Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/19/2013 to
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PowerPosts were the first products made by Blue Sea Systems. These terminal posts caught on as a simple reliable way to connect battery cables together. Now they make a bewildering collection. How do you select which one to use?- All the PowerPosts are for use with DC power only and all have a maximum voltage rating of 48 Volts DC
- The main studs of the PowerPosts do not have a rating for Amperage since current flows only through the wires that are connected to it, not through the actual stud itself.
- PowerPosts with a ring of smaller connectors around the base limit the current for the smaller wires to 150 Amps
- The ABYC standards limit you to a maximum of four cables per stud. Some models of PowerPosts have dual terminal studs allowing a possible maximum of eight battery cables.
- For larger battery cables use either 5/16" or 3/8" diameter studs. I like to stick with the convention that many batteries use by using 3/8" studs for the positive cables and 5/16" studs for the negative cables. Apart from color the size of hole in the lug is one additional way you can differentiate between the wires and not get them mixed up.
- There are PowerPosts with 1/4" and #10 studs for smaller wires
- Typical uses for these terminal posts include gathering wires together in the battery compartment so that only one wire goes to each battery terminal. That way when you change out batteries you don't get all the wires mixed up
Peter Kennedy has been in business since 1991 designing, installing and servicing marine electrical systems. The purpose of this blog is to offer support to both professional installers and do-it-yourself boat owners who wish to undertake this work themselves.
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