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What do my jump cable colors mean?

My car died the other week and I was left stranded on my own. I wasn’t sure how to use my jumper cables because they’re each a different color. What do the colors on my jump cable mean?

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Lindsey Hoover · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear that you were left stranded! We’re happy to help in whatever we can.
When it comes to jumper cables, there are two different colors: black and red. The black cable represents a negative (-) part and the red cable represents a positive (+) part. Mixing the two up could cause your battery to short circuit.
Jumper cables have alligator clips that are made of copper. These clips attach to the leads of your car battery. Your jumper cables are color-coded to match the leads of your car battery. They also match their respective polarities on your car’s leads.
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