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Battery cable colors

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sparkydave

sparkydave

Jedi Knight
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Might be an odd question, but I've never figured out why my car came with a black cable for the positive, and a red cable for the negative. As far as I know, that's how it came from the factory since P.O. never had reason to touch them. Is anybody else's this way? Was Lucas just slow to abandon the positive ground color scheme? I'd swap them around except the ring terminals are different sizes, so in the meantime I have to reassure SWMBO that this is a rare exception when you don't connect red to red and black to black if you have to jump start it or connect the battery charger.
 
Tis what they could get from the manufacture at a discount because the color was wrong??
 
By "ring terminals" I assume you mean the terminals that don't connect to the battery, correct?

If I were doing this, I would ream them out as necessary so you can put the red one on the positive and black on the negative. Or just replace them. Having them reversed is an invitation to a disaster, since it's awfully easy not to notice the unusual setup and connect jumper cables wrong.
 
Jack, you may have it right! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif Steve, you are correct, I was referring to the ends that attach to the engine block and starter solenoid. I'm sure I could find cables to fit, I was just curious if this was the norm for British cars or if mine was the odd one.
 
Norm or odd ball, Dave, it sounds like a recipe for disaster if it stays like that. Any auto-parts will have replacements, and some can even make them up for you to the exact length you need! I would wager that it was the work of a DPO rather than the factory though, even with Lucas' reputation!
 
Just to be different I have two red ones.

One day I will have a braded copper ground and a positive hat type. But this was what was available on the shelf when I needed em.
 
I have had to do that too, with two red ones, but at the battery end of it all, I just wrapped the ground cable with black elect. tape, to make sure!! I suppose a black spray-bomb would have worked too, hehe! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
hehe, no one authorized but me.

Oh yea, used a field expediency today, an electricans wire nut on the hot wire to the battery terminal. Wanted something tight but that I could get off in a real hurry if I had an electrical problem, like a fire or sparks or such.

Could have bought a X$ real thing but this will work fine for the time being.
 
I use those marine battery terminals on my old Ford truck. They come with a threaded post and wing nut connection and it really does work nice when you need it to (ever had a starter solenoid stick on)!!
 
Oh yea, had forgoton about them.

Thought I just might spring for a real switch down stream.
 
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