busker

I followed the directions on the tag of my Rite-Aid cables, but they were slightly ambiguous schematic directions. A car battery is powerful enough to heat the clamps such that the plastic melts. I knew something was wrong when it started smoking. Then it was a matter of taking the clamp off in time to avoid having the battery explode. Both cars' electrical systems seem fine.
 

Wow! You describe my worst fears each time i take up those clamps. I've seen smoking leads and melting plastic in the Greek isles where they seem both to hold life cheap and be inveterate experimenters in all things mechanical.

Another kamikaze habit they have is to frolic about in a swimming pool before descending still dripping to the 'engine room' where, amid sparks and sizzles from a dodgy fuse box, they'll proceed to execute a full filtering and backwash.