How to hook up a perko switch

I just bought an Optima Blue top battery and a perko switch. When I bought the switch the guy at Boater's World told me to run the existing power wire into the switch and then run two new power wires off the switch to each battery (hopefully that makes sense). My only issue is the perko switch has side terminal connectors on it and the existing red wire has a post terminal connector. Can I just cut the post connector off and put a side connector on or will this mess up the electrical? If I can are there any recommendations to make sure I connect the wire securely to the terminal so it doesn't come off while I'm on the lake? Also, where is a good place to buy a 0 gauge side terminal connector?

Andy,
Yes you can put on a ring terminal to replace the post terminal that you currently have on the wire. I just did this on my boat. My recomendation to connect the ring terminal to the wire is solder it. Strip the plastic jacket back on the wire and then put on the ring terminal. Heat up the ring terminal using a blow torch. Once it is hot touch the solder to the wire and ring terminal. It should suck into the terminal and provide a solid connection. You may want to put some soldering paste inside the terminal before you heat it up. Be careful if you are doing this in the boat to make that you don't burn the carpet with drips of solder, put down some cardboard or something.

Thanks Stan.

Does anyone know of a place to get a ring terminal that accepts a 0 gauge wire. All I have been able to find on the internet is for car audio.

Andy,

The only place I could find w/ a 0 guage connector was a car audio shop.

Thanks Adam.

Would a car audio connector work alright hooked up to a perko switch?

Andy, I found a 0 guage connector at my local Battery Source store. I believe their stores are primarily in the Southeast but you may have a similar chain in your area.

Their website:

http://www.batterysource.com/

Good luck.


(Message edited by jroyal on March 28, 2005)