Battery box cable question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 24
From: Kansas City KS
Battery box cable question
So tonight for the first time I had a flashlight in my battery box...and I noticed that there are extra two cables in there besides the normal positive/negative, each with three posts just laying there. I think one was going up front, the other to the back. What are these things? My car is a 1972 btw.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Most likely they are wires for directly powering the (upgraded) radio head unit, plus a power disconnect for the battery. That would allow the digital clock and memory in the radio to stay active, even if the battery was 'disconnected' from the rest of the car's electrical system.
But, that's only a guess.....
But, that's only a guess.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 24
From: Kansas City KS
I took a couple pictures of them (the three post things at the bottom of the box). They look factory, not add on so that's why I was curious. You can see the ends of them in the picture, there's a cable attached to both of them, they're just laying the box with the end of the wire heading out of the box. Any clue?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 24
From: Kansas City KS
Ok, I've figured it out. They're gas discharge tubes from when they didn't have sealed batteries. Evidently these things disappeared out of the cars almost immediately, so that's why nobody knows what they are, lol. So I can just take them out now and pretty much throw them away probably. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If they are not bothering anything, just leave them alone. The [original] factory battery was not a completely sealed unit. It had two vent tubes for gas to escape and those were connected to flex tubing and run to those vents in the bottom of the case. No need for them on more modern batteries. But, they do no harm.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Taylor,
Those caps and rubber tubes are valuable to people who are restoring cars and using original style batteries.
If you'd be willing to pack them up and mail them I'd gladly send you some $ in advance.
Send me a PM if you'd like to sell them.
Regards,
Alan
Those caps and rubber tubes are valuable to people who are restoring cars and using original style batteries.
If you'd be willing to pack them up and mail them I'd gladly send you some $ in advance.
Send me a PM if you'd like to sell them.
Regards,
Alan
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 24
From: Kansas City KS
Yeah, after I posted last night I did some more research and found that people were actually still using these in competitions. How much are they worth? Haven't seen many sales for them.
to "treasure"