[MAZINGER]

Quick question regarding the N54 vehicle (BMW 335), is our vehicle positive or negative grounded?

The reason that I ask because I have a CTEK 3300 charger. In the menu, it stated that:

Negative-grounded vehicle. Charger connection.
1. Connect positive charger clip (red) to positive battery terminal.
2. Connect negative charger clip (black) to a good metal engine ground away from the battery. Do no connect clip to fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts.
3. Connect the AC cord to the socket. The red alarm indication light will indicate a battery which is connected to reverse polarity.

Positive grounded vehicle. Charger connection.
1. Connect negative charger clip (black) to negative battery terminal.
2. Connect positive charger clip (red) to a good metal engine ground away from the battery. Do no connect clip to fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts.
3. Connect the AC cord to the socket. The red alarm indication light will indicate a battery which is connected to reverse polarity.

I just want to make sure that I connect the charger clip correctly.

Thanks.

[floydarogers]

AFAIK, all vehicles are negative ground. Have been since forever. Might be a tractor or something that is positive, or some old pre-1950 car.

[MAZINGER]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

AFAIK, all vehicles are negative ground. Have been since forever. Might be a tractor or something that is positive, or some old pre-1950 car.

I see, thanks.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by MAZINGER

Quick question regarding the N54 vehicle (BMW 335), is our vehicle positive or negative grounded?

The reason that I ask because I have a CTEK 3300 charger. In the menu, it stated that:

Negative-grounded vehicle. Charger connection.
1. Connect positive charger clip (red) to positive battery terminal.
2. Connect negative charger clip (black) to a good metal engine ground away from the battery. Do no connect clip to fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts.
3. Connect the AC cord to the socket. The red alarm indication light will indicate a battery which is connected to reverse polarity.

Positive grounded vehicle. Charger connection.
1. Connect negative charger clip (black) to negative battery terminal.
2. Connect positive charger clip (red) to a good metal engine ground away from the battery. Do no connect clip to fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts.
3. Connect the AC cord to the socket. The red alarm indication light will indicate a battery which is connected to reverse polarity.

I just want to make sure that I connect the charger clip correctly.

Thanks.

Shouldn't you be connecting to the jump points in the engine bay (under the hood)? Don't connect to the battery directly in the trunk of the car!

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

AFAIK, all vehicles are negative ground. Have been since forever. Might be a tractor or something that is positive, or some old pre-1950 car.

my buddy's old Benz was positive ground, don't think I've ever seen a BMW with it

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by fazman

Shouldn't you be connecting to the jump points in the engine bay (under the hood)? Don't connect to the battery directly in the trunk of the car!

he's not jumping the car, he's charging the battery

jumper points are for jumping. charging the battery is done at the battery

[MAZINGER]

Oh yes, of course.

I just want to make sure which cable clamp that I should connect first.

The car needs charging / maintaining the battery when it is not driving for a couple of days during these extreme cold weather.

This is all what I want to know.

[rowingone]

I had a 67 MG that was positive ground . . had to wire the radio backwards and insulate the mount very well!

[fazman]

Originally Posted by tc535i

he's not jumping the car, he's charging the battery

jumper points are for jumping. charging the battery is done at the battery

The jump points also connect to the physical battery in the trunk right? But if I look at my battery... the terminals have covers on them. It's far easier and safer to do it from the hood rather than the trunk IMHO. Also I don't have any hood lights, my trunk light stays on when up (Unless you close your trunk over the wires)?

[tc535i]

They do, but directly at the battery will get a better charge. I did this last night, but even with my battery covers I'm still able to clamp the nuts. I just close the trunk on the wire, no real harm.

[cdgatti]

I use the same ctek 3300 charger. Connect it to the underhood connections, in fact I hard wired the ctek eyelets with the quick disconnect to the under hood points. Works great.