The Blue Site

Jumping a Battery

I'm listening to Car Talk and this lady calls in and is asking about how to jump a battery. Is it positive to positive and negative to negative OR is it positive to positive and negative to ground (the second way is how her brother taught her how to do it.)

First off, I have to say, I have no idea what ground is, but I will be looking into it, so I can be smart and stuff. Secondly, they said that both ways are right...but doing the negative to ground is safer, because it won't cause a spark, which could cause an explosion if there is hydrogen around the battery.

So, whatever ground is...I never knew what that meant when they always say- this wire is grounded, or you have to ground this cable or whatever...that's the safe way to do it- that way you won't blow yourself or your car up.