Battery melt

pianotuna wrote:
2oldman,

Well solder is mostly lead.

I was thinking the same thing. :)

The guy told me to make sure the terminals were tight or this would happen. These are new so I added some washers and its tight. I guess I hate stripping threads, thats why it got hot. I think the next set I get will have regular top posts with heavy terminals. Sucks to have this happen to a new battery. Lessons learned.

Yes I have repaired this before in a golf cart, but not in a motor home. Use your own best judgement here. In my own opinion I would replace the battery if use in my Motor home. Use caution, get the battery tested to be sure it doesn't have a shorted or dead cell, if all is ok, then file the top of the post next to the terminal flat and drill a hole in the center for a short lag screw. Move the terminal over the hole, put a flat washer on then insert the lag screw. Problem solved, BUT again if in a Motor home it would be advisable to just replace the battery for $89.00 at sam's club.
So if you do this, You didn't here this from me

2oldman,

Well solder is mostly lead.

Surprised the red plastic thing isn't melted. Surprised there's no other damage.. looks like solder.

Back in the 50s they taught how to fix a battery post in tech school. People use to do a lot of things that aren't done any more.

Odd to have such a seemingly clean connection make that much heat.
I would be getting a new battery.

Melted terminal VS exploding battery....better find the cause before the fix....my .02

how did you get that hot?
is that the original battery cable?
or a replacement ?

if the battery tests good

take a file, flatten it out and call it good

any heat to melt and reform the lead post is just going to cause more damage to the battery

IF.....that post/bolt is still firmly attached, just make sure it's clean and tight and forge ahead. Being loose is probably what cause that in the first place. Or you could get an adapter that bolts to the OTHER POST.

HOWEVER.....the heat might have melted a connection INSIDE the battery too.
If you really care about battery reliability, I think you should get a new one.