Battery terminals rusting

[strawbs]

Hopefully this problem less likely to burn my boat down than the last one!

The terminals on one battery have significant amount of rust...the terminals on the other are fine. Both batteries are the same model, same age. All terminals are the same, from the same supplier, same age. All cables and lugs are the same supplier and age. The battery box is in the cockpit locker but has a lid...so I don't think one is more damp than the other

Does anyone know why the rusting might be different?...and is it a problem?

 

[Pete7]

You could try a layer of grease and a couple of battery terminal caps.

However, I would be much more concerned about the negative cable sitting on top of the positive terminal.

Less urgent would be some battery tie down straps.

Pete

 

[strawbs]

That's a good point...I'll move the negative cable away from the positive cable in the morning.

Still curious why one should have more rusting than the other though!

 

[MoodySabre]

Non stainless steel nuts. I put Vaseline on ( careful…) my terminals.

 

[penfold]

The terminals are fine, you need to swap the steel nut for a brass or stainless steel one.

 

[PCUK]

Maintain your batteries regularly and they won't rust!

 

[strawbs]

Negative cable rerouted and vaseline applied to terminals. Still doesn't explain why one battery has rusty terminals and the other looks good as new!

 

[rogerthebodger]

As said they look like they are made of steel that does rust.

You need to change them for brass of stainless steel.

Some steel nots are plated but the plating to very thin and dont stand up to a boating environment

 

[saxonpirate]

As said they look like they are made of steel that does rust.

You need to change them for brass of stainless steel.

Some steel nots are plated but the plating to very thin and dont stand up to a boating environment

This... ^^^^^ there's nowt wrong with your batteries..

 

[LiftyK]

You might consider a spray on protector. It used to be Rochem brand but seems to have changed to Battery Terminal Protect - Safechem