alpinelakespilot2000
Well Known Member
This was news to me, but perhaps not for all the rest of you who understand electricity..
I have been trying to figure out if my Odyssey battery is going to be up to the task of first start after having been abused during the 4 years I have had it in the build phase. I read the Odyssey charging instructions and they are very clear that the charger is NOT to connect directly to the negative terminal of the battery, whether the battery is in or out of the vehicle. Instead, if out of the vehicle, you must use a 24" piece of 6AWG attached to the battery and connect to that, or, if in the vehicle, the charger (-) clip is to be attached to engine block or other non-battery terminal ground. Although I never connect (-) clip to the weak battery when jump starting a car (using the frame of the car instead), this was news to me for battery charging purposes. Is this just an Odyssey thing, just an extra conservative precautionary thing, or are people who charge the Odyssey battery by connecting red alligator clip to (+) on the battery and black alligator clip to (-) on the battery doing damage to their batteries and/or their health? I've seen many charge their Odyssey this way, so I'm just curious.
Here's the manual...
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-CM-02_0107_000.PDF
Excerpt: "5. Connecting to a negative-grounded system: Connect the red (POSITIVE) output clamp to the POSITIVE post of the battery. Rock and twist the clamp back and forth to be sure a solid electrical connection is made. Then connect the black (NEGATIVE) output clamp to a heavy, unpainted metal part of the chassis or engine block, away from the battery (see figure left). DO NOT connect clamp to negative battery post, carburetor, and fuel line or sheet metal part."
I have been trying to figure out if my Odyssey battery is going to be up to the task of first start after having been abused during the 4 years I have had it in the build phase. I read the Odyssey charging instructions and they are very clear that the charger is NOT to connect directly to the negative terminal of the battery, whether the battery is in or out of the vehicle. Instead, if out of the vehicle, you must use a 24" piece of 6AWG attached to the battery and connect to that, or, if in the vehicle, the charger (-) clip is to be attached to engine block or other non-battery terminal ground. Although I never connect (-) clip to the weak battery when jump starting a car (using the frame of the car instead), this was news to me for battery charging purposes. Is this just an Odyssey thing, just an extra conservative precautionary thing, or are people who charge the Odyssey battery by connecting red alligator clip to (+) on the battery and black alligator clip to (-) on the battery doing damage to their batteries and/or their health? I've seen many charge their Odyssey this way, so I'm just curious.
Here's the manual...
http://www.odysseybattery.com/documents/US-ODY-CM-02_0107_000.PDF
Excerpt: "5. Connecting to a negative-grounded system: Connect the red (POSITIVE) output clamp to the POSITIVE post of the battery. Rock and twist the clamp back and forth to be sure a solid electrical connection is made. Then connect the black (NEGATIVE) output clamp to a heavy, unpainted metal part of the chassis or engine block, away from the battery (see figure left). DO NOT connect clamp to negative battery post, carburetor, and fuel line or sheet metal part."
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