melted jumper cables - advice?

Hopefully the insulation or jacketing on your wires for example the one running from the alternator to the battery are in good condition. Other than damaged conductors/insulation a test should be able to tell you if you're ok or not.

 

I drive by one everyday, will go tomorrow then, thanks =)

I was unaware of the grounding thing, it had worked fine before how I did it, so I thought that was right, but its clearly my fault. the color coding on those things is misleading too then.

 

It does work the way you tried, it is just better and safer to ground it to metal for many reasons. The way you hooked it up is most likely not why it went boom, it was an issue with the jumpee's equipment. Hope she's ok!

 

Unless you paid more than $60 for the cables they are cheap junk. The usual trick is lots of insolation and tiny wire. Copper is expensive rubber is not.

 

The only reason to ground on a piece of metal instead of the battery is because it's supposed to be safer. when you complete that circuit it's going to spark. if the dead battery has released any gas there is potential for explosion if you make that last connection on top of the battery.

what he did was not wrong, and did not cause the cables to fry. the old battery was probably completely shorted. The batteries ground lug is bolted directly to the frame, so by hooking up to a chunk of metal, its the same as putting it on top of the battery, just at a safer distance.

To the OP, i would maybe get a general battery check up, but if it runs, then just drive it and keep an eye out for anything unusual.

 

Wrong on both points but thanks for playing. There is only 1 correct way to jump a car and your theory of "the neg terminal is connected to ground" is also incorrect. Do you research son.

 

I had the battery and alt checked an hour ago, they both tested fine. I looked at all the cables between them and they look good too.

so I guess it just caused some cosmetic damage, which ill be fixing soon.

im thankful it wasn't any worse.

 

Yup, a little cosmetic damage is ok. As long as the electrical system is good you'll be ok.

Like you avatar pic btw. DBZ ftw!

 

I am glad everything worked out and you got your piece of mind for free. There is an Autozone close to my house...I try to buy my regular stuff there, like fuel injector cleaner, wiper blades, air filters, even though they cost more than other places, just because they offer free services like that.

 

Haha, oh really now? Please enlighten me then, How am i wrong, and exactly how is a battery connected to the vehicle?

 

Just another option you might look into. Check out a jump pack.....auto parts stores sell them. I got rid of my jumper cables a long time ago.I wont use my truck to jump anyone.If something should go wrong when jumping another vehicle Im only out a jump pack. Just another idea for you to check out.

 

This is what I did too

 

I got a jump pack on sale at Xmas time for $80, great investment.

 

Still waiting on that explanation, Aw9d. Or did you have a moment of clarity and realize you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

 

On those Jump Packs - don't you have to keep them charged or check their status several times a year? I would love to hear some feedback on them before I take the plunge.

 

Check the charge about every 3-4 months if they are unused , they usually have a charge indicator on them

 

If a battery shorts internally, the battery can produce up to 2000 amps and can explode from the sudden heat.

 

got a jump pack this winter, they need to be checked every three months and probably have a freshen charge put to them...also, after using the jumper pack, definitely recharge before next use, the one I got has a cigarette lighter plug too, so, once you are up a running, chargola from lighter plug, albeit slower than 120v wall plugin...