I've always gone battery to battery (+ to +, and - to -). Just gave someone a jump last night. Never got the whole "connect to the frame" thing.

With your jump pack, I'd connect to the battery terminals. Maybe someone here can say why you wouldn't, but I know that it has worked for me.

 

Using a jumper pack I have always just attached directly to the battery. Especially since most jumper packs don't go hot until you turn them on. So neg to black and red to positive

 

Yes, that will work, and for the longest time, that is what I did too.

However, the reason for connecting the last ground to the frame, etc is a caution for sparks. Most vehicle batterys put off gas, which can be explosive. The spark would be a good point of ignition for said explosion. By attaching the final negative away from the battery, if/when there is a spark, it is away from the battery and the gasses that could explode.

 

That's correct.
But when someone says they have done it for years battery-to-battery with no problems, I think of the men who had to jump from their B-17s during WWII, with no parachute, and survived.
Sure, they can say they did it with no problem, but that doesn't mean it's something I am going to do.

 

Is this for real?

 

Cool guys thanks for all the info and help. Also, always good to hear from the peanut gallery as well.

 

Shhhhhh, "they" might be listening.

 

I attach it to the front of the engine block

 

There have been literally hundreds of people blinded by exploding batteries. Hydrogen gas is violently explosive , and the sulfuric acid blown into your skin and eyes is not good. A cornea transplant at the least, if feasable, is in your future if careless. ALWAYS ALWAYS ground AWAY from the battery....