How many connections are required when jump-starting a vehicle using jumper cables?

When jump-starting a vehicle using jumper cables, four connections are necessary to establish a safe and effective electrical pathway between the two batteries. This process involves connecting one end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery and the other end to the positive terminal of the good battery.

Next, a negative jumper cable is connected from the negative terminal of the good battery to a solid ground point or an unpainted metal surface on the vehicle with the dead battery. This method helps to minimize the risk of sparks and potential explosions that can occur if the negative cable were to be connected directly to the dead battery's negative terminal.

Making these four specific connections ensures that the electrical circuit is complete, allowing the good battery to provide the necessary voltage to start the vehicle with the dead battery, while also mitigating hazards associated with the process.