ericfx1984
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2021
- Messages
- 725
This is something I was thinking about so a while back I ran into a problem we're the previous owner of my RV had installed terminals with half inch holes.. the problem is the stud that it was mounting to was actually quite small and was only one quarter inch.. as a result these connections were heating up quite a bit because they just weren't making proper contact
So based on this I got to thinking a smaller hole would have had a larger contact patch overall and likely would have been able to properly carry the current or at least carry it a little better
At the end of the day, the whole in the middle of the terminal is really just there for clamping Force.. well there is some current carried up through the bolt to the other side of the terminal where the nut is, by and large most of this current is going to be carried on the pad that the clamping force is clamping the terminal onto
Based on this, I would surmise that a 1/0 terminal with a 1/4" hole in the middle would actually be able to carry more current than the same terminal with a 1/2" hole... Of course this is based strictly on the surface area and contact patch and it also draws the conclusion that the 1/4" bolt or stud has enough clamping Force to properly clamp the terminal to the battery's pad.. thoughts?
So based on this I got to thinking a smaller hole would have had a larger contact patch overall and likely would have been able to properly carry the current or at least carry it a little better
At the end of the day, the whole in the middle of the terminal is really just there for clamping Force.. well there is some current carried up through the bolt to the other side of the terminal where the nut is, by and large most of this current is going to be carried on the pad that the clamping force is clamping the terminal onto
Based on this, I would surmise that a 1/0 terminal with a 1/4" hole in the middle would actually be able to carry more current than the same terminal with a 1/2" hole... Of course this is based strictly on the surface area and contact patch and it also draws the conclusion that the 1/4" bolt or stud has enough clamping Force to properly clamp the terminal to the battery's pad.. thoughts?