Jumper cable amp rating

**alfonsomiguel** · July 10th, 2013 11:46 AM

Sirs, ask ko lang. Critical ba yung amp rating ng mga battery booster cables? Sa 2.0Li na engine ano dapat rating?

TIA.

**ghosthunter** · July 11th, 2013 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by alfonsomiguel

Sirs, ask ko lang. Critical ba yung amp rating ng mga battery booster cables? Sa 2.0Li na engine ano dapat rating?

TIA.

In my experience, YES. Lower AMP rated cables simply cannot carry enough current to crank-over the stalled car and just end up getting hot and may even melt through their insulation. But it does not really matter if the car is a 1.3 or 2.0L ....

**alfonsomiguel** · July 11th, 2013 09:25 AM

Thanks alot Sir.

**jick.cejoco** · July 11th, 2013 09:54 AM

Most commercial jumper cables are 4 American wire gauge size do automotive use and will suffice for a 1.3 liter gas engine

**vinj** · July 11th, 2013 10:21 AM

So what's the ideal AMP rating to buy at the least?

**ghosthunter** · July 11th, 2013 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by vinj

So what's the ideal AMP rating to buy at the least?

Maybe 400 or 500 amp cables....

Also aside from the wires, check the quality of the clamps.

**alexverzosa** · July 11th, 2013 06:35 PM

Strictly speaking, it is a series connection because only a single load(car to be jumped) is connected to the single source(battery). Electron flow during jump start only occurs in a single loop. Yes, the batteries will be connected in parallel(source to source) but the car would be in series with the battery(or batteries in parallel).

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**Retz** · July 11th, 2013 07:16 PM

^

ah okay. un pala ang explanation kung bakit series.

**12vdc** · July 11th, 2013 08:11 PM

^ Wrong

If you series the batteries it will produce 24 volts.

**alexverzosa** · July 11th, 2013 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by 12vdc

^ Wrong

If you series the batteries it will produce 24 volts.

Yes, the batteries are in parallel during jump start (+ to + and - to -). The series connection refers to the connection of the starter(load) and battery(source).

While this is the case, I am not certain if this is why some call this a series connection. Maybe nakasanayan na lang din.

Regarding jump start procedure, wouldn't it be safer to connect negative first? I believe the body is connected to ground(negative terminal of battery). If one were to connect the positive terminals first and somehow touch both car bodies without insulation the person would complete the circuit, possibly causing the current to pass through the person. As opposed to when we connect negative to negative first, where there is very little chance of accidentally connecting the positive terminals because of the relatively lesser exposed metal connected to them. Of course, this is based purely on electrical theory and I'm very open to correction. Wisest would be to follow what is stated in the user manual of your vehicle.

As for jumper cable current rating, I'd go for at least double what your starter is rated.