The positive cable on jumper cables is typically red, while the negative cable is black. When jump-starting a car, it is important to connect the cables correctly. The positive (red) cable should be attached to the positive terminal on each battery, while the negative (black) cable should be attached to the negative terminal on the charged battery and to an unpainted metal surface away from the dead battery on the other end. It is important to avoid touching the jumper cable clamps to anything but the intended target and to never connect the red cable to the negative battery terminal or a vehicle with a dead battery.