What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

[eavega]

On my previous boat, I installed real battery terminals when I re-wired the boat. On my new boat, however (1988 Stingray SVB 176, Mercruiser 3.0L), it has come to me with wingnuts securing the battery cables to the battery. I have seen a few warnings from time to time that you shouldn't use wignuts and screw terminals for connections. Can anyone tell me why? Mostly curious, but if there is a reason to, I'll change over to battery terminals in the off season.

Thanks.

Rgds

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

Only that they are hard to get tight enough. Thats where a lot of problems from loose or corroded connections come from. You can use them but I would tighten them with a pair of pliers, not fingers. Or, as a lot of people do replace with nuts and use a wrench. I use mine all the time with no problems except for the one I dropped in the bilge and replaced with a nut. I use pliers.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

Only that they are hard to get tight enough. Thats where a lot of problems from loose or corroded connections come from. You can use them but I would tighten them with a pair of pliers, not fingers. Or, as a lot of people do replace with nuts and use a wrench. I use mine all the time with no problems except for the one I dropped in the bilge and replaced with a nut. I use pliers.

Ditto. Just replace the wing nuts with a nut and lockwasher.

I only remove my cables once per year. I have a battery switch so that allows me to isolate the battery (turn off) without risking a loose connection.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

^^^^Agree. Read recently of outboard computer modules failing because of poor/intermittent current flow through corroded wing-nut connections.

 

[pdgs]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

The average, true "Marine Grade" battery, comes with both automotive style lead posts and threaded stainless steel or nickle plated posts. In some cases the automotive style posts are not present. You should use the threaded posts to reduce the potential for problems with corossion. I rarely see the more expensive brand names with wing nuts any more. I use a stainless nut with a lock washer just like you'll find on the better battery switches out there.

I find that the lock washer is adequate and no other product such as loctite is needed. Corrosion resistant coatingss for batteries can be applied if you want too but I prefer to not use it. I maintain my batteries once every 30 days and I find this adequate to catch and remove any corrosion that might be forming.

It helps a lot if you don't consider your battery to be a "set it and forget it" part of your boat. It truly is a safety item and needs to be checked regularly.

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

Only that they are hard to get tight enough.

what's wrong with tightening a wing nut by hand then if you aren't strong enough to tighten it properly, swing the nut around a little more with a pair of pliers?

it's a lot easier to spin a wing nut with a pair of pliers than it is a regular hex nut.

i have wing nuts on my batteries but my version of hand tight with wing nuts is probably tighter than the average boater's version of tight using regular nuts.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

While it may be true you can tighten the wing nut with a wrench or pliers, there is nothing to prevent it from working loose. Battery cables are big and relatively stiff. Tighten the nut until you think it is tight. Then rotate the battery cable in the opposite direction. Chances are the nut will come loose. Rather than conventional lock washers, threaded electrical connections should use internal or external tooth lock washers for the best electrical connection. You can even buy hex nuts with the external tooth washer built into it.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

I believe it has more to do with the amount of electrical surface contact area...not the ability to hold fast the terminal connection itself.

The post/clamp has a much larger contact surface than the screw terminal.

 

[pdgs]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

I believe it has more to do with the amount of electrical surface contact area...not the ability to hold fast the terminal connection itself.

The post/clamp has a much larger contact surface than the screw terminal.

I think if you experiment a little with the clamp you'll find that there are only two points of solid contact. Have you ever wiggled a cable clamp on a battery post in an effort to get a car to start? I know I have and it often works. I think if you stick to the threaded posts you'll have better results. They do put them there for a reason and I'm pretty sure the intention is to use them unless your boat is rigged with the post type clamps and your not in a position to change them.

 

[Outsider]

Re: What is the issue with wingnuts on the battery?

I use a washer and nylock nut, be sure to spread connectors out so each has full contact in the stack. Little chance to loosen ...