USB power ports?

[Jack Leis]

Rich, there is absolutely no way you can be electricuted. Your only dealing with 12 volt DC. Trust me.

[Arizoni]

The  12 or 13 volt power is too low to break thru the resistance of your dry skin so there shouldn't be a problem even if you touch both terminals at the same time.

The red lead goes to the positive (+) terminal.  The black lead goes to the minus (-) terminal.

Connect the red + wire first.
This doesn't have anything to do with the direction the electricity travels.
It has to do with preventing a short circuit.

The entire frame and engine of the motorcycle is connected to the black (-) negative wire.
If it is connected to the battery first, almost every exposed metal part will be connected to the battery.
If you then attach the red positive (+) wire you will see no reaction.
If you then try to tighten the positive wire and your wrench or screw driver happens to touch any other metal part of the bike it will instantly cause a short along with sparks, loud popping and you filling your pants.

I know of a guy who attached the negative ground wire first and then started to attach the positive wire using a wrench.  He was wearing a ring on the hand that held the wrench.
As the wrench turned, his ring contacted a metal part of the frame.  The power went from the battery thru the wrench, thru the ring and into the car frame.
The ring almost melted.

Anyway, always attach the red (+) wire first.  Then when you are attaching the black (-) wire, even if your wrench touches the frame or engine there will be no possibility of causing a short.  After all, the black wire is already making contact with the frame and engine.

[Gypsyjon]

... [mind officially blown]  ...

+1

[FiRE Comms]

I grounded out an old escort way back when and had to replace ALL of the fusible links...  talk about a pain...

+ mind still blown +

and can't stop laughing

[Jack Leis]

Nice write up Jim, I admire your patience.   + -

[Scottie J]

Typically, any time you're working on an automotive battery with a NEGATIVE ground, you always want to disconnect the - black cable first, and then the + red cable.  To reconnect, install + red cable first and then the - black cable last.

BUT!  AND THIS IS IMPORTANT!
If you have a POSITIVE GROUND system, you MUST disconnect + red cable FIRST and then disconnect the - black cable.  Then to reconnect, - black cable first and then install the + red cable last.

Bottom Line -  ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE GROUND FIRST AND INSTALL LAST!

The reason for doing this is so you don't ground out your tools from the battery to the chassis.  If you disconnect the ground first, whether + or -, and you hit your tool on the chassis, you  WILL NOT arc the electrical system.  If you disconnect your power lead first and you ground out your tool, you will blow fuses and damage electronic components such as ignitions, sensors, and the ECU.   Scottie

[72westie]

Bikemaster makes some nice power port set-ups. I am currently using 2 of them on different vehicles. I has a 2 cig lighter and 1 usb set up in the glove box of my Jetta so I can charge my I-phone. I use a Yuasa battery tender type lead because it is fused.

I have another one in my old Single Cab truck, it has 2 usb's and 2 cig outputs. The only thing I don't like about that one is that is has a couple of LED's that light it up showing it has power. Its kind of like a kaleidoscope.

[gremlin]

....................If you then try to tighten the positive wire and your wrench or screw driver happens to touch any other metal part of the bike it will instantly cause a short along with sparks, loud popping and you filling your pants........

That my friends is known as a "word-picture".

Most excellent answer AZ.

[Jack Leis]

3  days later, im still shocked.

[no bs]

electricity(dc) flows from positive to negative.

[gremlin]

electricity(dc) flows from positive to negative.

Maybe ...  but, electrons flow from - to +

[Arizoni]

Yah but everybody knows them electrons have a negative attitude. 

[Desi Bike]

Are you positive about that Arizoni?

[AgentX]

I had not anticipated the discussion becoming so highly charged.

[Desi Bike]

Are you a copper?