How to light a car from another car

Surely in the life of every driver, driving a vehicle, there was a problem with the discharge of the battery. Well, if this situation happened in the garage or near the place where the battery can be charged. But it often happens that the battery fails at the wrong time and far from home.

In such cases, it will be possible to start the car with the help of the donor’s car. This process is called a cigarette. To properly charge the dead battery, you need to pick good wires and take precautions.

How to pick up the wire for lighting

In the process of lighting a major role connecting wires.Through them there is a very large voltage, so if the wires are old or of poor quality, then everything can result in unpredictable consequences or it will just not work.

Criteria for selecting a quality wire:

1. Section - pick up wires with a cross section of at least 15 mm.
2. Length - the optimal and convenient length of wires for connection is 2-3 meters.
3. The voltage loss - at 100A is not more than 1.3 volts, and at 200A it is not more than 2.3 volts, for every 1.5 meters.
4. Material - high-quality wires are made of copper, other materials have low conductivity.
5. The junction of the clips and wires - should have a reliable soldering, and even better, if the wires and crocodiles are one.
6. The maximum allowable current strength - for standard batteries from passenger cars it is better to select wires that can withstand at least 200A.

Wires can be made yourself. For this you need:

• Find a thick copper wire - the larger its cross section, the better.
• Buy clamps with a large area of ​​contact.
• Solder the wire to the terminal with soldering acid, and then coat the joint with tin.
• Insulate the received wire qualitatively.

Safety during the lighting

1. Make sure that the clips do not touch the body of the car, otherwise there will be a short circuit.
2. Check the quality of the cable. On a wire that is not intended for high current, insulation may burn through.
3. Make sure that the machines have the same voltage on the electrical system. In cars and trucks, it may be different.
4. Attach the negative lead to the body (ground), not the battery terminal.
5. Do not touch the car body with bare hands.
6. Make sure that the battery of the vehicle being started is in working condition. In case of malfunction, overheating or rupture of the battery may occur.

How to light a car

1. The distance between the cars should be sufficient to connect the wires.
2. Track the tightness of both batteries. It is necessary to light a cigarette with the engine of the donor's car stopped, as the functional settings may fail. It is also required to fix the position of both cars with the parking brake, and completely turn off the ignition. After these simple steps, you can begin to install the wires.
3. During connection, it is important to observe the polarity. First of all, connect the red wire with a plus sign to the donor's battery, then to the dead battery. Then connect the black wire at one end to the minus of the donor battery, and the other to the metal case (mass) of the car, which needs to be reanimated. It is desirable to install a minus crocodile near the starter, but as far as possible from rotating elements or the fuel system.
4. After connecting the wires, it is necessary to once again ensure that the clips are properly and securely fastened. Having fully verified that everything is in order, start the donor vehicle and leave it in a working condition for a few minutes. It is necessary to give a little time, discharged battery, to come to a working condition.
5. After charging the dead battery, turn off the ignition in the donor car and try to start the car, which was provided with assistance. If the launch did not occur, you should repeat the process of lighting, giving more time to charge. Then try to start the engine again. After a successful launch, disconnect the wires from the batteries.
6. The black wire with the minus sign attached to the mass of the car is disconnected first, and then the second negative cable is removed from the donor’s car. Then you need to disconnect the positive terminals, in the same sequence.

In what cases it is impossible to light

The process of resuscitating a vehicle with a discharged battery using a donor is unsafe. Sparks can occur during engine start as the battery may explode. To prevent an accident, the following actions are prohibited:

1. Start the car if there is a distinct smell of fuel or burning plastic parts. In this case, the car should not be lit, and towed to the service station.
2. Light cars with different types of engines. Machines with a gasoline engine, due to their technical features, are not allowed to reanimate a donor who has a diesel engine.
3. Reanimate cars by trucks and vice versa.
4. Light up at an ambient temperature below -25 degrees Celsius.
5. Start the engine if the electrolyte in the battery is frozen.

Reasons for low battery

It often happens that after a short operation of a new battery, it begins to discharge quickly. There are several main reasons for this problem:

1. Bad charge. It is possible that the generator in the car does not work well and can not fully charge the battery.
2. Faulty wiring. If the car is old or has been repaired by an unqualified specialist, then it is possible that during repair of the wiring, the electrical equipment was incorrectly connected somewhere, and it now constantly consumes current from the battery.
3. Battery wear and tear. These problems include several specific cases: sulphation of plates, leakage of electrolyte and cracks in the body.
4. Careless attitude. Some car owners poorly monitor the condition of the battery. They forget to check the electrolyte level, allow complete discharge, incorrectly charge the battery and drop it.
5. Inattention driver. To a low level of charge often leads the inattention of the driver. The battery quickly sits down (especially in winter) if the radio is still working in the car or the lights are on.

How to eliminate the causes of low battery

To eliminate problems related to electrical wiring or electrical devices in the car, it is better to contact a specialist who will check and eliminate all faults.

Problems concerning the battery itself are solved by proper operation. To keep the battery charge for a long time, regularly monitor its condition, be careful and do not forget to turn off the lights and electrical appliances.

The process of lighting a battery that has lost its charge is a simple and affordable way to start a car. However, this method does not tolerate errors. Careless handling of wires, especially non-compliance with polarity, will lead to dire consequences. To ensure the safety of yourself and cars, follow the tips in this article.

Video: how to “light a car”