blackwolf wrote:

Zagato wrote:

... Battery now charging in the kitchen

Do remember that the battery may well gas during charging, and that the gas that comes off is hydrogen. Think "Hindenberg" disaster, think "bang", big fire and battery acid all over anything that survives the explosion and fire.

Remember if it is in the kitchen to leave the door or window open. You really are better off charging it outside.

I used to charge batteries indoors too, until the day I was standing beside a Volvo-BM LM640 loading shovel when the battery, which was on charge, detonated. Fortunately I was standing on the side away from the battery, but we were picking up bits of shattered battery from 30 yards away, and everything within about 30 feet on that side of the machine was dripping acid. Fortunately it was outdoors and there was no fire, but it was an eye-opener. It really isn't worth the risk.

that's Zag's way of "moving house"

blackwolf wrote:

If the vehicles are neg earth you're better off connecting pos first. Then you can make the final neg connection to an earth point away from the battery. This is safer since if either battery is gassing due to charging there is less chance of a spark causing a hydrogen explosion and at the least covering you in sulphuric acid (I have seen a battery blow up and it is not at all nice). For the same reason on pos earth you would connect neg first.

The cat thing I think is one of those urban legends. If the engine flooded and unburned fuel got in the cat it would be poisoned. This could happen with a bad misfire on a petrol engine but is rare. Despite what makers say I have never heard of cat damage from jump, bump, or tow starting, or from running out of fuel. I think a more realistic problem would be a failure to bump start due to some electronic sequencing problem, such as the ECU not playing if it hasn't had a cranking signal.

Yep, having been on the receiving end of a battery exploding on a Series 1 back in the '70's due to a numpty sparking the jump leads connecting up an overcharged battery [not me I hasten to add] I can confirm that it's not a pleasant experience  Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades.
Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW.

[Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc]

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I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic.

Zagato wrote:

Yes the wife is back skidding into Range Rovers and school children again

I'm driving her into work until this ice finally melts. My TC came in today - that's a weird noise but very effective

- the wierd noise coming from the passenger seat

blackwolf wrote:

Safest to connect clamps first then plug leads into the connector.

Thanks