4-post battery terminal question

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cbmontgo

cbmontgo

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Just picked up a new 4-post Die Hard Platinum today for my FJ60...

The top terminals are obviously connected to my 60's electrical system and I want to use to two side terminals for my winch wiring. What type of "bolts" do I need to thread the winch terminals to the battery posts? I assume that these need to be a specific type of metal (i.e. lead, copper, etc.) and the battery didn't come with any.

Dumb question I guess, but I don't want corrosion or some weird electrolysis under my hood. And no, I am not planning on a dual-battery setup just yet...

See pic of where I'm talking about.
batt.webp
 
Only use the top posts for anything with a heavy current draw. The side posts are not made to handle anything but light current. Do a search on mud to confirm that this issue has already been discussed at length. I found out myself on Mud and had to reconnect my Optima battery using the top posts. I don't use my side posts anymore.
 
73fj40lc said:
The side posts are not made to handle anything but light current.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a load of malarkey to me, but I ain't searching to find out what the consensus is. Those posts are intended for starting duty on a side-post equipped vehicle. How anyone could suggest different baffles me.
 
i use the side posts on my pickup .i used 38ths bolts with a nut on them .screwed them in tight then tighened down the nut and enough bolt sticks out for jumpers if needed.one winch is on the back of the truck and has done some haerd pulls but not to often or for extended periods.
 
-Spike- said:
Sounds like a load of malarkey to me, but I ain't searching to find out what the consensus is. Those posts are intended for starting duty on a side-post equipped vehicle. How anyone could suggest different baffles me.
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X2. As Spike is saying, some vehicles came with OEM side post battery cables and need this type of hookup on the battery, unless cables have been replaced with standard top post hookups. The side posts will work fine for any power application that the battery is capable of providing. Don't know the size of bolt needed, but most reputable battery sales outlets could provide the correct size info, bolts or both. I would be careful about over-tightening these connections, though.
 
Typically, the top posts of a battery are a direct part of the plate cell connector. The side posts are then wired separately. The side posts are designed for the relatively short draw of a starter, but not continuous high draw from something like a winch.

Optima specifically states not to connect a winch to the side terminals: Support FAQ
 
PAToyota said:
Typically, the top posts of a battery are a direct part of the plate cell connector. The side posts are then wired separately. The side posts are designed for the relatively short draw of a starter, but not continuous high draw from something like a winch.

Optima specifically states not to connect a winch to the side terminals: Support FAQ
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Is it okay to connect both the winch and the car terminals to the top?
 
Odysseys are not Optimas, apparently.

This post: Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums (2005+) - View Single Post - Optima or Oddessy?...I need one BAD

from this thread: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21343&highlight=diehard&page=5

"I called EnerSys Inc. headquarters in Colomubia, Maryland, and was referred to their Warrensburg, Missouri, plant, and specifcally to plant Engineer Scott Lichte (660-429-7556). Scott confirmed the following:

* That particular plant is the only place in the world that make the Odyessy battery, and it is also the only place where the Diehard Platinum is manufactured.
* The Odyessy PC1500 DT is the exact same battery as the Diehard 34/78DT, the only difference at all is the color of the plastic.
* Sears has a larger customer base than Odyessy so they buy stock in much greater quantity which drives the resale cost down for the customer as compared to Odyessy.
* There is no difference in connecting to the top terminals of this battery versus the side terminals, all operation is identical between the two sets.
* A draw of 700 amps at 9V would last about 1.5 minutes with this battery (engine off of course)."
 
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cbmontgo said:
Hmmm. Is it okay to connect both the winch and the car terminals to the top?
Click to expand...

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to use those side terminals for a winch hook up. I couldn't see anthing on the Optima link explaining why not to use the Optima's side terminals for a winch. In the context that they mention it, is right after a warning to keep the plugs on the side terminals to avoid shorting them out. IMHO if you have terminals on an automotive battery that are sufficient for a starter, they're also beefy enough to support a winch. Obviously, an engineer has confirmed that in Spike's post. IIRC, some automotive batteries are only available with side posts. It's the battery capacity that will be your biggest problem when powering the winch, as long as the wiring and terminal lugs are heavy enough gage and your connections are tight. I'd see if the place where you bought the battery has some bolts for you to use on those side terminals, provided the price is right.
 
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Just for clarification, the post I quoted refers to Odyssey batteries (and Sears Die Hard Platinums), not Optimas. Apparently, Optima doesn't recommend using the side posts for winches. The explanation I found is that Optima uses a lead strap to connect the side posts with the top posts, and it may melt under extended load. I am guessing the lead strap may be wimpy. In any case, the battery the OP has is an Odyssey/Die Hard Platinum, and there is no issue with using the side posts to connect a winch.
 
-Spike- said:
Just for clarification, the post I quoted refers to Odyssey batteries (and Sears Die Hard Platinums), not Optimas. Apparently, Optima doesn't recommend using the side posts for winches. The explanation I found is that Optima uses a lead strap to connect the side posts with the top posts, and it may melt under extended load. I am guessing the lead strap may be wimpy. In any case, the battery the OP has is an Odyssey/Die Hard Platinum, and there is no issue with using the side posts to connect a winch.
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I was doing some reading in the links you posted, Spike, and noticed that, too. I gotta say, that is p*i*s*s* poor design, IMHO. Except for Deep Cycle batteries with the smaller posts meant for smaller loads, what were they thinking? Beefy automotive style side terminals should hold up in the same way the top posts do. If that's not the case, they need to put a warning on the terminals not to hook up equipment like winches to them. Especially when they sell in the off road environment, where a lot of folks have winches on their rigs. The way they're doing it now, is like putting in the fine print of a contract, where most folks would find out after they've already laid out the cash.
 
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Hi All:

I purchased a "four terminal" 12V battery at a NAPA store and they had bolts for connecting cables to those side terminals.

Have been running a Superwinch X9 electric winch from side terminals without issue.

Regards,

Alan


cbmontgo said:
Just picked up a new 4-post Die Hard Platinum today for my FJ60...

The top terminals are obviously connected to my 60's electrical system and I want to use to two side terminals for my winch wiring. What type of "bolts" do I need to thread the winch terminals to the battery posts? I assume that these need to be a specific type of metal (i.e. lead, copper, etc.) and the battery didn't come with any.

Dumb question I guess, but I don't want corrosion or some weird electrolysis under my hood. And no, I am not planning on a dual-battery setup just yet...

See pic of where I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
 
I have the exact Die Hard Platinum battery pictured in the OP in my 40 and have the winch hooked up to the side terminals, and it works great. You can buy simple bolts for the side terminals at Tractor Supply, and longer bolts with big posts the exact same size as top terminals from Painless Wiring or Expedition Exchange.
 
D'Animal said:
I have melted the posts on my Optimas using for winching.


Then I read the manual.
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in! I am in the market to replace my secondary battery and have been considering Optimas. IMHO, they have to be cutting corners to make batteries this way. Makes me wonder where else are they trying to save $ to increase their profit. I've read some questionable things about Optimas lately. IIRC, at one time, they were respectable batteries - across the board. Times change. I'm glad I 've been following this thread. Die Hards are looking better all the time!
 
I have 4 completely dead Optimas right now and two more that really are not holding a charge and another one that has the side posts melted out of it and 1 good one.

I posted up in the Optima Vendor section but have not heard back from OptimaJim yet.

At this time, I cannot recommend you buy an Optima.
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Thanks, guys, for all of the input. I am going to check with NAPA to see if they have the bolts that I need.

I have read up on Optimas a lot lately and have a lot of friends who *used* to swear by them. Their quality has no doubt gone down in the past few years. Probably involved outsourcing to Mexico or China.
 
-Spike- said:
Sounds like a load of malarkey to me, but I ain't searching to find out what the consensus is. Those posts are intended for starting duty on a side-post equipped vehicle. How anyone could suggest different baffles me.
Click to expand...

Sure is funny how that "malarkey" got discussed so much, with research, and clarification for us all. I would think that Optimas are not the olny top and side post battery that might have problems. I use the side posts on my Z71 with a winch but the battery is designed as a side post olny battery. On my 40 with winch I use olny the top posts. To each his own but why take the risk?
 
I got cables made for the side post to starter and ground and used the top post for the winch.
 
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