What is the BEST CAR BATTERY Terminal, copper, gold, nickle?

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey Fellas,

I've been looking for battery terminals and found a whole bunch. I know to avoid lead but what about the other metals: copper, gold, nickle?

Sears has the Copper

This would be the starter side:


The FleeBay:
Nickle, Chrome or Gold clad ( sears has the chrome)


Anyone know the gauge of our cables?

TIA,

[DRACO A5OG]

Summit Racing has plated Brass:

[RDM]

Draco,

1. Why avoid lead? It was standard equipment on every car for generations, and as long as you don't eat or breathe it, it poses no danger.

2. What standard do you want to use for "best"? Cost, reliability, durability, conductivity, resistance to corrosion, malleability? Again, those that designed our cars made their calculation and came up with...lead.

[manbridge 74]

Lead. Less corrosion, more ductile(won't crack as easy), and my '74 didn't have lead ends from the factory.

[DRACO A5OG]

Interesting point, realibility and conductivity seems to be the most important thing, I don't want to just replace the terminal with some cheap item at the FLAPS only to have it fail.

[zippy_gg]

You can't go wrong with copper either, and it tastes better than lead...
Look at the battery terminals and they are probably made of lead for the reasons invoked above.
I do like the Fleabay design in your pics as it makes it easy to add separate circuits apart for the stock wiring harness.

[Joe Bob]

I use Marine batteries, wing nuts as connectors. They tend to hold up best and tolerate extra connectors. Since I retired and I ride my bike a lot.....my 911 sits a lot with the trickle charger it is the best solution for me.

Brass is good, cuts down on the green fuzz....since you live near the ocean, something to consider.

[RWebb]

solid gold is by far the best

avoid eBay

Porsche no doubt has stock ones available

Joe Bob - got a pic of what you describe?

[manbridge 74]

Solid kryptonite even better!

[AVDCAV]

unobtanium is by far the best "

[Joe Bob]

If you have a standard battery, use these clamps.



A little more expensive than lead but tend to corrode less and less of an issue on connectivity.

Use this type cable ends.

[Rusty Heap]

type of clamping material honestly is irrelevant.


QUALITY of crimps and corrosion free connects = happiness.


Use Battery Lube/Grease on all contacts too, it's the red jelly stuff.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

If you have a standard battery, use these clamps.



A little more expensive than lead but tend to corrode less and less of an issue on connectivity.

Use this type cable ends.

thanks M, time to visit a marine shop and sears

[vince_aust]

Battery connectors should always be the same material as the actual battery terminal. If you use different materials you will always get galvanic corrosion. Plated connectors such as zinc are effective ( sacrifical anodes) to help prevent this but what this means they will rot over time. The best connector is lead on lead - assuming all are nice and clean when first used.

[frankc]

Originally Posted by vince_aust

Battery connectors should always be the same material as the actual battery terminal. If you use different materials you will always get galvanic corrosion. Plated connectors such as zinc are effective ( sacrifical anodes) to help prevent this but what this means they will rot over time. The best connector is lead on lead - assuming all are nice and clean when first used.

Question - if a lead connector is used on a lead post, will this simply move the galvanic corrosion point from the connector/post interface to the connector/copper-wire crimp?

[DRACO A5OG]

that makes perfect sense, my terminal has been acting up since I tampered with it when I added a relay, tried cleaning both the post and terminal but no joy.

when I move the piggy backed wire connections it results in better conductivity, I have an oem cable on it's way but want to make sure it is acutally the terminal that is failing.

[samourai71]

avoid anything made in China. Bought some hi-end connectors and after 2 tows to the garage and a new battery, turns out the metal blend in the connectors was cheap and didn't have a proper voltage.

[maui44]

As previously noted, use same type of materials for terminals and battery posts.

[DRACO A5OG]

Roger that , Thanks again fellas!

[Richard Windsor]

Originally Posted by maui44

As previously noted, use same type of materials for terminals and battery posts.

Will there still be a galvanic reaction at the cable to terminal connector junction? The cables are copper and the terminal connector will be lead to match the battery terminal.