Best way to connect another wire to a battery post?

[cold1313]

I was curious what others do to land additional wires onto your battery terminals. I have to run an additional wire and I'd like something clean and reliable. Any suggestions?

 

[bcp]

I convert to this style where I can.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=military+battery+terminals&atb=v169-1&ia=images&iax=images

Bruce

 

[PILOON]

A lot depends on the amperage you need to draw.
Most important is to have circuit protection as close as possible to the battery and to use proper fusing for the wire size.

 

[LittleBill21]

i use these for higher guage

https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-...ab956e701ac7fbe95226e141215a52&language=en_US


cheaper wing nut terminal

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-B...1749174515182ef68d64670db9cbd8&language=en_US

 

[WranglerX]

Look at any site the sells auto stereo equipment, they use all sorts of different connector configurations so they have a huge selection available...

I was lucky on my MF GC1715 because it bolts the cable to a clamp on battery terminal, and I just put a ring terminal under the nut for bolt....


Dale

 

[Wagtail]

The only additional wire I've attached to my battery terminals is a 'cigarette lighter' socket, run to the back of the tractor, to occasionally run an amber 'whoop-whoop' light on top of my ROPS.

I simply soldered medium sized alligator-clips to the wire ends and clamped them on the battery terminals. They haven't come off in the three years they've been there.

 

[oosik]

My Ram Power Wagon has a special terminal. It's got multiple bolt/nut connection points. There are four wires coming off the terminal. Each wire is fused at the terminal. Hard location to get a good picture. I've used the type bcp links to with good success.

View attachment 644811

 

[seville009]

Go to the battery section of your local auto store - there’s usually a rack full of various connectors and other neat gizmos.....

 

[dstig1]

For my trickle charger, I just put crimp-on ring terminals on the wires and put them underneath the nuts on the terminal clamps. But that is only an amp or 2 at the most. That is fine for smaller loads, but you probably want one of the other solutions shown for heavier loads.

 

[BlueKnife]

I was curious what others do to land additional wires onto your battery terminals. I have to run an additional wire and I'd like something clean and reliable. Any suggestions?

How big is the additional wire? What does it power? Might be better off going from your fuse box.

 

[CADplans]

Connect the extra wire at the solenoid (starter) end of the main cable, rather than at the battery end,,

When you connect away from the battery, there is less corrosion concerns,
and you have a terminal that was designed to be connected to,,

 

[sixdogs]

I wanted to hook up the floodlights I put on the weight bracket of my B7800. I put switches on the lights and wanted the wire hot all the time so I could easily flip them on to find my way out of a machinery barn in the dark. What I did was crimp an eyelet on a piece of fused wire and connect it to the battery bolt and then to the lights. It seemed really easy and is only a few inches from my lights. That way I did not have wires running all around.

It would be better to connect to the starter cable at the solenoid but this is what I did. Hope OK.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Most of the time your fuse box will have room for an extra circuit or two. Buy a fused add on plug.
https://www.ebay.com/i/263561778720...sI8spDIPvBVxHXZnpR-aJv4hTb1C1_cEaAjkREALw_wcB

 

[CoyPatton]

I wanted to hook up the floodlights I put on the weight bracket of my B7800. I put switches on the lights and wanted the wire hot all the time so I could easily flip them on to find my way out of a machinery barn in the dark. What I did was crimp an eyelet on a piece of fused wire and connect it to the battery bolt and then to the lights. It seemed really easy and is only a few inches from my lights. That way I did not have wires running all around.

It would be better to connect to the starter cable at the solenoid but this is what I did. Hope OK.

2 general comments regarding the above process.
1) put in a fuse or circuit breaker fuse on that added wire to the battery. It us cheap protection for your electrical system.
2) consider if you want that circuit to be always hot! It may be that is what you decide to do, just be aware that your barn cat may leave you with a dead battery by accidentally turning on your lights.

 

[sixdogs]

2 general comments regarding the above process.
1) put in a fuse or circuit breaker fuse on that added wire to the battery. It us cheap protection for your electrical system.
2) consider if you want that circuit to be always hot! It may be that is what you decide to do, just be aware that your barn cat may leave you with a dead battery by accidentally turning on your lights.

Good advice. It's an HD switch with long throw so unless it's Toonces, I think I'm OK. Needs to be hot so I can switch on to get out of dark barn at night and not bark my shins. Turn lights on, lock up back barn doors and just walk to the light to find the door.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I wanted a permanent connection for my trickle charger to the fuel pump's 12V permanent installed battery on my fuel storage tank. I didn't want alligator clips that dont always have a good connection, could fall off etc. I used a 1/2" long self tapping screw and drilled it into the top of the post to attach the ring eyelet to each post. I used the alligator clips to attach the leads to the fuel pump. It has worked faithfully for 11 years. I have had to replace the battery once in those 11 years. The connection is always solid and doesn't corrode.

 

[AlaskaL3130]

Try Blue Sea Systems, they have a variety of options for circuit protection, bus bars, switches, etc. They produce quality components mainly for marine applications, but suitable for ag and other mobile uses.

 

[AlaskaL3130]

Combining these two would give you the circuit protection at the battery.

 

[sixdogs]

View attachment 656640View attachment 656639

Combining these two would give you the circuit protection at the battery.

If you are doing multiple lights and such up front, that would be the ticket for a clean and neat installation..

 

[Industrial Toys]

IF I was going that route and the tractor had such "eye" ends on the cables, I would just try and get a battery with the bolts instead of lead posts. I can't say, I ever had warm fuzzy feeling for lead posts and clamps.