terminal ring for battery

[bruceb58]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Doesn't your battery already have a threaded terminal on it? Most marine batteries do.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Doesn't your battery already have a threaded terminal on it? Most marine batteries do.

Yes it does. I was just trying to keep all the neg and pos wires together. Right now the battery is in my garage and the all the wires are just hanging loosely. It just seems better to keep all the wires grouped together.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: terminal ring for battery

On the batteries I prefer to use a standard SS hex nut with a SS lock washer. A nylock nut would work too, but I'm a little wary on using them on things that I know I will be taking apart and putting back together. In addition to the wrenches and sockets in a marine tool kit I have I keep spare wrenches in the boat just for the batteries.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

On the batteries I prefer to use a standard SS hex nut with a SS lock washer. A nylock nut would work too, but I'm a little wary on using them on things that I know I will be taking apart and putting back together. In addition to the wrenches and sockets in a marine tool kit I have I keep spare wrenches in the boat just for the batteries.

Anyone have an opinion on a SS wing nut with nylon insert and a lock washer? I have plenty of wrenches, just trying to find a short cut.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: terminal ring for battery

How many connections do you have at your battery? There is supposed to be a max of 4. If you have more, you should consider a bus bar.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: terminal ring for battery

How many connections do you have at your battery? There is supposed to be a max of 4. If you have more, you should consider a bus bar.

+1 ^^

Connect all the cables to a Common Bus Bar and then you will only have ONE wire to connect to the battery.
Place the Battery and the Engine Starter Cables on the same Lug and the house loads on the other one.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

How many connections do you have at your battery? There is supposed to be a max of 4. If you have more, you should consider a bus bar.

Battery neg cable and 2 black ground wires. Battery pos cable and 2 red hot wires.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Battery neg cable and 2 black ground wires. Battery pos cable and 2 red hot wires.

That's ok.

I use a stainless steel lock nut. I never disconnect unless I am doing maintenance since I have a battery switch. You have one?

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

That's ok.

I use a stainless steel lock nut. I never disconnect unless I am doing maintenance since I have a battery switch. You have one?

What is a battery switch?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: terminal ring for battery

What is a battery switch?

Allows you to switch off your battery vs taking the leads off your battery.

battery switch in Boat Parts & Accessories For Your Boat - iboats

Way more convenient to use a switch than disconnecting cables. Also allows you to easily add a second battery at some point.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Anyone have an opinion on a SS wing nut with nylon insert and a lock washer? I have plenty of wrenches, just trying to find a short cut.

I've never seen a wing nut with a nylon insert. With either a lock washer or a nylon insert they need to be tightened down more than finger tight so even with a wing nut you will at least need to have pliers to tighten it down.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: terminal ring for battery

... I was just trying to keep all the neg and pos wires together. Right now the battery is in my garage and the all the wires are just hanging loosely. It just seems better to keep all the wires grouped together.

Do you pull the battery more than once a year?
Is this just a neatness thing or are you pulling the battery to charge it on a regular basis?

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: terminal ring for battery

I know you guys hate the wing nuts, but I have used them with no issue. Stainless steel, hand tighten and then snug them with a SHORT (4 to 6 inch) crescent wrench. Make sure it is short enough so it cannot short out accross the battery terminals. Rubber coated wrench is even better. Why not a Hex nut? Because the wrench is long enough to short out on the battery. The crescent wrench is a unversal tool as long as you don't misuse it.

TerryMSU

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: terminal ring for battery

I know you guys hate the wing nuts, but I have used them with no issue. Stainless steel, hand tighten and then snug them with a SHORT (4 to 6 inch) crescent wrench. Make sure it is short enough so it cannot short out accross the battery terminals. Rubber coated wrench is even better. Why not a Hex nut? Because the wrench is long enough to short out on the battery. The crescent wrench is a unversal tool as long as you don't misuse it.

TerryMSU

Problem Solved;
Craftsman Professional 1/2 in. Full Polish Stubby Wrench, 12 pt. Combination - Tools - Wrenches - All Open Stock Wrenches

 

[bruceb58]

Re: terminal ring for battery

That is why you use a socket. You have the same issue with removing the cables on a car.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: terminal ring for battery

A combination wrench is long enough to short out the terminals, but that's why you only turn the wrench about 1/2 a turn at the time. Using lock washers instead of lock nuts you only need about 1/2 a turn with the wrench anyway, the rest you can do with your fingers.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: terminal ring for battery

I was going to use these and keep all the neg and pos cables together: Lynx/Epoxy marine terminals (06071) | Battery Terminal End and Adapter | AutoZone.com

Looks like you and bruceb58 are telling me not to try that.

Don't do that! Add a good buss bar for them and run the individual wires from the buss. You will thank yourself later!

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Do you pull the battery more than once a year?
Is this just a neatness thing or are you pulling the battery to charge it on a regular basis?

I just bought the boat 2 months ago. Pulled the battery on it and on a new lawn tractor. Put them both on my bench and trickle charge them every 2 weeks or so. It is just a neatness thing on my part. You muight call it a case of OCD.... lol

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: terminal ring for battery

I've never seen a wing nut with a nylon insert. With either a lock washer or a nylon insert they need to be tightened down more than finger tight so even with a wing nut you will at least need to have pliers to tighten it down.

They do make wing nuts with nylon inserts. Have found them at Lowes and HD.

 

[dingbat]

Re: terminal ring for battery

Danger......rocket scientists at work :laugh:

SS nyloc nuts and a ?? socket