First, the car that caught fire...

It's extremely important to hook up both ends of the black handled cable to the negative connections on both batteries, and the red-handled cable ends to the positive battery connectors.

And ALWAYS make sure the red and black handles DON'T EVER TOUCH EACH OTHER. AND make sure the red handles DON'T TOUCH ANY OTHER PART OF EITHER CAR.

The fire happened when the person hooking the cables up had the handles reversed on one of the batteries.

That let power surge in a circle through both batteries. A HUGE amount of electricity, it can literally melt the battery terminals in seconds. Like maybe two seconds.

Then the cable handle fuses to what's left of the battery, and all you can do is RUN.

Next issue, the electrocution...

The black (negative) battery terminal is attached to the engine block and to the car's body.

The red (positive) terminal is connected to two places, the fuse block, and a relay for the starter motor.

If a person touches the live (copper) part of the red handle while the other ends of the cables are both connected to either battery, and at the same time comes in contact with any metal part of the car, while the black handle is connected to the stalled car,

then the person completed the circuit.

People are made, to a large extent, of salt water (blood is mainly salt water). Salt water is an excellent conductor of electricity.

Fortunately, DRY skin is NOT  a good conductor. But damp skin, sweaty skin, is no protection at all.

IMPORTANT initial preparation:

Open both car hoods, make sure you can easily get at the battery terminal connectors of both batteries, THEN BLOW ACROSS THE TOP OF BOTH BATTERIES.

Car batteries give off hydrogen gas. It is VERY EXPLOSIVE if concentrated and exposed to a spark. And when the last jumper cable handle is hooked up,

THERE IS ALWAYS A SPARK.

Wear dry gloves if possible.

I usually clip both handles of one of the cable ends to a cardboard box (several inches apart), or something solid that won't conduct electricity and won't let them touch the ground or anything else,

then hook up the other end of the cable to the live battery.

Then go to the dead battery, hook up the red (positive) cable to the red (Positive) battery terminal, BLOW ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BATTERY to disperse the hydrogen gas, then ...

either attach the black cable to a steel car part within reach, or to the black (negative) terminal.

Then try to start the car with the dead battery.

Once it starts, leave it running and DISCONNECT THE CABLE from the battery, and clip both handles onto that cardboard box (or hold them so you KNOW their copper jaws CANNOT touch each other. OR YOU.

Then disconnect the red handle from the other battery, then the black handle.

If the car with the dead battery stalls as soon as you disconnect the cable, the charging system isn't working. Call a mechanic or AAA.

Does this make sense? Is it helpful?

ed11563 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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The cables must have been faulty. Maybe the copper wiring was exposed or something. Even if you don't properly hook them up, it shouldn't cause an electrocution.

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My thought is, before she made the last connection, she made herself part of a complete circuit. 

 

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bhat's probably what happened, But she pretty much would have had to have a hand on the negative terminal while touching exposed copper on the positive, or something.  Or was simply handling the cables wrong.  

huskerbb wrote:

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ed11563 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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The cables must have been faulty. Maybe the copper wiring was exposed or something. Even if you don't properly hook them up, it shouldn't cause an electrocution.

---

My thought is, before she made the last connection, she made herself part of a complete circuit. 

 

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that's probably what happened, But she pretty much would have had to have a hand on the negative terminal while touching exposed copper on the positive, or something.  Or was simply handling the cables wrong.  

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I'm picturing, positive cable hooked up, negative in her hand (hand touching the metal jaw or the copper teeth), and she rests her other hand on the radiator or fender. 

ZAP !!! The body of the car, the engine block, almost all the steel parts are hard-wired to the negative terminal.

ed11563 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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ed11563 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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The cables must have been faulty. Maybe the copper wiring was exposed or something. Even if you don't properly hook them up, it shouldn't cause an electrocution.

---

My thought is, before she made the last connection, she made herself part of a complete circuit. 

 

---

that's probably what happened, But she pretty much would have had to have a hand on the negative terminal while touching exposed copper on the positive, or something.  Or was simply handling the cables wrong.  

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I'm picturing, positive cable hooked up, negative in her hand (hand touching the metal jaw or the copper teeth), and she rests her other hand on the radiator or fender. 

ZAP !!! The body of the car, the engine block, almost all the steel parts are hard-wired to the negative terminal.

 

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Yeah, she must have touched the jaws, battery terminal, or a frayed cable.   

ed11563 wrote:

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chef wrote:

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How interesting to come home and see this thread. We just got back from giving my dad a jump.

Here's something to laugh at: My ex called me for a jump. I was about to hook up the cables when I noticed him holding them while standing in a puddle of water. Same guy also thinks that tuna isn't a fish because it comes from a can.

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sounds like a candidate for a Darwin Award. How has he lived so long? 

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 Beats me. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins a Darwin Award someday.