Securing bolts on battery

[Drizzt321]

So my last battery was a Battleborn, so bolted through to hold the lugs on, just used a drop of Loctite blue and tightened down, good to go.

I've got a LiTime now, where the battery terminals are a bolt that I screw down through the lugs into the terminal. I'm wanting to use some Locktite Blue again, should that be fine? Just be careful to avoid getting any on the top of the terminal where the lug will sit?

 

[time2roll]

Get the torque correct with a wrench and there should be no need for Loctite.

 

[Drizzt321]

Get the torque correct with a wrench and there should be no need for Loctite.

Driving down the road, jouncing around, I don't want to rely on just torque settings. Correct torque is important, but I prefer a multi-layered approach.

 

[HRTKD]

Driving down the road, jouncing around, I don't want to rely on just torque settings. Correct torque is important, but I prefer a multi-layered approach.

I had my DIY LiFePO4 battery in my camper for four years going down some nasty BLM and Forest Service roads. Zero problems with my fasteners that used no Loctite. Make sure all the cables have strain relief.

 

[robbob2112]

If you must use loctite use the purple - it is made for steel to aluminum. Won't cause galling or tear out the threads, also works for steel to copper.

But the split washer and proper torque should be enough without it.

 

[Aussieguy]

just make sure cables are tied down
nothing loosens a battery connection faster than a heavy cable flopping about


making sure the connection doesn't overheat is a close second
expansion / contraction can be a pain .... good, flat copper lugs!

 

[Aussieguy]

when I was an apprentice... toolmaker ......................... we was taught never have a washer/lug under a split washer
don't know why they changed people just put them washers everywhere and expect em to work?


probably be good in a normal metal (steel) connection where you can add a lot of torque
but not on brass / aluminize found on battery

 

[Drizzt321]

Well, split (helical) lock washers are really apparently not recommended anymore.

Self-Loosening of Bolts and Nuts

And since it's a _bolt_, not a nut, I can't use a nylock nut either. Thus, torque & loctite.

If you must use loctite use the purple - it is made for steel to aluminum.

Why do you say this? Is the terminal coated in aluminum? Or nickel? The bolt does seem to be steel.

 

[robbob2112]

The battery terminals themselves may be copper or aluminum and plated... it just depends.

The cells terminals inside the battery are all aluminum.... but those cables connect to a terminal on the bottom side of the lid and the top side is usually threaded..... this terminal is what can be aluminum or copper.... I have found on the cheaper batteries the terminal is aluminum and the better ones it is copper.

You can do what a lot of people do and put a stainless grub screw down into the battery terminal with red locktite and then a nut with lockwasher over it.

 

[HRTKD]

For the EVE cells that I've bought, the hardware that came with them (reseller supplied) was stainless steel and the cell terminal surface was aluminum.

 

[Aussieguy]

one thing I like about battleborn is the cable lugs get tightened via a nut and bolt
no worries about stripping them battery terminals

you can really squash them lugs ...... flat as a pancake
get out the breaker bar!


PS No I don't own any BB batteries!
If BB reads this post ...
please send 2 x 270ah for testing and comprehensive review

 

[robbob2112]

BTW, IMO battleborn are way way overpriced for what they are... for 1/3rd the cost you can get equal or bettery quality.

 

[Drizzt321]

That's why I've switched brands, sadly. Once upon the time they were the standout in a sea of uncertain quality with a few dependable ones that weren't that much less. Now? Plenty of reasonable quality batteries vastly cheaper and with MORE features.

They were supposed to have BT remote monitoring years ago, and seems only in the last 6 months (I just checked) they finally have it. Although appears to be some kind of proprietary mesh (ugh!) that requires a separate hub device. Still at SUBSTANTIAL premium over everybody else. But, for some use cases/requirements, they do have the various safety certifications needed for those application. But I'm sure there are some other brands that have those certifications that still aren't quite that expensive. And more features and nothing proprietary.

 

[Aussieguy]

almost 12 months now, I paid 200 a piece Amazon cheapo with Bluetooth
&^%$&^&$^ .......... now they are under $150 each


I decided they can't be too bad cause they had a 2 year history of reviews
So far ... THEY is GOOOOOOD

Was hoping Will........ had done a tear down on them ELFHUB
no luck there ....... BUT his videos etc taught me
I could have a go at fixing them if I really had to.

 

[rodrick]

That's why I've switched brands, sadly. Once upon the time they were the standout in a sea of uncertain quality with a few dependable ones that weren't that much less. Now? Plenty of reasonable quality batteries vastly cheaper

It shocking how cheap some of the batteries have gotten and some of the things they are doing to make them better, I just got 2 100Ah DC house batteries for $180 total and they look good and came in with 3.11 volts each and they had this little improvement they were touting