Battery clamp for use with top post and side post batteries and methods for using the same

A battery clamp for use with (a) batteries with top post terminal connections and (b) batteries with side post terminal connections includes a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle. The jaw handles each have a handle portion and a clamping portion. The jaw handles are pivotally coupled to each other and are biased with the clamping portions in a closed position. The battery clamp further includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The jaw members have a jaw clamp portion, a jaw pivot portion, and a jaw wire portion. The jaw pivot portion of the first jaw member and the jaw pivot portion of the second jaw member are both pivotally coupled to the jaw handles. The battery clamp further includes a load pad and a volt rod. The load pad has an aperture and is coupled to the first jaw member. The volt rod is coupled to the second jaw member and protrudes through the aperture of the load pad.