Remote Battery Terminals for charging

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rtpassini

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I tried searching a bit and on google. Maybe I'm not using the right terms.
Basically, My battery is tucked back pretty good. And is a pain to get out and put back in. SO I would like to have some type of terminals that are easier to access that I can use to charge up.

even just something like this
Everstart LG49-6-77 6-Gauge Black Lawn and Garden Battery Cable, 49-Inches: Automotive : Walmart.com
but I would obviously need to keep the ends covered so they dont short out and touch.

and keep this on the cheap.
 
U

UncleWillie

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

Is this for the Starting battery or a trolling battery?
Is this Full Fledged Charging or just keeping it topped off until the next outing?

6 gauge is some mighty heavy wire for a charger.
You will still need a fuse in the cable for safety sake.

How about a picture of the general area where the battery sits so we came brainstorm some options.
It is possible that you can attach to an existing cable that the battery already is attached to.
 
saumon

saumon

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

UncleWillie said:
How about a picture of the general area where the battery sits so we came brainstorm some options.
It is possible that you can attach to an existing cable that the battery already is attached to.
Click to expand...

What he said!

In my previous boat, I installed an on-board battery charger under the console. The trolling motor deep cycle battery was close so I was able the connect it to the charger (6 foot leads) but the starting battery was under the splashwell, way too far back. What I did was to simply replace the charger second output leads eyelets with female spade terminals and connect them to the bus bar under the console, which was already wired to the battery. Worked perfectly.

In your case, you could probably wire 2 posts with 10 gauge to the bus bar, in a location that will be easy to access for your charger alligator clips.
 
H

H20Rat

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

You aren't trying to jump start a boat, you are just charging it! no need to look at remote battery terminals, that is way too much overkill for the job. Realistically if you are charging at a relatively standard 10 amps, you can do that with some tiny (16 gauge) speaker wire!
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

smokingcrater said:
You aren't trying to jump start a boat, you are just charging it! no need to look at remote battery terminals, that is way too much overkill for the job. Realistically if you are charging at a relatively standard 10 amps, you can do that with some tiny (16 gauge) speaker wire!
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Agreed,... A simple Power Port/ aka: cigarette lighter socket will do what yer tryin' to do....
 
NYBo

NYBo

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

I thought you were intending to connect all the boat's power to the remote terminals, which is why I suggested what I did. However, if you just want to add leads for charging to the current terminals, I agree with the others. Those cables are overkill; you just need wire of the same gauge as your charger with ring terminals on one end and a protected connector on the other. I like the idea of the cigarette lighter socket because it is more versatile than a single-purpose dedicated connector. In fact, I'm going to use that idea on my own boat.
 
J

joed

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

simple use a cigarette lighter plug/receptacle. This is only for charging. You don't need a big heavy cable and plug.
 
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rtpassini

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

So today while charging my starting battery, the 14 or 12 ga (cant remember) wire I have going from the charging clamps to the batter, started to get really hot.....Any reason why this is happening? I dont remember it happening before. Should I just upgrade the size wires to a 10 ga or something?
 
NYBo

NYBo

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

Two possibilities come to mind:
1. The battery was really low and you had it on the automatic 12-30 amp setting. Thirty amps would be too much for the 14 or 12 gauge wire to handle.
2. You accidentally had the charger set for 100 amps.:eek:
 
R

rtpassini

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

its an automatic charger. so it sets its own voltage. but the voltage never got above 13.9 amps.

What I have is the clamps going to a set of male female terminals. that connects to another set of terminals that run to the batter (so I can disconnect them easier) Its not hot on the battery side terminals.
(if this makes sense)
 
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G

glenn property of pam

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

cheap battery charger leads are sized on the edge to start with then if you add another 20 feet of wire that's going to make matters worse. If the leads going on the boat side are staying cool and the charger leads are not supper warm you should be ok. Every connection on a 12v system adds resistance the same as the distance between the charger and the battery so make sure everything is tight and clean. If the boat side wire fells warm then replace with a 10g wire as this will help reduce the heat on both the boat and charger cables
 
NYBo

NYBo

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

rtpassini said:
its an automatic charger. so it sets its own voltage. but the voltage never got above 13.9 amps.

What I have is the clamps going to a set of male female terminals. that connects to another set of terminals that run to the batter (so I can disconnect them easier) Its not hot on the battery side terminals.
(if this makes sense)
Click to expand...
Sorry, but it doesn't make sense. Voltage isn't the issue, it's amperage. 13.9 is undoubtedly the charging voltage. Please post a picture or two of your setup.
 
R

rtpassini

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Re: Remote Battery Terminals for charging

I just went out and clamped it directly on the terminals. the wires near the clamp are just a little warm. But even after 2 hours, the Battery % hasnt moved. This is on a 3 month old Optima Blue top. I think the charger is garbage. It doesnt have this issue with the normal starting battery.
 
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