Yes, negative first to avoid shorting with your wrench. But, when jumping a battery it's the opposite. Connect the positive cable to each battery first, then the negative cable.  This minimizes sparking, and the negative cable can be connected to the chassis instead of the battery so there is no sparking near the batteries. 

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Eric Caron
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:09 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Which battery terminal off first?

OK listers,

Even the most basic question can be asked here, right?

I was taught which battery terminal to take off first either when removing a battery or taking off to do electrical work.

But, I have forgotten. 

I’m thinking that it is hot first and then the negative ground second.  Then put back in reverse order Ground first then positive.

I know doing this the right way helped me avoid sparks when working on my house battery in tight spaces.

Can someone confirm I’m remembering this basic thing correctly?

Remember, I’m going to accidentally touch something metal with that wrench no matter how careful I am.

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto 
with some electrical work needed to put in the new washer pump.