! I’ve been waiting like 12 years for you to chime in @linzystorm56_192538 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155/48 "2025-01-20T02:13:34Z")
> [@linzystorm56\_192538](#): > > A charging battery… Creates it. An over charged battery esp You have replied to an 11yo thread… Welcome… [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jumpstart-why-does-black-get-grounded-and-not-hooked-to-negative-on-dead-battery/72155.md?page=2)