Terminals for parallel batteries

[vyv_cox]

Has anyone ever found round post type battery terminals with connections for more than one cable?

I currently have two batteries in parallel, for which the terminal connections are a bit of a botch in that I stripped the insulation off a longish length of cable, fed it right through one terminal, put some other insulation over the bare length and connected to the second battery. Now I am about to add a third battery in parallel so this is not a practical arrangement. Has anyone either found a two-cable connector or another sound method?

 

[Eygthene]

My (clamp on - round battery post type) battery terminals have a threaded stud with a nut and washer (about 3/8ths thread diameter about 5/8ths long), One can connect a number of cables with terminals of the flat type with a hole in to such a terminal.

I can't remember where I bought them now though - but they were new just a few years ago.

 

[Stemar]

I think I would set up a pair of terminals or bus bars (+ & -) on the wall of the battery compartment, connect my domestic supply to them then run cables from each battery - as many as you want - to them.

This has the advantage that you could easily take a duff battery out of service until you can replace it.

 

[pvb]

Terminals with a threaded post are easy to find and offer a neat solution. See here for just one online supplier.

 

[Bilgediver]

Has anyone ever found round post type battery terminals with connections for more than one cable?
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You need the ones used on the big ships and radio rooms.

The battery cable connection is via a 10mm bolt with wing nut and you put HD crimp fittings on the cables. They are bigger than the diy motorist ones.

I have seen them in Chandlers and will put my thinking cap on.

 

[Bilgediver]

You can also do this using the normal type connectors but putting a nut and bolt through the hole for clamping the cable in and using the nut and bolt to clamp crimp eyes to the sides of the terminal you can easilly get up to 4 connections on a post. Two under the nut and two under the bolt head.

 

[rafiki_]

Have you tried www.batterymegastore.co.uk They appear to stock most things, and are familiar with marine applications.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried www.batterymegastore.co.uk They appear to stock most things, and are familiar with marine applications.

[/ QUOTE ]Mmmm... gold-plated terminals!

 

[rogersimms]

Just to add one last thing to this. I had a terminal fail recently as the stud had been moulded into the terminal when it was cast and it just came apart. These type should be avoided. The alternative is the type where the stud is threaded right through the terminal and when the thread is no good the stud can still be attached safely to the terminal by adding two nuts on iether side of the terminal. Of course it doesnt have to be a stud a bolt would be just as good

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks for all suggestions.

I'm not sure whether I have sufficient height between terminal and lid to fit the type with a vertical connection, and as the boat is in Greece I can't be certain beforehand. Not a lot of outlay though, so worth a punt. I like the idea of using the pinch bolt in conjunction with crimped ends, so will try that if No.1 is no good.