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The battery to battery cable
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:18 pm
by Deadguy
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
Battery cable
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:08 pm
by rdsar2k
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.
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:53 pm
by wesk
Are you using the correct installation?
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:43 pm
by Deadguy
I have it on the other side, but both seem very close to a ground
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:07 pm
by wesk
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.
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 5:59 pm
by oilleaker1
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
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:48 pm
by Deadguy
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
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:51 pm
by wesk
Post a photo of your battery installation and we can offer some ides that may help.
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:37 pm
by Deadguy
I'm a traveling tattoo artist, and away in Massachusetts right now. I'll post up some pictures when I get back next week