SLA Terminal Guide | Battery Junction

SLA Battery Terminals

Types & Guide

Battery terminals seem pretty simple on the surface: points of contact between the battery and your electronic devices. Even their construction may look uncomplicated to the untrained eye. But much like the batteries that they're attached to, there's more to these terminals than you might expect. Welcome to Battery Junction's SLA Battery Terminal Guide! We'll layout all our expert knowledge here so that you can stay in the know and use your batteries to their fullest potential.

Please Note: It is very important to use the proper battery terminal and connector for each application. Battery Terminals are specialized for specific purposes and are not universal. Be sure to check a battery's specs and requirements, as well as the specs and requirements of your electronics, vehicles, tools, or systems, before use.

Terminals can be broken down into 7 overarching types, 3 of which have various subtypes:

Terminal Types
» Post (Subtypes: SAE, JIS, Dual Fit)
» Stud
» Dual Post/ Marine
» Internal Thread (Subtypes: T6, T8, T11, T12)
» Nut and Bolt
» Faston (Subtypes: F1, F2)
» Wire Leads

It's great and all to know the names, but what do these actually mean? What are they used for? Let's break them down one at a time, starting with the three that have subtypes.

Post

Post terminals are designed as a small protrusion on the exterior of a battery and made of conductive metal. This design and it's subtypes are typically used for auotomotive purposes like your car or even an 18-wheeler freight truck. You can even find them in your mobile home! To use these effectively and safely, simply attach compatible cabling to the post and your vehicle. Post terminals also come in 3 subtypes.

» SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers): The most common terminal for cars, trucks, and RVs! Its small, cylindrical design makes it incredibly easy to attach cables. Its shape can vary depending on the battery's specs and performance. However, they can be prone to corrosion without proper, regular upkeep.
» JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards): Similar in structure to the SAE terminal, just smaller. As the name implies, these are used in Japanese automotive vehicles.
» Dual Fit (DF): These terminals incorporate a post and bolt hole that allows for vertical connection.

Internal Thread

These terminals are designed as ports for use with M6 and M8 bolts as terminals. However, users don't need any additional hardware, like a nut, for proper use and installation. This type of terminal and its subtypes are typically used with smaller vehicles like golf carts and motorcycles.

» T6: Ports designed for use with 6mm diameter stud which has 16mm width terminal
» T8: Ports designed for use with 6mm diameter stud which has 20mm width terminal
» T11: Ports designed for use with 8mm diameter stud which has 20mm width terminal
» T12: Ports designed for use with 5mm diameter stud which has 12mm width terminal

Faston

These terminals are designed as flat metal tabs at the top of the battery. Since this design isn't a post and doesn't use a bolt, users can quickly connect or disconnect cables from the battery.

» F1: The smaller size of Faston terminals. These are commonly used in electronics and aplliances like fishing and lighting systems. These measure in at 0.187" in width.
» F2: The larger size of Faston terminals. This type is usually used for high-discharge rate Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) Systems. These are 0.25" wide to handle larger volumes of power.

Please Note: These terminals are not interchangeable despite the small variation in size. Ensure that you are using the proper sized terminal for your needs by checking instructions, manuals, or measuring the size of the terminal while it is not in use. However, F1 terminals can be used with adapters for F2 terminal applications.

Now, with the more complicated terminals out of the way, let's look into the other terminal types!

Wire Leads

Wire Leads are a bit of a strange terminal option. Rather than use any metal studs, posts, nuts, or bolts, these are solely wires. This style does require you to have additional hardware to make them compatible across different vehicles and devices. However, this means that Wire Leads are an incredibly versatile terminal so long as you have the proper connector equipment.

Stud

The Stud terminal is usually a threaded metal post that use nuts and bolts for attaching cables. Since this type provides such a secure connection, it's a reliable option for heavy duty personal and commercial vehicles.

Nut and Bolt

This terminal type is pretty similar to Stud terminals, but these rely solely on the use of nuts and bolts, without a stud or post. The size of the nuts and bolts can vary greatly between battery models, so be sure to double check your equipment before use.

Dual Post/ Marine

This style of terminal is fairly self-explanatory. By using a combination of SAE posts and studs, users can use SLA batteries for a wide range of applications. With this design, an SLA battery can connect to wing nut lugs and pressure contacts. When used for marine based applications, it splits the positive and negative connections between a 3/8" - 16 post and 5/16" - 18 respectively to handle the steep power requirements of boats and other marine vehicles.