A battery terminal works as a connector between loads or chargers. However, most of the time it connects a power source to 1 or 2 loads or chargers. In other words, it acts as a conduit between the device and the power source.
Furthermore, it helps the continuous flow of electrons, which is necessary for running the device. So the performance of an electronic device depends on its battery terminal. As now you know what a battery terminal is so for its better function you should know its types and how to maintain them.
Commonly, you can find battery terminals in cars, golf carts, boats, and electric wheelchairs. And their electrical systems are dependent on their battery terminals. So, when you buy a battery terminal, don’t forget to check its quality.
Qualities of a Battery Terminal
The quality of a battery terminal depends on its consistency with the device or vehicle. There are a few things you have to inspect to know about the consistency of the terminal with your device. They are:
Installation Diagram
First, you need to check the installation diagram of the battery terminal of the device. The design, shape, and feature of the battery terminal that is already set on the device should be followed for installation. Or else there is a good chance that the terminal won’t be compatible with your device.
Anode and Cathode Wiring
You probably know that all electronics work because electrons flow through cathodes. All the elements of the world have charges, positive and negative charges. The electron is a negative charge. The movement of these negative and positive charges through the cathode and anode creates electricity.
Therefore the wiring of the device and terminal needs to be accurate. You need to connect the device’s anode to the terminal’s anode and the device’s cathode to the terminal’s cathode for a continuation of charges. But in the case of reverse polarity, the connection will be reversed too.
Material of Manufacture
In the case of the material of electronics, oxidization is a big problem. Because of oxidation metal frails and preventing it isn’t possible. Though there are some metals on whom the oxidization process is slow, such as lead and copper. Lead has a low melting point and copper is a rare metal, but both metals are slower to oxidize than other metals.
However, lead is cheaper than copper and its low melting point helps to prevent accidents. That’s why lead is used in most battery terminals. Also, you can use terminals made of brass or bronze.
Types of Battery Terminal
Battery terminals differ in design, shape, and function according to their device or vehicle. Even so, you’ll see that the basic structure of all types of battery terminals is similar, you need to choose the right terminal for your device otherwise it won’t work well. Here some known battery terminals with their features are described below for you.
Automotive Terminals
Automotive batteries have three types of terminal models. The most popular one is the SAE model. This model is made of lead, with two truncated cone-shaped posts. The diameters used in this model are slightly different from the normal ones as it provides the right polarity. Another model of the automotive terminal is JIS. Although this model is similar to the SAE model but smaller and the anode is larger than the cathode. The general automobile is the third model, which doesn’t have the correct polarity connection. You should avoid this one because of this problem.
Marine Terminals
These terminals are also known as “Dual post” terminals as they consist of two posts. One post is for the positive charge terminal and the other one is for the negative one. They are mainly used in marines and are made of copper or lead. In marine batteries, you need to connect to the positive terminal first, which is usually the red one.
SLA Terminals
Sealed Lead Acid battery terminals are available in various sizes. These can be designed especially for various vehicles. This is why it is the most common battery terminal.
UPS Terminals
You can use these terminals in those batteries that have Uninterrupted Power Supply. They use Faston tabs and an adaptor cable in battery connectors.
Zinc Terminals
Zinc battery terminals are used as an alternative to lead, as zinc is more environmentally friendly. Also, lead has a very low melting point which results in decreased electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. By using zinc battery terminals you can ignore these issues.
How to Prevent Oxidization on Battery Terminals
In nature, no metal is oxidization proof. Hence we need to take some precautions to prevent it. Metal is only oxidized when it is somehow moist. So if you prevent your terminal from getting moist they won’t oxidize.
For this, you can use a terminal cleaner or oil. The terminal cleaner is an oil-type solution that comes with a brush. Use it consecutively and regularly after 2-3 weeks. Sandpaper can be used too, but using soda mixed solution while cleaning is more effective. Tho if your device is already oxidized then you have to clean it first before applying terminal cleaner or oil.
Conclusion
A terminal is an electrical clamping device that provides a solid connection between wire ends. The device will be disabled if the terminal in your device does not function properly. Moreover, this may compromise the performance of your device. Therefore, you need to choose the right battery terminal for your device.
Moreover, in order to get good performance, the terminal must be compatible with its device. If you can’t find a compatible terminal for your device, you can customize it. There are a wide variety of battery terminals available on the market besides those described above, each with a different design and size. For example, button cell terminals are flat. Furthermore, you can customize the SLA battery terminal if you want a unique shape.
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