TORCHY THE BATTERY BOY MAKES SCHOOLBOY ERROR-DON'T LAUGH!

Post by **sloopjohnrb** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:06 pm

Hi, this is embarrassing, but I'm not proud............
I look after 4 other cars for other friends besides my beloved Gladys, 1962, 948cc, 4 door.
Recently, 4 out of 5 cars have been in a state of repair due to failing part or small bump.
Consequently, I took the battery of Gladys for some forgotten reason, and NOW, I can't for the life of me think Which is the POSITIVE battery connector and which is NEGATIVE.

Is the Positive connector on the left hand side as one stands in front of the car, with the negative connector closest to the fuel pump?
Or the other way around?

The connectors don't show the usual + and - signs.

It's manic at the moment and I'm like a Formula 1 pit crew, on crack.
My brain is frazzledPlease help, any data, gratefully received.
PS go on, you can have a titter..........

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:13 pm

normally positive on the right looking at the battery with the terminals to the back of the engine
that if your car is positive earth and the same type of battery as original.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:17 pm

A car battery has different size posts terminal for pos and neg.
If in doubt stick a volt meter across the battery.

Post by **alanworland** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:27 pm

the battery terminals are one 'large' , the positive, and one 'small' the negative, so they should only go on one way. My MM has the battery terminals towards the front ie radiator and the positive on the nearside of the car.

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:31 pm

mine are towards the back with positive near side

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:33 pm

If youve an electrical tester - a digital one you can tell from that - if the + & - are wrong on teh red black it will come up as a negetive voltage - only use this method if you know your tester and know it well (ie youve got the red & black leads plugged in teh right sockets)

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:43 pm

Do you know whether the car has been converted to negative earth? If somebody has fitted an alternator or a modern radio it's probably been converted.

Post by **RogerRust** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:42 am

If you are at all worried connect only the earth and repolarise the dynamo by flashing the little spade connector with a length of wire connected to the other side of the battery for about 5 seconds.

Its better to be safe than sorry.

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:11 am

As others have said:

- Do you have a radio
- An alternator
- Any other aftermarket powered accessory

'cos if you do then it matters much more which way round you connect it. Connecting a bog standard minor the wrong way round won't upset much apart from making the dynamo not work very well; but if you've got those modern accoutrements, then you may toast them by connecting it the wrong way round.

What makes it more complex is that positive earth radios and alternators do exist - although they are markedly more rare...

Post by **ColinP** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:04 pm

Pre 'O' level chemistry:-

connect a copper wire to each teminal (small bell wire's ok).

Cut a potato in half, and stick the wires into the potato anout 1-2 inches apart.

The one that develops the green colour is connected to the positive terminal.

(and you can use the other half-potato to wipe on the windscreen - in place of the wiper!)

Colin

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:26 pm

After O Level Chemistry

Put Potato on top of battery and connect battery to car.
Go away for a day

When you come back, if car is burnt out at least you have a roast potato.
If car and potato OK, no one called Murphy was within 100 yards of the experiment.

Alternatively get professional help.

Post by **ColinP** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:28 am

Love the photo

The wonders of photoshop!

(orignally from "a close shave" - and the book is by "Fido Dogstyofski")
That's the give away.

I wondered if "Electronics for dogs" mightn't be good as well?

Thanks,

Colin

oh yes PS The green colour is copper chloride from the wire - it is toxic, so don't fry that chip

Post by **MoggyTech** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:17 pm

Well I am about to get my fourth dog (a Beagal) and really can't decide on his name yet. It has to be Snoopy or Gromit poor thing. I will not however be changing my name to Wallace. One things for sure, the dog will have have more smarts than it's owner, when it comes to things mechanical

Now where did I put those cheese and crackers...

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:51 pm

MoggyTech wrote:Well I am about to get my fourth dog (a Beagal) and really can't decide on his name yet.

How about Eddie, as in Eddie the Beagle?

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:34 pm

Looking for the "we've forgottoen the crackers" bit and look what I found....