Question: copper cables and lead clamps?

Greenfrog · Dec 31, 2011

I was reading an article about the conductivity of copper, which is good, and lead which is poor on battery cables. Are we missing something here? This article was about using copper clamps instead(hard to find). This makes sense.
I have old CASE tractors and large cables are used--but have lead on the ends...Hmmmmm???
I have a slow cranking problem too.....but have good batteries.
These are two dissimilar metals also, which leads to corrosion.

Any discussion on this? Thanks in advance.

Ellis Kinney · Dec 31, 2011

Use cadium plated brass instead of lead battery lugs. I have them on all my tractors. I bought mine at the national farm machinery show in Louisville, Ky, but I inagine you could get them at NAPA or any auto parts store. Ellis

rustred · Dec 31, 2011

i hardly think that is the problem as the lead ends have been on tractors since starters were installed in them. need to do an amperage draw on the starter, as i believe you most likely need a starter overhaul.worn bushings cause starter drag for example.

rustyfarmall · Dec 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 10:45:50 12/31/11) I was reading an article about the conductivity of copper, which is good, and lead which is poor on battery cables. Are we missing something here? This article was about using copper clamps instead(hard to find). This makes sense.
I have old CASE tractors and large cables are used--but have lead on the ends...Hmmmmm???
I have a slow cranking problem too.....but have good batteries.
These are two dissimilar metals also, which leads to corrosion.

Any discussion on this? Thanks in advance.

Cast copper clamps are NOT hard to find. That is what I use for the battery cables that I make.

Greenfrog · Dec 31, 2011

Yes, I know, i thought of the same thing.

Greenfrog · Dec 31, 2011

Yes, and I already had the starters wortked on. Both tractors act the same.

Greenfrog · Dec 31, 2011

Really, I will look harder.

Greenfrog · Dec 31, 2011

Thanks, I'll check

rustyfarmall · Dec 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 15:26:03 12/31/11) Really, I will look harder.

Give me a holler if you can't find them.

JDseller · Dec 31, 2011

I have been using copper terminals now for twenty plus years. They will carry more current. I like them much more than lead ends.

The best place I have found is D.F. Sales. I buy my terminals from them plus the crimping tools. They are not the cheapest but their terminals seem to be better quality. They don't crack at the crimp like some I have used.

They have a good assortment starter box. It has most of what you commonly need and the hammer crimper will get you started cheaper. Suggestion I use the anvil crimper in my shop vise it works much better that way over hammering. I also have a crimper machine now, but I started out with the anvil crimper.
D.F. Sales

gbs · Dec 31, 2011

whats the differance between lead clamps and lead battery post.

Ozlander · Dec 31, 2011

Copper clamps are not going to fix your problem.

MarkB_MI · Dec 31, 2011

Resistance is proportional to the length of a conductor and inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area. And lead is not that bad of a conductor; it has about one tenth the conductivity of copper. So the voltage drop through a battery clamp is not that much relative to the voltage drop through the rest of the cable. It's insignificant, really.

What DOES matter is the connection between the clamp and cable, and between the clamp and the battery terminal. Keep those connections good and you'll have no problems.

Question: copper cables and lead clamps?

Greenfrog

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Ellis Kinney

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rustred

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rustyfarmall

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Greenfrog

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Greenfrog

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Greenfrog

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Greenfrog

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rustyfarmall

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JDseller

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gbs

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Ozlander

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MarkB_MI

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