The battery to battery cable

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:18 pm

Deadguy has an M38A1

Is incredibly short. I accidentally brushed it against the battery box tall wingnut/ tightened screw posts, and got a nasty spark. I replaced a longer, corroded, battery cable, but this new cable seems like a potential hazard just waiting to get bumped into a ground

rdsar2k · Post by **rdsar2k** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:08 pm

Good topic. I noted the same thing on my M170. Seems like a short waiting to happen. I was going to remove the wingnut in favor of a regular nut but it is still going to be close.

Post by **wesk** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:53 pm

Are you using the correct installation?

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:43 pm

I have it on the other side, but both seem very close to a ground

Post by **wesk** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:07 pm

Then that is why it is giving you grief. The most basic rule with all vehicle batteries is what I posted at the bottom of the illustration. You adopt and consistently apply that rule and you will no longer get any shorts circuits.

In your specific case when you connected the middle cable had the right ground cable not been connected you would have gotten no spark.

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:59 pm

On mine, finding and buying the original cable ends is not easy. I ended up with the square ones which were 1/4 the price. They are worse for shorting. Even being careful. I took butter dish plastic lids, cut out squares that fit the affected areas, punched a post size hole and insulated the hot points of the connections. They go over the posts before you connect the cables. Works well and if the battery gets loose when you don't see or know it, more protection. Tight quarters in there. John

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:48 pm

Now, I know I'll get Brown material for this, but I replaced the auto light batteries (when I was having a lot of electrical trouble) with two optima yellow-top batteries. Much more durable batteries, but they don't fit as sniffly in the battery braces, and I'm worried they might shift around in transit and cause a short. I do have liquid electrical tape. I might want to coat the battery cable ends

Post by **wesk** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:51 pm

Post a photo of your battery installation and we can offer some ides that may help.

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:37 pm

I'm a traveling tattoo artist, and away in Massachusetts right now. I'll post up some pictures when I get back next week

The battery to battery cable

The battery to battery cable

Battery cable