Broken battery terminal repair/work around?

[rotrax]

But a repair that appears to work could end up with a fire?

How many batteries with poor terminal connections cause fires? Because that is all a poor repair might be, a poor high resistance connection.

Very few in my extensive experience.

It will work and start the engine, or it will not start the engine, perhaps turn it very slowly and the terminal might get hot or spark a bit.

But not hot or sparky enough to start a fire in my view.

 

[Refueler]

How many batteries with poor terminal connections cause fires? Because that is all a poor repair might be, a poor high resistance connection.

Very few in my extensive experience.

It will work and start the engine, or it will not start the engine, perhaps turn it very slowly and the terminal might get hot or spark a bit.

But not hot or sparky enough to start a fire in my view.

How many - hand on heart - have found a loose battery connection on a boat / car etc ?? has that caused a fire ? Its likely sparked at times ..

 

[Moodysailor]

How many batteries with poor terminal connections cause fires? Because that is all a poor repair might be, a poor high resistance connection.

Very few in my extensive experience.

It will work and start the engine, or it will not start the engine, perhaps turn it very slowly and the terminal might get hot or spark a bit.

But not hot or sparky enough to start a fire in my view.

How many - hand on heart - have found a loose battery connection on a boat / car etc ?? has that caused a fire ? Its likely sparked at times ..

I have seen the aftermath of a few, in the US on petrol mobos. The problem is that there is not a lot left to investigate usually! A big explosion when firing the engines took the deck and cockpit completley off one.

I have seen several blown/damaged batteries and loose/melted connections on (diesel) boats in the UK, admittedly none that caused a fire, but enough hassle (time and money) to make it not worth it in the long run.

In my opinion, these things rarely fail at a convenient point, it's usually quite the opposite!

I saw and dealt with enough when I was a marine engineer that I agree with the "don't do it" views on this thread.

 

[billskip]

How many - hand on heart - have found a loose battery connection on a boat / car etc ?? has that caused a fire ? Its likely sparked at times ..

In Venezuela almost every car has loose battery terminal connections, if they can't get the clamp off with a twist of the wrist, the undo it till they can.

 

[penberth3]

In Venezuela almost every car has loose battery terminal connections, if they can't get the clamp off with a twist of the wrist, the undo it till they can.

Why?

 

[billskip]

Why?

Well the only reason I could figure out was they were always swapping batteries about and removing them at night so they didn't get stolen,
I did ask on a couple of occasions but could never get an answer.
My partners son is Venezuelan and he would always bring his f150 pickup for me to fix and I would tighten the battery connection, next time I had to do it again..

 

[Refueler]

Well the only reason I could figure out was they were always swapping batteries about and removing them at night so they didn't get stolen,
I did ask on a couple of occasions but could never get an answer.
My partners son is Venezuelan and he would always bring his f150 pickup for me to fix and I would tighten the battery connection, next time I had to do it again..

Stolen batterys and wiper blades were common in Soviet States and after breakup.

My Additives truck had to sit by roadside one night ... when we went back next morning .. batterys gone ... wipers gone ...

cars - you'd see owners removing wiper blades before leaving car for the night .. I first of all thought it was to prevent them freezing to screen - but then noted all year they did it ... was told - theifs.