hot-J

How hot should this terminal get? The temp increases with electric load. This is while running....

Techno Duck

It should not get that hot, you should be able to hold your hand on it without it getting uncomfortable. You need to check the condition of your battery cables, in particular the ground straps between the bell housing and battery.. this is a fire hazard!

hot-J

Just cleaned that ground b4 posting cable is ok. Terminal is 90 degrees running, 135 with headlights and blower on measured by snap on laser thermometer.

Willard Bridgham 3

You have a bad connection somewhere. Have you cleaned and remade the battery connection? Start there.

JohnKoaWood

+1..

OP, even at maximum load good condition cables should not be much above ambient..

If they are reaching 135 you have a bad cable (increased resistance IN the cable)..

Measure the resistance of each cable by itself... you WILL find at least one that is abnormal (FWIW, my 1/0 cables are under 5 ohms for the longest one at 5 feet long..).

Resistance IN the cable is the enemy of your electrical system, and can not only lead to issues with running, but system breakdowns and even a fire! (FWIW, @135 you are getting close to the spec of the cable jacketing if you are using stock wires or even a popular replacement set... the stock are rated to 176, the popular replacement is rated to 221... mine are rated to 257...).

This might not matter a whole bunch, but ask anyone who has experienced electrical gremlins or had a fire...

hot-J

It was 190 degrees, found some of the smaller power wires frayed and shorting. After re wrapping them, temp went down to 130 loaded. Funny enough now, cable loaded and running is a steady 90 degrees after sitting for two days. Alt output at terminals also changed from 13.5v to 14 in the past two days.......wierd.

hot-J

And yes, I did clean the batt terminals also.... Prior to the 130 temp

aj986s

Battery leakage has been known to seep/wick into battery cables, causing corrosion which can lead to increased cable resistance (fewer non-corroded wires carrying the load). This was a notorious problem on GM side post batteries. If you can see any corrosion on the wires strands of the cable, chances are good that corrosion has migrated deep into the cable. Cutting away some of the insulation about 12 inches from the post is a good inspection; just re-wrap the wire with good electrical tape once you've confirmed the strands are in good shape. If strands are heavily corroded, best to simply replace the entire cable.