Melted battery post

[Jwade79]

Hello -

So I got my cart (ezgo txt 36 volt) converted to street legal "LSV" today. I was cruising around town when all of the sudden the volt meter started flashing and the cart completely shut down on the street and had it to get it towed home. I checked under the seat and the negative post/terminal of battery 3 was completely melted and looked as though there may have been clear liquid coming out of the bottom of the + post. I did not see any other damage on the other batteries.

FYI - i have 2g battery cables from Carts Unlimited.

Can anyone PLEASE let me know if I hooked up something wrong to cause this or is this something that happens from time to time? Assuming I hooked up something wrong, I would greatly appreciate assistance troubleshooting.

Regards

[Jwade79]

FYI - Here is a pic of the melted battery post

if you over tighten the nut on the post you can cause post to become loose and this will cause melt down
also a loose nut will cause melt down due to arching

happened to me , fix is at end



http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...melt-down.html

[Jwade79]

So then perhaps I had it too tight considering the nut was still bolted to the post. If you look at pic you will see that it sort of shifted to the left about an inch as it melted.

If it can't be too tight or too loose, how do you suggest I use the correct tension?

Also, Is there any sort of anti-corrosive liquid you have used on the terminals that works well?

trojan says 95~ 105 inch lbs

http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_...Guide_0512.pdf

i use CRC battery terminal protector



any auto parts store will have it

[Yamahaman]

Originally Posted by crash test dummy

trojan says 95~ 105 lbs

http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_...Guide_0512.pdf

i use CRC battery terminal protector



any auto parts store will have it

I believe you meant INCH Lbs

Originally Posted by Yamahaman

I believe you meant INCH Lbs

crap !!! thanks ... been a long day

[Jwade79]

So it sounds like the problem was a direct result of either corrosion and/or over tightening. I will take your advise and get a torque wrench and corrosion spray to prevent future issues.

thanks

[tculpepper]

Been there, doing that. I had one do the same thing. I'm not sure if it's the batteries or my luck. I've had 4 posts, when removing nuts, break loose on the inside. Could be part of what I experienced. I know I had a loose connection. Didn't fix it and went for a ride. I smelled something so I stopped. The threaded post melted down into the battery. So, yours could be from loose connection or like crash said, over tightened and loose on the inside. Both cause heat which isn't good for lead or plastic. Always, make sure battery and every other electrical connection is snug. Not over tightened or that can cause damage in itself. And be sure to use some kind of terminal protectant, again, like crash said.

[Yamahaman]

Originally Posted by Jwade79

So it sounds like the problem was a direct result of either corrosion and/or over tightening. I will take your advise and get a torque wrench and corrosion spray to prevent future issues.

thanks

95 in lbs = 7.9 ft lbs
105 in lbs = 8.75 ft lbs
Just so you know