Trickle charge grounding point

[Loosecanons]

Hi

I have a 2005 vvti

As it hasn't moved for 5 weeks in this current situation it has a flat Battery. No lights at all on the dashboard.

I want to trickle charge it overnight whilst in the car.

Simple question - where is the best place to ground the negative clamp when the bonnet is down?

Thanks

 

[Stivino]

You can put the negative on any piece of metal any where on the car but, why don't you just connect it to the Battery as I imagine that's where you will be putting the positive?

[Loosecanons]

Hi

Thanks for  the quick reply.

I tried clamping it to the metal moulding below the windscreen but that wasn't registering a circuit.

I've clamped it to a metal pipe behind the radiator

Thank you

[Stivino]

Why not on the Battery?

 

[Loosecanons]

Hi

Not sure if I can mention brands on the forum. It specifically says not to connect the negative to the Battery if charging in the car.

I tried jump starting it at first. The dash lights came on I turned the key and then nothing. No lights. So  I thought I'd try trickle charging overnight

[Notoyboy]

The general manufacturers' recommendation is to connect the charger's +ve lead to Battery, and then the -ve lead to any suitable earth point away from the Battery.  Probably a bit of a Health & Safety requirement.  This is because there is a very minimal risk that when making the -ve connection, there could be an explosion if the Battery has been gassing, when it gives off hydrogen.  Same applies when jump starting from another battery, when there could be a spark if both leads from the good battery are made to the flat battery, hence the recommendation to make the (second) connection to an earth point away from the battery.

I think many of us make both connections direct to the battery, and we are still here to tell the tale 😀