Battery sparking

[Ronniewhite]

I went duck hunting tonight and when I went to leave and start the motor I turned the key a couple times and nothing. Turned it again and there was sparks at the terminals and it started. It did it a couple times. Everything is tight why is it doing that? 25hp Johnson 3cylinder 2000yr.

 

[flyingscott]

Loose connections. Especially if you have wing nuts on the battery.

 

[Ronniewhite]

That's how it's hooked up

 

[flyingscott]

That is a bad set up. How many motors do you have on this boat?

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I went duck hunting tonight and when I went to leave and start the motor I turned the key a couple times and nothing. Turned it again and there was sparks at the terminals and it started. It did it a couple times. Everything is tight why is it doing that? 25hp Johnson 3cylinder 2000yr.

Dirty connections/bad wire....outboard starter was calling for more power than the wire/connections could provide.

Check everything.

 

[Ronniewhite]

That is a bad set up. How many motors do you have on this boat?

25hp 3cylinder Johnson

 

[Ronniewhite]

That is a bad set up. How many motors do you have on this boat?

Why is it bad?

 

[Ronniewhite]

Why is it bad?

The motor is the only thing hooked to the battery. I've never had anything like that happen before. Been like that for 2yrs

 

[flyingscott]

What do the other set of large cables go to. You can't put a ring terminal on the clamp bolt like that. Since they don't sit flat you get a bad connection.

 

[Ronniewhite]

What do the other set of large cables go to. You can't put a ring terminal on the clamp bolt like that. Since they don't sit flat you get a bad connection.

Nothing. There those little cables you can buy for hooking up a side post battery if you only had a top post battery in your car. That's all I had laying around when I got a battery for the motor.

 

[Ronniewhite]

What do the other set of large cables go to. You can't put a ring terminal on the clamp bolt like that. Since they don't sit flat you get a bad connection.

How should I have it hooked up?

 

[flyingscott]

I would buy either a marine battery with threaded posts. Or buy the lead clamps that have the threaded posts and use those. How do you have those other cables terminated?

 

[racerone]

Loose connections make sparks !

 

[F_R]

Dirty (corroded) connections also make sparks and/or intermittent operation.

 

[Ronniewhite]

I would buy either a marine battery with threaded posts. Or buy the lead clamps that have the threaded posts and use those. How do you have those other cables terminated?

There not just wrapped in electric tape on the side post end .

 

[Ronniewhite]

I went out this morning and yes the nuts were loose for the terminals to the motor. Thx for the help.

 

[flyingscott]

With that setup it will happen again. Fix it or not up to you.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your battery lugs were not cleaned with 150 grit sand paper
your battery clamps are wrong for a marine application
as stated above, incorrect or dirty connections will spark.

 

[RBoyd1971]

That's an automotive setup being used in a marine application; bad idea. They invite corrosion and resistance. Get a marine starting battery and change the terminal ends to heavy duty tin coated ring terminals. Coat with dialectric grease or petroleum jelly if in a salty environment.

 

[Ronniewhite]

That's an automotive setup being used in a marine application; bad idea. They invite corrosion and resistance. Get a marine starting battery and change the terminal ends to heavy duty tin coated ring terminals. Coat with dialectric grease or petroleum jelly if in a salty environment.

I can't afford that. I was able to get that Battery for $40 from scrap yard it's not even 2yrs old. So for now this is going to have to work. The nuts loosened a bit that's what was causing the sparks. No salt water.