Electrical Question (Paging Jim Day)
 

I got tired of my 10ah fish finder battery dying on the water, so I bought a new 18ah 12v battery, that I found a good deal on. However, I didn't notice until I got it that it has entirely different terminals that the quick connect and disconnect terminals I'm used to. Here are a couple pictures of the terminals, they are pretty big maybe an inch long.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...8_14_36_PM.jpg

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...8_14_29_PM.jpg

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...8_14_18_PM.jpg

They are nuts and bolts connections, and I was wondering how I could adapt them to fit my fish finder wiring, preferably keeping the quick connect/disconnect capability. Thanks for any help!

Sounds like you aren't putting this battery in a water tight box. If you don't want to change the terminal ends on your wiring harness. Go to home depot get a couple of eye (round metal end) electrical crimp connectors and a couple of male blade end connectors with a couple on short (2") pieces of 14 to 18 gauge wires make two short adaptors that can be bolted to the battery and left on. Than you just plug and unplug the terminal end just as you did at the other battery. You will need a crimping tool. If you don't have one just buy a cheap kit at home depot or harbor freight that includes an assortment of connectors. Easy fix if you have the tools. Good luck

Awesome, thanks. Easy fix!

Next time go with a lifep04 battery. A fraction of the weight and more compact. Now is it worth the money....YES.

I'd just makes some small adapters with a Approriate sized ring crimp connector and a spade crimp connector.
http://imageshack.com/a/img513/2750/6eau.png

Bolt the rings to the terminals then attach your current wiring to the spades.

Personally I'd bend the rings to 90 degrees the run the wires tag ends with the spades on ot the top of the battery where I'd tape them down so just the spades stick out like the terminals of your old battery. You also may want to wrap the main terminals with electrical tape to keep them from shorting out aganist anything.

Yep, simple adapter will do. If you want to go further then instead of bolting on an adapter, solder one on and then coat the whole terminal with epoxy to make it moisture/corrosion proof.

X2

Yep. That's what I have. Put some dielectric grease to keep the corrosion away as well.

Be careful, there is enough amperage in that battery if it shorts out the ark can burn a hole in the yak very quick. Find some way of keeping it protected. The voice of experience, got dumped in the surf and luckily i was on the beach.
:cheers1:

Always use a proper sized fuse! A battery melting a hole through your yak can never be a good thing.