Battery terminal connection maintenance

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jcheil
jcheil Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Once a year I generally disconnect and clean (with a wire brush) all the terminals and posts on my battery connections. There is never any build up of any kind on them just a slight tarnishing usually.

It may not be needed, but I guess I tend to overthink things sometimes, but I was wondering if there was any recommended protective product to apply to the terminals/posts before tightening them down? Or is it even necessary?
Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
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  • Vic
    Vic Solar Expert Posts: 3,208 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
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    Re: Battery terminal connection maintenance

    Vaseline -- petroleum jelly -- is very effective and one container of it should last one a lifetime.

    Coat all exposed metal parts of the terminals, and lugs. Often, no wire brushing is required. If the terminals on the batteries are posts, some wire brushes are so aggressive, that excessive amounts of lead from the posts and terminals can be removed ... have seen posts/terminals that cannot be tightened enough on post type battery connections. Be gentle, do not over-do it. Perhaps the burnishing is not required every year. YMMV, Vic
    Off Grid - Two systems -- 4 SW+ 5548 Inverters, Surrette 4KS25 1280 AH X2@48V, 11.1 KW STC PV, 4X MidNite Classic 150 w/ WBjrs, Beta KID on S-530s, MX-60s, MN Bkrs/Boxes.  25 KVA Polyphase Kubota diesel,  Honda Eu6500isa,  Eu3000is-es, Eu2000,  Eu1000 gensets.  Thanks Wind-Sun for this great Forum.
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