Positive Battery Terminal Clean-Up!

[Jtt84911]

Does the jumble of device/auxiliary coming off of the Positive (+) battery terminal bug you the way it did me??

After 10 years… yes… 10 years of service out of my OPTIMA Red-Top 34/78… it was time for a replacement- and decided now was the perfect time to address the “clump” of connections off the (+) terminal.
(BTW – yes I’m very concerned about the many posts I’ve read about how bad OPTIMA’s have become in recent years- but figured after my personal experience - it's worth the gamble)

After way too much time searching the web for good quick fix… decided to come up with me own direction.
Ran over to a few local parts stores (Advanced & O’Rilley) picked up some hardware and came up with the following game plan:

As all OPTIMA owners know.. we have the ability of adding (2) side terminals. Bought this threaded side terminal set up. However - because of the very tight fit of 34/78 – clearly there would not be a enough clearance next to the fuel tank for this terminal as was… so used my Dremel to cut-off 4-5 threads.

[


Also bought this cool little terminal block (both red (+) & black (-) included in package) which allows you mount your current connectors… or the new ones shown. (I did both) NOTE: I had (6) terminals/wires connected – so for all these wires to fit – I needed to use the Dremel again to enlarge the open side of the plastic terminal block cover - so all wires could fit.


RESULT......Very happy with how it worked out!
Like the clean look and feel the hidden wiring is clearly safer as well.


The only thing left remaining on the (+) and (-) posts are the (2) leads for the Battery Tender charger quick-connect cable.

Regards,
JT

[HaroldMHedge]

Looks great and really cleans up.the positive terminal.

You may want to still install a sde terminal cover just incase the battery shifts slightly.

[boyt911sc]

Why is the positive terminal too close to the body (ground)?



Tony

[jlex]

Originally Posted by HaroldMHedge

Looks great and really cleans up.the positive terminal.

You may want to still install a sde terminal cover just incase the battery shifts slightly.

Looks like that bare positive terminal is way too close to the gas tank... yikes!

[blucille]

agree with others, too close to the fuel tank. You could easily mount that terminal block onto the same lug you've got the battery tender wire, on the main battery lug, plenty of space over there.

[jlex]

Until you get around to making the change, temporarily throw a sheet of rubber (old floormat, maybe) between the terminal and tank to keep things insulated. Never know when something will contact a bare battery post. On my '70 beetle, battery is under the back seat. Many beetles burned up because the seat coils sometimes contacted the battery post. I have to keep an old car mat on top the battery to keep that from happening.

[sugarwood]

I would not risk that. Perhaps ditch the side terminals and use a single wire to relocate the red box to the fender area /w some velcro.

[Teutonics]

Do you have the brand/model/part number? I tried to find something like this several weeks ago (still searching) and couldn't/can't find anything close.

Originally Posted by Jtt84911

Also bought this cool little terminal block (both red (+) & black (-) included in package) which allows you mount your current connectors… or the new ones shown. [/SIZE]

[dhanl82]

After seeing this thread, I thought I would look to see what I could find to "clean up" some of the additional wires on my SC's positive battery terminal. I found the following one in the link below, I like it because it incorporates a fuse for each connection.

https://www.wholesalemarine.com/blue-sea-4-circuit-battery-terminal-fuse-block/

Any thoughts?

Dave

[jlex]

As long as you're playing around with the battery, might as well spend a few bucks on a battery cutoff... very convenient. It goes on the negative cable.

[Solamar]

JT,

I also struggled with all the necessary connections to the + terminal. My solution was adding a bus bar to the inner fender.

Noticed your location says 'just moved to SoCal. Think I've past you a few times recently, Brigantine Del Mar and Torrey Pines Grade in my silver Targa

[Jtt84911]

Hi Guys.
On business trip and getting to your responses now.
Appreciate the feedback.

In response the concerns over the small gap between the tank an terminal extension.

Honestly..... I assumed the tank coating material was some kind of resin and therefore non-conductive.
Is that incorrect?

Did think about relocating the little junction box elsewhere - powered from the side terminal but two issues 1- not sure what gauge wire to use? 2-there’s no mounting option for that thing. It’s designed to be secured to a terminal.

Maybe the better solution would be bolting it up on the top post. Would still look cleaner and be away from trouble?

Thanks,
JT

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Jtt84911

Honestly..... I assumed the tank coating material was some kind of resin and therefore non-conductive.
Is that incorrect?
JT

Force of the battery mass concentrated onto that tiny bolt end
If the battery moves, it will easily cut right through that coating.
Velcro a thick rubber pad in there if you don't relocate.

[911pcars]

What’s wrong with the factory fuse box? All fuses in use? That’s typical. Find out what circuits service light loads (IP, glove box, courtesy light bulbs), aren’t used much (sunroof, cruise control) or not used (rear wiper, frt. headlight wiper), then use those to possibly source power for added accessories. Try to avoid random locations for add-on fuses. It makes electrical diagnosis more complicated. Also, add labels to new wiring and ideally, drawings of added circuits w/wire color coding.

Sherwood

[911 Rod]

Why so many wires?
I'd mount an external fuse box. 6 or 8 gauge jumper to it.
Bluesea makes some really nice stuff.

[Jtt84911]

Hi Guys.
Sorry for the delay in responding... was on several business trips over the past few weeks.

1- Why the extra wires? Have a Alpine Power Amp + JVC Powered Subwoofer under the passenger seat and think my Sirius satellite converter... all getting juice from the battery positive terminal. All three are switched through my JVC receiver so they only draw when activated. (all are fused-as well)

2- As stated earlier...decided to take the good advice/suggestions from fellow Pelicans and moved the small new junction box off the side terminal up to the the top positive terminal...eliminating the risk of contacting the gas tank.

Added some Red (+) and Black (-) terminal covers as final touches... and am pleased final arrangements.




Regards,
JT

[jlex]

Much better. Good job.

[tirwin]

Nice work.

I took a similar approach.



I can't remember where I bought these terminal connectors. I bought them a while back and they were sitting on my shelf waiting to be used. The + and - have several different size wire connections -- 2 ga, 4 ga, etc. I trimmed the original wires back to bare copper and then used a ferrule fitting on the end. They attach mechanically via an allen lug. I also used tech flex and color-coded shrink tube for the + and - wires. It was a huge improvement over the old wiring mess.

[blucille]

hey Jtt84911, why not bend over your little terminal block, it looks like it could potentially sit level with your battery terminal cover and would give a better appearance.

[Jtt84911]

Hey Blucille.........good call!!
You’re right...a 90 degree bend to the left and it would be flush and look better!

Thanks,
JT