No matter what type of device, equipment, or vehicle you use, it comes down to the power. Without electrical output, your device is good as a rock.
To power up your device, you will definitely need a power source. But you cannot just plug it in the outlet all day and move around with it. The better option is portability.
This is where the battery comes in. Not only do your smartphones have batteries, but they are also used in particular in everything.
Be it medical equipment, your toothbrush, your children’s toy car, or the emergency light. Even your car has a battery.
The key to putting your battery in perspective you have to know the types of battery terminals out there. Depending on the terminal, your device will work properly.
This is where the terminal matters more than the size. And we are going to talk about that in this article.
If you are thinking that the same battery you use in your car can be used in the scooter or your boat, it is time to think again. Different devices, appliances, and automotive vehicles use different types of battery terminals for their power output. It is for the user’s convenience and power output.
The basic knowledge of your battery terminals can be derived from the automotive and appliances category. These two categories are related to us more than anything else. So here are the common battery terminals used in your vehicles and appliances.
Automotive batteries are different not only in size but also in the power output. As they supply a greater amount of power and sit in a vehicle that is in constant vibration and movement, they have to have a better fastening capacity. This is why they are bigger in size, ruggedness, and attachment. Here are the most common automotive battery terminals in the market.
If you ever have changed your car’s battery, chances are you already know them. These terminals are the most common ones among the cars in the states. They have a slight cone shape to give out the perfect electric supply to your vehicle. Also, the positive post is a bit larger than the negative post. Making it easier to identify them while connecting.
Almost the same thing as SAE posts, the JIS or pencil post terminals are found in Japanese cars. The structure of the posts is similar, being the positive one is bigger than the negative post. But they are smaller in diameter.
Found in solar appliances, floor scrubbing machines and so on, the Stud (AT or Dual SAE) terminals are made out of stainless steel. The battery type is mainly traction, so you won’t find them in heavy vehicles.
As the name suggests, the terminals are L-shaped and bent from the middle. They also have a bolt hole to hook your cables in them. You will find these types of terminals in European cars, household appliances like lawnmowers and tree trimmers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Lightweight batteries are mostly equipped with L terminals than SAE or stud ones.
Found in any marine batteries, these dual post terminal consists of the regular ⅜” 16 and 5/16”18 thread posts along with SAE terminals. You can use any of these to connect your power output and it will work fine.
Home, medical and any other appliances come with a battery. No matter how small or how big the equipment is, there is always a power source. But typical home and medical appliances use the same type of battery. The terminals are also the same. The only difference would be the size and power output of the battery depending on the device. Here are the few most common appliances battery out there.
Faston F1 batteries are found in our everyday household appliances. It is mostly used in alarm systems, different toys, smaller aquarium products, and so on. The distinctive quality is its size. It measures 4.75mm. There will be two F1 or TAB 187 terminals in every battery.
Faston F2 battery terminals are used in medium-size appliances. UPS, solar power systems, razor scooters, and motorized wheelchairs are a few of the appliances that use this type of terminal. F2 terminals look just like F1 terminals but the width is a bit different. F2 terminals are 6.35mm wide, making them slightly bigger than the F1 terminal. They are also known as TAB 250 terminals.
Talking about the best of both worlds, the Faston Hybrid or Polarized terminals are a combination of one F1 terminal and one F2 terminal. The same battery has both of them one being the positive terminal and the another being negative. These are mainly used in medical equipment and UPS systems.
Ever used a flashlight that has a spring load on the end or under the light bulb? It might be a surprise to some, but it is also a terminal. SP or Spring Loaded terminal in the name, they are used in lighting systems like flashlights, and outdoor lighting equipment.
WL or Insulated Wire Leads terminal is used in various alarm systems, medical devices, and other health appliances. This allows you to connect your battery with wires rather than the terminals themselves.
Pressure control terminals or PC terminals are used in various medical devices. The distinctive difference between a PC terminal and other terminals is they are placed on the side of the battery rather than on top.
The most popular three types of automotive battery terminals are 1. SAE Terminals, 2. L Terminals, and 3. Marine Battery Terminals. There is also an additional battery terminal called the JIS terminal. These are found in Japanese cars. The terminals are the same as the SAE terminal but smaller in dimension.
A series-parallel battery connection is when you connect a series of batteries to increase the power of your device. In easy terms, you connect several batteries with wires turning them into a bigger battery.
T1 and T2 battery terminals are just like F1 and F2 battery terminals with different names. They are called T1 and T2 by European standards. While F1 and F2 battery terminals are called in the US.
Knowing your battery terminals means knowing half of your device. It is the powerhouse to any of your appliances or automotive vehicle. Without the proper terminals, you might end up stranded with a different battery and without any power to work. Also, pay close attention to the terminal cleanliness. If your terminals start to rust, there will be power interference. Which will eventually compromise your device or vehicle.
