tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post3099139015896728141..comments2024-03-28T08:26:58.108-04:00Comments on Our Odyssey: "Pretend your bow thruster just went out ..."Louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-11891445969482840862013-04-24T19:51:39.463-04:002013-04-24T19:51:39.463-04:00So, you see, both Dunn and I were under Oveur, eve...So, you see, both Dunn and I were under Oveur, even though I was under Dunn.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-90145881464162230642013-04-24T19:49:46.129-04:002013-04-24T19:49:46.129-04:00Phil, see my comments on nylocks above. The real ...Phil, see my comments on nylocks above. The real issue is this type of terminal itself. It is basically a hex-head bolt embedded in lead. The lead is much softer than the bolt, and so any effort to put adequate torque on the nuts, even if proper hex nuts and lock washers, ends up turning the bolt head slightly, making the tight melted-in fit between the bolt and the lead more of a "pocket". That increases the resistance in a vicious circle.The answer is the military style terminal, which uses a through-bolt rather than an embedded one.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-52915704106173828162013-04-24T19:46:21.972-04:002013-04-24T19:46:21.972-04:00Stay tuned; I am sure I will be writing more about...Stay tuned; I am sure I will be writing more about battery wiring as we work on more of it. In this case, corrosion was not a factor, though.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-86032401980373810672013-04-24T19:43:10.776-04:002013-04-24T19:43:10.776-04:00Bill, nylocks are a bad choice for this applicatio...Bill, nylocks are a bad choice for this application. I suggest changing those out for more traditional locking washers. The reason is simple: no matter how good a connection, there will always be heating at the terminals. Nylon softens and melts at fairly low temperature, and the "locking" feature of the nylon is then lost. I've seen this happen and it is not pretty. You are right, though, that wingnuts are terrible, and I should have changed them out for hex nuts and lockwashers at the outset. I will change the terminals for proper military ones as soon as I'm someplace where I can get them delivered.<br />Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-73421805430971311422013-04-24T19:39:56.091-04:002013-04-24T19:39:56.091-04:00They do come two to a package (one negative and on...They do come two to a package (one negative and one positive), and I have spares on the bus which will get moved over in time. More importantly, I'll be changing the terminals out completely for "military-style" items as soon as I can.<br /><br />Corrosion was not a factor here -- not a spot of it in sight. Simple ohmic heating from poor mechanical connection was the cause...Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-4391308433343964222013-04-21T16:53:16.759-04:002013-04-21T16:53:16.759-04:00By viewing your photo taken on a wooden surface it...By viewing your photo taken on a wooden surface it appears that the issue is not the wing nuts/nylock nuts but where the bolt hex head was imbedded in the soft lead like material. It simply overheated- melted the lead like material and then failed. My best solution is to call a NAPA truck store and ask a guy with grey hair for a military terminal- big, beefy and twice the size of what you have. This is what I successfully used on a US Navy 39ft ensign with a Detroit 8V92N. Before I installed the military terminal I was witness to the arcing and melting of a traditional battery connector. NOTE: I saw this through the translucent battery box. BTW what is the melting temperature of lead? 621F hot! It may be possible that the hex head bolt got jostled and became loose in the lead like material causing the loose connection and therefore a direct short.Chris Caldwellhttp://www.captainchrisyachtservices.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-7198145619745256432013-04-18T13:22:29.256-04:002013-04-18T13:22:29.256-04:00great maneuvering skills, I'm proud of you. I ...great maneuvering skills, I'm proud of you. I suggest you change all of the battery cable terminals to a type that receives large cables and eliminates the concept of lock nut or wings nuts. you can find these at most marine supply catalogs or stores . they are typically used with 8 D batteries and large cables. good luck in your travels and I will try to keep up with you.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14512528946626046115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-46046304842539310222013-04-18T10:23:36.388-04:002013-04-18T10:23:36.388-04:00"We have clearance, Clarence." "Rog..."We have clearance, Clarence." "Roger, Roger." "What's our vector, Victor?" ;) Smooth sailing, guys!Brad Jerewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04610769561853038278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-40932583037150290512013-04-17T22:27:54.321-04:002013-04-17T22:27:54.321-04:00seems that may of been the cheapest you have ever ...seems that may of been the cheapest you have ever gotten off with a repair....keep safe.taflockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03714289435359848045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-7578752380483433722013-04-17T22:02:55.478-04:002013-04-17T22:02:55.478-04:00You seem to be getting it all at a rapid pace. Her...You seem to be getting it all at a rapid pace. Here's hoping you get months of trouble-free cruising after all that has gone wrong so far. Good job on the docking without the thruster.John Samfordhttp://www.johnsamford.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-9926807034218629442013-04-17T19:51:17.246-04:002013-04-17T19:51:17.246-04:00Sean, give yourself a "pat on the back" ...Sean, give yourself a "pat on the back" for your fast reaction and lack of panic! Keeping a "cool" head is paramount in such a situation. Things can go downhill quickly if not mentally prepared. BMW HACKERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13918586672379085225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-59312656424717148232013-04-17T18:10:35.757-04:002013-04-17T18:10:35.757-04:00As an EE who has closely followed Sean's elect...As an EE who has closely followed Sean's electrical adventures...<br /><br />Yes, it's interesting to note the many things that can go wrong with seemingly basic electrical connections, once the hardware has to live in a difficult environment full of vibration, corrosion and other challenges.<br /><br />I like the idea of nylocks over plain wingnuts - but, given the problems Sean has seen with low voltage, high current battery connections in both RV and marine applications, I'm wondering if there is additionally an approach to these connections that can maintain pressure (i.e., some kind of spring-like hardware) on the connection surface, even when things shift due to vibration and temperature change. Time to do some research...Phil L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-20703647473167271572013-04-17T18:03:49.632-04:002013-04-17T18:03:49.632-04:00Thanks, You gave me a new word to google...
DavidThanks, You gave me a new word to google...<br />DavidUpriverdavidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-83316000808294634022013-04-17T12:46:20.550-04:002013-04-17T12:46:20.550-04:00As Rod said on a previous post "Vector is luc...As Rod said on a previous post "Vector is lucky to have a EE as skipper", and I am glad to follow along and learn from your adventures, although I am thinking you are wondering where the sitting on the back deck with a cocktail comes into this cruising deal.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09016073653349776611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-36852206249248352942013-04-17T12:05:00.286-04:002013-04-17T12:05:00.286-04:00Sean, Since you are having battery and wiring issu...Sean, Since you are having battery and wiring issues, perhaps you could, maybe in a separate post, cover battery terminal maintenance.<br /><br />There are products intended to shield terminals from corrosion/oxidization although at least one of them (Noalox) seems to be intended for aluminum connections, not copper/lead. <br /><br />I have recently had issues with my RV battery - generator cable connection on the battery and since our RV is stored for several months each year 100 feet from the ocean, I suspect our issues may have the same root cause as yours. Salt water/air exposure.<br /><br />If you can find the time I, and I suspect others, would appreciate your expertise on this issue. Thanks.<br /><br />Croft Randle<br />Campbell River, BCCrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634815881045387152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-15795991949593933432013-04-17T11:43:39.743-04:002013-04-17T11:43:39.743-04:00I have changed to nylock nuts instead of wingnuts....I have changed to nylock nuts instead of wingnuts.<br /><br />Bill KelleherBill Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912599099774634267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-9930581039339331592013-04-17T11:02:41.233-04:002013-04-17T11:02:41.233-04:00Perhaps you should have purchased a second termina...Perhaps you should have purchased a second terminal to have one on hand...... This seems all too common. Perhaps battery terminal anti corrosive zinc paste might lessen the ohmic effect...Rod Ivers https://www.blogger.com/profile/11622769861928590585noreply@blogger.com