Low battery, jump, fire, wtf

[da240]

Its not a big deal but i need to know what the **** happened. Stupid me left the ignition on overnight, killed the battery. I jumped it with my old merc. Drove around, it died. a good samaritan offered a jump so again (cables hooked up right), turned the ignition on, everything went on, then off. Next thing you know, the cables are melting and catch on fire . So, a few minutes later, for ****s and giggles, i turned the car on, and it started right up and now there is no problem with the battery, its charged. I think my car is the devil's car

[Stripes]

alternator?

[4cefed]

Were the cables teh suxors?

I can't believe the lamp chords they get away with selling as "jumper cables" these days. If you had great connections and a strong alternator on the other end, it's possible you could have sent too much current through the cables. That's the only thing I can think of.

[CMG]

Or he could have had positive and negative terminals mixed up.

[da240]

Or he could have had positive and negative terminals mixed up.

Nah, i checked it over twice, just to make sure, but i do believe that the other car might have had some amazing alternator and just sent way to much through the lines.

[Vegascorbin]

I agree that the "jumper cables" may have been too small.

Invest in a GOOD set of cables. At least 6Ga. 2Ga or 4Ga prefered. Spend the money and they will last a long time.

I bought my set over 15 years ago and other than some dirt they are just as good as the day I bought them. I have jumped A LOT of cars over the years and never a problem.

Spend the money. It is worth it.

Ga = size of wire. Smaller number = bigger wire

[480sx]

That can happen when you have a poor connection on your ground cable.