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positive ground battery hookup

by Rashawn Armstrong Published 4 years ago Updated 3 years ago

When charging positive-ground cars, put the positive cable on the ground and the negative on the battery or starter lug. If you want to jump start a 6 volt positive ground car, the best way is to use another 6 volt battery of either polarity. Positive goes to positive and negative goes to negative. This makes a parallel circuit.

Part of a video titled Positive or Negative ground - How to Tell - YouTube
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The easiest and most accurate way to tell is to look at your battery terminals and cables. If oneMoreThe easiest and most accurate way to tell is to look at your battery terminals and cables. If one cable connect to the positive terminal one cable connected to the negative in.

Full Answer

How to charge a 6 volt positive ground battery?

How to Charge a 6-Volt Positive Ground Battery Step 1. Switch your battery charger off, or if your charger does not have a power switch, unplug the charger’s power... Step 2. Connect the negative, or black, cable from the battery charger to the negative battery terminal by squeezing the... Step 3. ...

What does positive ground mean on a car battery?

Positive ground means that the cable attached to the positive post on the battery (the big one) attaches to GROUND (the engine block, and a smaller braided strap to the chassis/body) on the other end and the NEGATIVE cable runs from the negitive post on the battery (smaller) goes to the starter solenoid, where that current is distributed to the ...

How does a positive ground system work?

A positive ground system works by directly connecting the chassis of a vehicle to the positive side of the vehicle’s battery. This system effectively earths the vehicle as the chassis attaches to the battery using a positive battery cable. The cable is tethered to the battery at one end and the engine block at the other.

How do I connect the negative battery to my battery charger?

Connect the negative, or black, cable from the battery charger to the negative battery terminal by squeezing the alligator clip at the end of the cable so that the jaws open. Place the jaws over the terminal and slowly release the clip so that it is firmly attached to the terminal.

What is a positive ground battery?

A 6-volt positive ground system runs the positive side of the battery to the frame of the car, causing the frame and chassis to carry the current (this was thought to reduce corrosion). When an accessory is wired back to the ground side of the battery, it completes the circuit. A 6-volt negative ground is the opposite.

Why do some cars have a positive ground?

The advantages of positive ground lie mainly in the sacrificial anode being the vehicle itself. A few grams of lost iron is less devastating than the loss (or corrosion) of the brass or copper connections in the vehicle.

How do you wire a ground positive car?

When charging positive-ground cars, put the positive cable on the ground and the negative on the battery or starter lug. If you want to jump start a 6 volt positive ground car, the best way is to use another 6 volt battery of either polarity. Positive goes to positive and negative goes to negative.

What's the difference between positive ground and negative ground?

Negative-ground systems supply +48 volts (the negative line is grounded and used as the return or common); positive-ground systems supply –48 volts (the positive line is grounded and is used as the return or common).

Why did cars switch from positive ground to negative ground?

At the time the car was only 12 year old! The car needed more than positive earth to survive.. BMC Corp needed more than the flow of electrons to rustproof their cars. Around 1967, negative earth became more popular and more common on all cars, especially British ones.

What is positively grounded mean?

This means, that a system that has been installed according to common methods (without grounding or with negative grounding) and is suffering from decreased performance can be restored to full operational performance by wiring it as a positive- grounded system. Positive Grounding.

Where do you connect the ground wire in a car?

0:301:49How to Make a Proper Ground Connection | Car Audio - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaybe even close to the seatbelt bolt grind away the paint. And then use a star washer. And a boltMoreMaybe even close to the seatbelt bolt grind away the paint. And then use a star washer. And a bolt of equal gauge to the wire that you're grounding crank. It down test.

Which post of battery is grounded?

Find the negative terminal on your car battery and if it is attached to body of vehicle then it is negative ground. The battery should have a - for negative on the negative post(usually a black cable going to it) & a + for positive on the positive post(usually a red cable).

How do you make a ground connection?

2:084:21Ground Connection: How to Install a Ground Rod | Electricity - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUnscrew the lower terminal of the strip with the socket wrench. Place the bare conductor into place.MoreUnscrew the lower terminal of the strip with the socket wrench. Place the bare conductor into place. And screw it back. In position the sheath in the bracket and tighten the bracket.

Do you ground positive or negative?

Ground is an arbitrary reference point you can choose wherever you want. All other potentials in the circuit are measured relative to ground. So by definition, ground is at 0 potential and it is neither positive or negative.

Is the negative side of a battery ground?

The ground strap is the heavy black wire which connects to the car battery's negative terminal to the chassis of the car. Some other names for the strap include: negative battery cable, ground wire, or ground cable. The ground strap is the foundation of the entire vehicle's electrical system.

Why do you need positive negative and ground?

Some circuits need a negative voltage, so the positive side of a battery would be "ground". Some circuits need positive and negative voltages, in which case there could be two batteries, one with the negative side attached to ground, and the other with the positive side attached to ground.

How to connect a negative battery charger to a negative battery?

Connect the negative, or black, cable from the battery charger to the negative battery terminal by squeezing the alligator clip at the end of the cable so that the jaws open. Place the jaws over the terminal and slowly release the clip so that it is firmly attached to the terminal.

What type of battery is used in a vehicle?

Although most vehicles use a 12 volt battery that negatively grounded, some vehicles that were still in use as of 2010 use a 6-volt electrical system that is positively grounded.

Why does my battery explode?

If while being charged your battery seems hot to the touch or if acid is bubbling from the vent caps, disconnect the charger from the battery immediately .

Why did the BMC Corp need more than positive earth?

The car needed more than positive earth to survive..BMC Corp needed more than the flow of electrons to rustproof their cars. Around 1967, negative earth became more popular and more common on all cars, especially British ones.

Do you connect a battery to a charger?

Whenever you connect another battery to yours (or a charger), always connect negative to negative, and positive to positive. Whether you have positive or negative ground, this rule always holds true. Once you ID your configuration, mark the terminals with a sharpie to make life easier in the future!

Do alternators need negative ground?

Alternators require negative ground too , if you are planning a conversion for more output. Negative ground is more common and less intimidating so it’s a popular conversion for formerly positive ground cars. Thus we now have a mixed fleet, with classic cars (and Frogeyes) set-up for both positive and negative ground.

Does every battery have a positive terminal?

Every battery has a larger positive terminal. You can see in the photos below that the positive terminal is slightly larger. So in the photo above, the battery above is wired for negatve ground, with the smaller terminal on the right wired to the firewall for ground and the fatter post wired to the starter solenoid.

What is positive ground?

Positive ground means that the cable attached to the positive post on the battery (the big one) attaches to GROUND (the engine block, and a smaller braided strap to the chassis/body) on the other end and the NEGATIVE cable runs from the negitive post on the battery (smaller) goes to the starter solenoid, where that current is distributed to the starter when the solenoid is engaged, and the various tap-offs that terminate at the starter soleniod.

When did cars start using 12 volt negative ground?

American cars standardised on 12 volt negative ground starting in 1955 or 56. Some did this earlier. I have heard of a 1953 Cadillac limousine that was half 6 volt, half 12 and it supposedly came that way from the factory. English cars adopted negative ground in 1969 although not all cars changed over in 1969.

What is the difference between a positive terminal and a negative terminal?

The positive terminal is the ground and the negative terminal is the live. Many cars were set up this way. All Ford, Chrysler and Hudson cars and all English cars for a start. It makes no difference at all to the car, except that certain parts are polarity sensitive such as the radio and the ammeter.

How many terminals does a generator have?

Generators normally have two terminals. F or field is the ground or "regulated ground" terminal, and A or armature is the Hot or "regulated charging" terminal. Take a look at the diagram below. Hope this helps.

Does a 1946 John Deere have a ground?

Yes, your 1946 John Deere A has a positive ground. Take a look at the diagram below. So does that mean the pos. cable off the battery go to ground and the neg. go to the starter? Yes, note the ground cable (Key 12) is connected to the positive (+) terminal on the battery and the negative cable (Key 1) goes to the starting motor.

Is a generator positive or negative ground?

A couple of variables whether it's positive or negative ground.#N#If it has the original generator on it then it should be positive ground.#N#If it has been converted to an alternator then it will most likely be negative ground.#N#The starter doesn't care which way it's hooked.

Do you need a polarizer for a generator?

Yes, but as mike1111 mentioned, the generator will need to be polarized. One method of polarizing the generator is to attach a jumper wire with an alligator clip to the BAT terminal on the voltage regulator. Briefly touch the other end of the wire to the GEN terminal a couple of times.

Can you see a needle twitch on a generator?

Generally if you put a voltage tester on the fields (by accident) you may see the needle twitch yet not come on solid. Something in the design according to my buddy charlie. If you are missing the tag on your generator and you cant tell the color, use a digital voltage tester.

Is a Delco generator positive ground?

But 95% of generators are positive ground with the red tag. ALL alternators are negative ground and you will destroy the alternator in less than a half second if you hook it up backwards.

Why do telephone companies use positive ground?

were Positive ground. Telephone companies still use it due to the fact that to change every telephone office and piece of equipment in the world would have to be changed at the same time due to the way they are interconnected.

What does the + pole mean in a battery?

The chemical action going on in a battery is shoving electrons to the - pole, and the + pole indicates the absence of electrons. Since electrons were deemed to have a - charge somewhere many years ago, the terminal or pole where all those little guys are hanging out get the - sign.

How do generators change from positive to negative ground?

Generators are easily changed from positive to negative ground (and back...) by "re-polarizing" the field windings - sending a current of the proper polarity thru the windings for an instant. Ammeters ARE polarity sensitive - they will read "backward" if connected the wrong polarity.

Can a 6V starter run 12V?

wire's are heavier gauge need shorter in length. generator would need poles wired for correct flow to charge. most 6v starters can run 12v if not overheated.

Can PNP transistors be used with NPNs?

There is very little to prefer the use of one versus the other until electronics came about. As we know semiconductor PNP transistors never caught up with the capability of NPNs, which in turn are easier to design with using a positive supply, particularly in switching electronics.

Is a positive ground the same as a negative ground?

Dax - A positive ground works exactly the same as negative ground. The ONLY difference is current in a positive ground system flows the opposite direction from current a negative ground system. Think of left hand vs. right hand threads - both accomplish the same thing only one tightens the opposite direction from the other.

Do mechanical voltage regulators work on ground polarity?

Also some mechanical voltage regulators are polarity sensitive. They may contain clamping diodes, arc suppression capacitors, etc. that work on only the correct polarity. However if a regulator is not marked for polarity it will work fine on either ground polarity. ----.

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