Thread: Replacing battery terminals/leads - what best to replace with?

I always crimp a lug onto the end of the battery cables and then use a terminal that accepts the lug, but if you don't have the correct crimpers for this, yes, I'd go with a rounded terminal entry rather than flat. No particular brand in mind though.

You can get heavy duty brass terminals that clamp onto the cable rather than requiring a crimp.

I use these. Military Battery Terminals. Had to order them from the US, best thing i could find for adding extra cables to

I prefer these type, but they are not perfect. Gives better high current performance for started motors and winches with 10mm+ cable

Lugs/clamps/post/connectors are only as good as the surface area they make contact with. More surface area means less resistance and heat where they join ( used to work on 50v battery systems capable of a few hundred amps )

You can also use longer bolts and turn them upside down ( ie feed them from underneath ) with a nut on top over the clamp plate, then just use the bolt as a terminal post

And use wool fat ( Chemist --> baby aisle ) on the terminals to stop corrosion. Its much better than petroleum jelly.

Originally Posted by Vern

I use these. Military Battery Terminals. Had to order them from the US, best thing i could find for adding extra cables to

I like the look of those things! Shame I can only get them from US, I want them for the weekend and that's not enough time.

So it sounds like a good idea to just get the cables on lugs and just put them onto some nice terminals, this sounds preferable to just squashing them flat, would that be right?

I like the look of those things! Shame I can only get them from US, I want them for the weekend and that's not enough time

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If you can find a marine chandler shop, maybe at a Marina if you are near the water, then there are marine grade battery clamps like the ones in the photo.

IMHO , you cannot beat properly crimped terminals where the wire goes directly into the terminal.

When I replaced my terminals at a about day 2 of ownership, I used those clamp on terminals to get to an auto electrician who properly crimped the cables onto a proper type terminal. I have since bought a big crimper.
Before buying the crimper I did my own by cutting a suitable groove in a bit of 4MM steel that tightly held the terminal and bashing the terminal with wire in with a hammer and punch.
You are just adding more points of failure by using clamp on terminals IMHO.

Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

IMHO , you cannot beat properly crimped terminals where the wire goes directly into the terminal.

When I replaced my terminals at a about day 2 of ownership, I used those clamp on terminals to get to an auto electrician who properly crimped the cables onto a proper type terminal. I have since bought a big crimper.
Before buying the crimper I did my own by cutting a suitable groove in a bit of 4MM steel that tightly held the terminal and bashing the terminal with wire in with a hammer and punch.
You are just adding more points of failure by using clamp on terminals IMHO.

Regards Philip A

Those hydraulic crimpers are not that expensive and they do produce a 1st class crimp, Much better than clamping a cable on these type of terminals.