Battery sparks badly when trying to attach a battery charger

sounds like a bad battery. remove trickle charger and tomorrow measure battery voltage with meter should be 13-14 volts. watch meter while trying to start unit If battery is good it will only drop to 12 volts. If solenoid is bad it is bad and jumping battery will not fix it.

Hi Anonymous:
There are actually several ways:
1) Start the engine and let the alternator charge it.
2) Attach the leads from a battery charger and turn on the battery charger.
3) Attach "jumpers" from another vehicle's battery, start that vehicle, and leave it running long enough to charge the battery.
- ALWAYS CONNECT POSITIVE TO POSITIVE, AND NEGATIVE TO NEGATIVE.
- CONNECT NEGATIVE LAST.
- MAKE SURE BATTERY HAS CORRECT FLUID LEVEL
- WORK SAFE! BATTERY FLUID IS ACID AND CAN CAUSE SEVERE BURNS.

Hi Richard:

Hopefully not too much damaged.
Start by checking your fuses.

+ symbol is positive and - symbol is negative.. It should be the ( Black ) color cable on battery ..( Red )cable is positive + it shoul be stamped on the battery top or on side near terminals

No, that is not necessary, just connect the charger, if it has an amperage adjustment and the battery is completely dead charge it slow at about 5amps for 5 hours or charge it faster at about 10amps for two hours, either will work.

Not the alternator. If the battery has a sufficient charge, the start should turn regardless of the condition of the alternator. Try using a battery charger to be sure battery if at 100%.
Are your battery terminals clean, no corrosion and attached tight?
If starter still will not turn, problem could be wiring or bad starter solenoid.

Usually you can energize the electrical system by making a mini set of jumper cables using a lamp cord and alligator clips. attach one end to a battery and attach the ground to the starter housing or any metal bracket, the positive lead to the main terminal on the starter. (don't mix up the lead ends...mark them so you can identify them.) Do not try to start the car with this attached. light wire won't handle the amperage.

Best way to charge / safest / is to remove battery from vehicle ...set battery in a open well venilated area / no smoking / with the apporpiate capacity 12 volt charger / read the instructions that come with the charger . Attach red connector of charger to positive post of battery (usually red) attach black connector to battery ground (-) negative side of battery / plug charger into appropiate outlet (120) . Reverese application when battery is fully charged .
Re-install battery in vehicle/ being sure to re-install as removed .
Install black cable to battery (-) negative ...then Hot (red) (+)