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Is red positive on a battery?

Help! I’m about to try to jumpstart my car, but I can’t remember—Is red positive on a battery?

avatar
Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yes, red is positive on a car battery. There are two terminals: red (+) is positive and black (-) is negative.
You will also notice that your jumper cables have two cables: the red (+) cable is positive, while the black (-) cable is negative. Always attach the red (+) cable to the red (+) side of the battery terminal.
When jumpstarting your car:
  • Always ground yourself with one end of the black (-) cable.
  • Never attach the two negative (-) battery terminals together.
  • Once the car starts and you are removing the cables, do not let clamps at the end of the cables touch.
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Jumpstarting your dead car battery back to life
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