Triumph Repair: jump, electronic ignition, diodes

Question
what damage would occur if when jumping a spitfire, you connected the negative to the positive and vice versa (hypothetically speaking of course)?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Nathan,
Several things can happen, If it is electronic ignition it can destroy the ignition system. It can damage the diodes in the alternator and if it has a radio that has a on all the time it may damage it.
However it does not mean that it will do all of that, but it MAY do damage. I have seen mechanics did that momentary and nothing was damaged so it is not a sure thing. The longer it is connected that way the more likely it is to do damage to something.
Howard