How to jump start a loader

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Do you connect red or black first when jumping?

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A battery that delivers the correct voltage is essential for almost all vehicles. Deliver too much voltage and components either move or spin too fast, or they overheat and burn out. Deliver insufficient voltage and moving components slow down, or don't work at all. Jump-starting a 24-volt system from a 12-volt system won’t work if only one 12-volt battery is available, but if the 12-volt truck has two batteries, it becomes possible to produce a 24-volt supply.

Step 1

Position the 12-volt truck as close to the 24-volt truck as possible. Orientate the vehicles so their batteries are as close to each other as possible. For example, if both vehicles have side mounded batteries, park the trucks side by side, and if the batteries are housed in the engine compartment, park them nose to nose.

Step 2

Access the batteries in the 12-volt truck. They will be linked in parallel to deliver 12 volts, but 24 volts with the combined current capacity of both batteries. Put on strong gloves. Starting with the battery terminal connected to "ground," use a wrench to disconnect the cables linking the two batteries to the truck. When completed, both batteries are isolated from the truck but they remain connected to each other.

Step 3

Disconnect the battery straps that link the two batteries together. When completed, you have two separate 12-volt batteries, neither of them electrically connected to the truck or to each other.

Step 4

Using short insulated heavy-duty jump leads, connect the positive terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the second one. Two of the four battery terminals remain unused, positive on one battery and negative on the other.

Step 5

Connect a jump lead from the positive terminal to the positive terminal on the 24-volt truck battery. Connect a second jump lead between the negative terminal and the engine block or other ground connection in the 24-volt truck.

Step 6

Put the 24-volt truck in neutral and start it following the normal procedure. Once started, disconnect the jump leads from the battery.

References

Tips

Connect a "memory keeper" device to the 12-volt auxiliary power socket / cigarette lighter in the 12-volt truck before disconnecting the batteries. This protects devices such as radios and GPS units that are designed to stop working when disconnected from a power supply.
Always disconnect the "ground" side of the battery first. This reduces the risk of electrocution.

Things You'll Need

Jump leads, 2 sets
Strong gloves
Wrench

Warnings

Lead-acid batteries produce hydrogen gas. Keep all sources of ignition well away from them. Hydrogen plus a spark or flame may result in an explosion. )
The linked 12-volt batteries cannot be recharged while in use, so take care not to drain them in your efforts to start the other truck.

Writer Bio

David Robinson has written professionally since 2000. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Meteorological Society. He has written for the "Telegraph" and "Guardian" newspapers in the U.K., government publications, websites, magazines and school textbooks. He holds an honors Bachelor of Arts in geography and education and a teaching certificate from Durham University, England.

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When the mercury drops, equipment can sometimes get cantankerous when starting. Clore Automotive says these tips will get your engine humming again:

Make sure you use a jumpstarter that can be used on heavy equipment.
Keep your jumpstarter charged, especially during extreme temperatures, which are hard on a battery. If possible, store it above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Find a good vehicle ground for your negative clamp, such as a heavy-gauge metal part of the equipment chassis or engine block that’s away from the battery. A complete conductive circuit is crucial to jumpstarting success. Never connect to a carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts.
Check the water level on a traditional flooded battery to make sure it meets manufacturer’s guidelines. If the water level is low, add distilled water as directed. Never overfill, which could cause leakage and other problems. And never attempt to jumpstart a frozen battery.
On vehicles with multiple batteries, the condition and conductivity of the battery connections is critical. Check that all battery connections are tight and secure and inspect them for signs of deterioration or other problems.
If the machine has multiple batteries, always connect to the battery closest to the starter. This will ensure that the maximum power available from the jumpstarter is transferred to the starting system, not depleted by the battery bank.
On larger vehicles, such as off-highway haulers, first take a few minutes to light the glow plugs. Properly connect the jumpstarter, put the vehicle’s key into the accessory position and light the glow plugs, which should take 20 to 40 seconds. Then turn the vehicle’s key to the off position and allow the jumpstarter to recover for 2 to 3 minutes. Then attempt to jumpstart the vehicle.

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More Machine Operation tips from “How to Do Everything Better”

Do you connect red or black first when jumping?

Attach the red jumper cables first. Start by clamping one red cable to the positive side of the battery that won't start. Then attach the other red clamp to the positive side of the working battery. Next, clamp one black cable to the negative side of the working battery.

jump start loader