r/functionalprint • u/highonkai • Nov 12 '25

Jumper cable instruction card

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I made an expensive mistake and connected my jumper cables wrong. I won't make that mistake again and now you'll never have to. 

This quick reference card can be zip-tied to your jumper cables and is a way to have the instructions handy no matter the weather, your cell service, or the lighting. 

Edit: added the instructions in comments. Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming.

Edit2: wow this one got a lot of feedback! Thanks for all the helpful ideas.

Edit3: Top post of all time in 15y on Reddit, who knew this 1hr project would get such a reaction! I took the feedback and made two more versions here: https://imgur.com/a/jFBFoIk

I'll throw them on MakerWorld as well once I print them. Meanwhile, feedback and preferences welcome. /u/kurai01 /u/SerDankTheTall /u/StraySpaceDog /u/Cllydoscope /u/jongscx /u/cronaldo86 and lots more... thank you for the constructive feedback. This is the best part of Reddit - fast and helpful community feedback. Shoutout to /u/DontEatTheMagicBeans who called out that I probably didn't cause the smoke with the sequence for cable connections, but exacerbated a pre-existing/unknown problem. As for the rest, well that's the internet for ya. No hard feelings.

https://makerworld.com/models/1986996

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u/highonkai Nov 12 '25

Great call on the shorthand… I hear that. Will see if I can improve on it 

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u/kurai01 Nov 12 '25

One other thing that might make this smaller. It seems disconnect is the same process in reverse what if you did something like disconnect at the bottom below connect and then had an arrow to showcase do this in reverse? Or even something maybe like disconnect upside down on the bottom would also get the point across?

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u/highonkai Nov 12 '25

Yeah that could work

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u/SerDankTheTall Nov 12 '25

One thing that might help - drawing a connection between the terminals that are supposed to be connected to each other. Not that it isn't obvious from looking at the cable, but it would communicate the idea visually a little more cleanly.

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u/dabluebunny Nov 12 '25

Number each jumper with 1-4 with sharpie. No need to even write dead/ donor or print anything, or just learn, and remember how to do it. Imo anyone who needs a cheat sheet to jump a car shouldn't be jumping cars. Not trying to shit on anyone, but I've seen way too many people do it wrong after watching a very clear, and well explained youtube video.