Hard to believe with the weather we've had, but one of these days you might just have to jump-start a car.
Here's a web site that tells you all about it:
(Once again, I seem to be having trouble making hot links work. Until my on-line editor bails me out, copy-and-paste the following into your browser:)
www.aa1car.com/library/battery_safety.htm
But I had to help a friend jump-start an old BMW the other day, and I learned something new (hey - it happens).
There were two sets of jumper cables available to us, and I chose what appeared to be the thicker gauge because thin cables cannot carry as much current, and/or they get hot if you need to crank the dead car for too long (the BMW had been sitting for several months so that was a distinct possibility).
After taking all the above precautions and ensuring there was gasoline, oil, coolant, etc., we cranked it over.
Click-click-clicketty-click.
No start.
We let it sit for a while (and yes, the cables did start to get a bit warm) and tried again.
Click-click-clicketty-click.
Jiggled the connections to make sure they were solid.
Click-click-clicketty-click.
Then I thought - hmm-mm; I wanted the thicker cables for more current. What would happen if I doubled up on the cables?
So feeling very MacGyverish, I connected the second set of cables in parallel with the first set.
VROOM!!
Fired on the first crank.
I presume the extra cables did in fact allow enough current to get to the BMW's starter to turn the car over.
So instead of carrying ONE set of jumpers with you at all times, maybe you should get two?
Or maybe just buy a decent set in the first place.
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