A battery terminal cleaner is a tool used to clean the connectors of a car battery. There are three designs: round, flat, and combination. Cleaning the terminals is important for better contact and routine maintenance. Clean terminals can indicate good vehicle care.
A battery terminal cleaner is a brush specially designed to clean the terminals or connectors of a car battery. A battery is a unit that contains corrosive chemicals that can store and absorb energy. The unit contains energy after the electrons are charged using an existing power source. The battery terminals are the tops of the metal rods that run through the battery. Wires are connected to the terminals to carry power from the battery to the motor and back to the battery.
There are three different designs for a battery terminal cleaner: round, flat, and combination. All models are designed for us after removing the cable clamp. To remove the clamp, unscrew the nut on each cable, then pull up on the cable.
It is important to first remove the clamp from the negative terminal. This ensures that a positive arc cannot be accidentally made with your wrench or tool. When re-adding the clamps, replace the positive terminal first, then the negative.
The round battery terminal cleaner is shaped to match the battery terminal. To use a round battery terminal cleaner, place it on top of the terminal and twist from side to side. Brushes built inside the plastic casing scrub the terminals.
Flat terminal cleaners are generally three to four inches (6.4 to 10.2 cm) in length. They have a plastic handle and a rough brush. The brush is used to scrub the different areas of the terminal. Combination models have a built-in brush inside the case and a flat brush that cleans the other areas surrounding the terminal. The cleaning material tends to be very rough and has a texture similar to steel wool.
The purpose of a battery terminal cleaner is to remove dry battery acid that can develop on the terminals over time. The clean terminal provides better contact and this improves the amount of charge the battery can provide. Cleaning the battery terminals should be part of your routine vehicle maintenance.
When buying a used vehicle, look at the condition of the battery terminals. This is a good indicator of the level of maintenance and care used by the owner. Clean terminals, along with a full battery charge, indicate a new battery or an owner who took regular care of the vehicle.
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