8 replies to this topic

[rwiddi]

Whats the safest way of doing it, I have an amp and a trickle charger attached to it but just don't feel its as safe as could be.

Is this the bast way? http://www.halfords....tegoryId_255229

 

cheers

[L400RAS]

Does the trickle charger not have large crocodile clamps on it now?

[Dan]

  You can get battery terminals with small additional connection points as well as the large main cable connection.  Auto Electrical or ICE specialists should have some.

[AVV IT]

The clamp you have linked to is designed to attach the standard 10mm(ish) battery cable to, both screws should be used to clamp down the battery cable itself, they're not really designed to accommodate auxiliary wiring. 

 

Personally I'd just use a suitably sized crimp on ring terminal, fitted to the bolt that goes through the standard battery clamp (as below). I'd avoid the crocodile clips that often come as standard with trickle chargers etc, because they have a habit of coming detached with vibration and in the case of the classic mini with things placed on top of them in the boot. They can also cause problems with refitting the battery cover over the top.

 

Edited by AVV IT, 19 May 2013 - 07:20 PM.

[rwiddi]

that's what ive got just didn't know if that was best or if something more was required, cheers all

[AVV IT]

As Dan mentioned, I think there are specialist terminals available that accept auxiliary wiring, but crimp on ring terminals seem to be the accepted method amongst professional auto electricians, from what I've seen.

Edited by AVV IT, 19 May 2013 - 07:26 PM.

[L400RAS]

I'd avoid the crocodile clips that often come as standard with trickle chargers etc, because they have a habit of coming detached with vibration and in the case of the classic mini with things placed on top of them in the boot. They can also cause problems with refitting the battery cover over the top.

 

Surely the use of a trickle charger is to keep the battery topped when the car is in long term lay-up, ie not driven - so vibration and refitting the battery cover is no issue.

Edited by L400RAS, 19 May 2013 - 07:29 PM.

[AVV IT]

 

I'd avoid the crocodile clips that often come as standard with trickle chargers etc, because they have a habit of coming detached with vibration and in the case of the classic mini with things placed on top of them in the boot. They can also cause problems with refitting the battery cover over the top.

 

Surely the use of a trickle charger is to keep the battery topped when the car is in long term lay-up, ie not driven - so vibration and refitting the battery cover is no issue.

 

 

 

Yeah good point, also I'm fairly sure that you're actually supposed to disconnect trickle chargers from the battery when cranking/running the engine, so that they don't become damaged by a power surge. So they would need to be easily removable any way, as opposed to being hardwired to the battery.

Edited by AVV IT, 19 May 2013 - 07:35 PM.

[Dan]

  Yes large ring terminals are fine and I have some on mine too.  The thing I have found is that over time forcing the rings into the battery clamp wears out the clamp and the square headed bolt no longer grips properly.  It then becomes really fiddly to get the clamps to either tighten or loosen.  So soon-ish I will be replacing mine with proper clamps designed for the job.