This months Marine Systems Excellence eMagazine feature addresses the subject of battery terminals. 3/8" - Neg. Adapters should rely on fastener compression to maintain electrical and physical integrity. Cylindrical, lead, automotive-style posts are especially common. It is, therefore, imperative that battery connections are secure, arc-free and provide a low resistance path for current flow at all times. Professionals, Marine Battery Terminals and Connection Hardware. Call me: In the event of a dispute or problem with a product, particularly if it appears the customer is deeply dissatisfied, call rather than e mail. We are currently shipping to USA and Canada, Ships: For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Whichever style terminal is employed, following a few guidelines will increase reliability and reduce the likelihood of the aforementioned arcing and fire/explosion issues. Unsurprisingly the contact us link is gone. Once connections are complete, spraying them with a protective coating, such as CRC Battery Terminal Protector, will further enhance reliability and safety. Give customers and potential customers the names and e mail addresses of key support people. For more photo albums, visit SDMCs Photo Gallery. One style that does just that is often referred to as a military battery terminal. Insurance, Boat
Make certain all positive terminals and bus bars are fully insulated to prevent short circuits. Boat, Sell A
In this case, however, the installation has some shortcomings, the most important of which is the ring terminal-less wire. If the battery is of the AGM or gel variety, over-stressing the flag with stiff or poorly supported cables can lead to case leakage which will, in this type of battery, dramatically shorten its life. ACCOUNT, View
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The hole in the ring terminal must match the size of the fastener to which its secured, without the need for washers, and washers must never be placed in the current path, i.e. This variation on the flag post terminal clearly wasnt up to the task; the gossamer interface between the vertical flag and the battery post is simply inadequate. Tracking, Return
While ABYC guidelines limit to four the number of ring terminals that may be placed on a single stud, where batteries are concerned Im more conservative, Id prefer to see no more than two. Excessive side loading and stress on battery terminals can exacerbate this problem. Login, Buy A
Follow up: Follow up and follow through on all communication, e mail and verbal, if you agree to get back to a customer with requested information, do not make him or her ask twice. Find your perfect fitting cover. Interspersing anything between the cable and the battery introduces the potential for increased resistance, arcing, heat generation and failure. Boat Covers Up to 60% off! Finally, using a conductive paste such as Thomas and Betts Kopr-Shield at the interface between the various connections makes excellent sense, as it excludes air and moisture, reducing the likelihood of corrosion. Regardless of how well-designed and robust a vessels battery banks and DC electrical system may be; if the interface between the two is tenuous, then reliability will suffer. While theres nothing wrong with them per se, their use does require an adapter that enables the attachment of a cables ring terminal, which is to an extent a necessary evil. Ive studied, written about and lectured on this subject extensively, and have come up with a series of guidelines for delivering premier customer care,. I hope you find it both interesting and useful. In 1 Business Day. While its often dismissed as common battery terminal corrosion, when SVRLA batteries exhibit this type of white, powdery accumulation adjacent to terminals its nearly always an indication of a breach of the cases pressure seal. Cast in stud battery lug adapters simply arent suited for heavy marine battery cables. Sadly I just encountered yetanother example, one of the premier manufacturers of some of the marine industrys finest motor mounts, ones I recommend routinely. Boat, Boat Buyers
It vaguely resembles the automotive post; however, its often made of copper alloy rather than lead, and it includes a vertical thread and fastener, which allows direct ring terminal attachment. The more connections at a single post the more potential there is for poor connections, and increased resistance, particularly in this corrosion-prone environment, and the more stress thats placed on the post. Washers, especially stainless steel washers, present comparatively high resistance to current flow, which leads to heating, expansion and ultimately loose connections, and once again arcing. 5/16" - Neg. This battery type is sometimes referred to as sealed valve-regulated lead acid or SVRLA. Terminals of this sort are advantageous in that they eliminate the need for an adapter, or separately supplied fastener. Documentation: Make certain your product documentation is accurate and readily and, Im Sorry: Be prepared to offer complete, sincere apologies if the customer is unhappy. Theyve been acquired by a defense contractor and the recreational boatpage on their site is virtually blank, it includes a short list of products, with no details what so ever. Technical support reigns supreme: The companies I gravitate toward provide me and my clients superb technical support, responding quickly and accurately to questions and emergency failures. If bus bars are used, they should only be made from copper. Policies. Brass Battery Wing Nut Terminals 1 Pos /1 Neg. All, Covers and
Please also view our Upcoming Events webpage. All rights reserved. There are several types of automotive post-style adapters, and they run the quality gamut. Both should be avoided, particularly where heavy cables are used. Find the right propeller by clicking here. Who are you: Tell clients and potential clients who you are and what you are about, include an about us page on your website, describing the companys mission and goals, as well as backgrounds of key staff. Flag post battery terminals eliminate the need for adapters. High amperage flow for optimum performance, these terminals can be crimped or soldered. Compression style battery lug adapters, often referred to as military terminals, are robust and virtually failure-proof. There is, however, a slew of information about military products. Flag terminals are blade-like protrusions that take the place of an automotive post. Tinned copper battery terminals resist corrosion and are superior in Marine environments. A more common, and far less reliable, arrangement relies on a stud that is cast into the terminals comparatively soft lead structure. They are in no particular order, however, Id be curious to know how readers rate them, and which of their own they may wish to share. Battery post (the metal portion thats an integral part of the battery) types often dictate the connection method. While this terminal is exemplary, the order in which its ring terminals are installed is incorrect, the largest ring terminal should always be installed first. 5/16", Lead Marine Battery Wing Nut Terminals / Pos. Guide, Boat
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I also noted last month that there were ways for product manufacturers, both independents and those who have been merged, to retain and even grow their customer base by providing premier support and service. Additionally, under no circumstances should wing nuts be used to secure battery terminals, regardless of whether or not the adapter lugs or batteries themselves come equipped with them, if they do they should be discarded and replaced with hex nuts. Leave out the business buzzwords, make it real and from the heart. Some are rugged and long lived, others are not. Blue Sea PowerPost High Amperage Cable Connectors, Blue Sea Powerpost High Amperage Cable Connectors, Seadog Double Female UHFhead Connector Line, Seadog Wing Nut Type Battery Terminal Set Line, Seachoice Tinned Battery Lug, #2/0 25/Pack 50-60491, Order
Ill continue to report on these cases, both good and bad, as I encounter them. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. While tempting, because of their inflexibility, use of generic bus bars to interconnect batteries is often less than ideal. The case is manufactured with an internal pressure of about 1.5 psi, which improves the charging process, however, it also means any breach essentially releases both the pressure and water vapor, neither of which can be restored once this occurs. A variation in the flag post theme is the threaded post. Copyright 2020 IBOATS. Advantageously, a hole in the flag enables a ring terminal to be through bolted directly, without the need for an adapter. Installing a bus bar adjacent to the battery is one means of reducing the number of connections at a given post or terminal. The leverage placed on this style of battery terminal adapter lug, as well as the battery post, can clearly be seen in this image. Its worth pointing out that ignition sources such as sparks, adjacent to batteries, especially flooded batteries, can lead to hydrogen explosions. *For more on the art of the apology visit https://stevedmarineconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/parting_shot_im_sorry.pdf. All Photos, Text and Website Copyright 2007-2022 SDMC Inc. https://stevedmarineconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/parting_shot_im_sorry.pdf, July 2022 Newsletter Closed Cooling System Hose Failure, Deciphering the Ingress Protection Code Editorial: Alaskas Lituya Bay, Selecting Primary Fuel Filters; Theres more to it than meets the eye Editorial: A Loose Bolt, a Cigarette Lighter and Distracted Work. These may be copper, and usually are on AGM batteries, or lead. Include e mail addresses and phone numbers. They are always courteous and professional. Be responsive: Provide customers with a means of communicating with you that goes beyond the annoying contact us form. The contact area of this brass bus bar, which is being used to connect this post with that of another battery, is far too small. This design is prone to failure when stressed by stiff, heavy or multiple battery cables or in the event the terminal overheats. 5/16". Not only is the ring terminal shown here improperly sized, a stainless steel washer has been inserted in the current path between it and the battery post. Use the search box above for best results, Kadey Krogen Rendezvous week of October 3, 2022. Biminis, Dealer
Visit the Volvo Penta Store powered by iboats.com. Beyond that the stainless steel fastener is being used as part of the current path, a practice that should be assiduously avoided. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Make certain you have folks on staff who know everything about your products, including failure modes, and make certain their communication skills are top flight, both verbal and written, and of course they must be patient. Last month I mentioned the disquieting marine industry trends of acquisition and consolidation and the net result of diminished support and customer service. There are myriad ways of connecting battery cables to battery banks. Its not unusual to find washers installed in this manner having turned purple from extreme heating. When that occurs, the batterys days are numbered. AN
These are derived from a lecture I deliver to those in the marine industry on this subject, a sampling of which follows. between a cables ring terminal and the battery terminal. Positive and Negative stud size is 5/16" Clamp-type w.. Lead Marine Battery Wing Nut Terminals Set, Positive stud 3/8" and Negative stud 5/16" Clamp-type wi.. Copper die casting tinned battery terminals resist corrosion and are superior in Marine environments.. Brass Battery Wing Nut Terminals Set / Pos. Liquidation boat covers as low as $149.99 while supplies last. Batteries that are designed for marine and industrial applications are often equipped with whats known as a flag terminal. I can only hope they continue to offer this very high quality product for what is now no doubt a small market for them. Tightening the clamping and electrical connection fasteners compresses the assembly, enhancing its security. Forums, Find
The holes in ring terminals must match the fastener used to secure them; doing so is required for ABYC compliance. E mail and telephone responses should occur within 24 hours. FREE SHIPPING on all propellers. Happy holidays, and all the very best for the New Year, from the staff at SDMC Inc. A failure prone combination, a cast in place stud and a wing nut.