Top Mount vs Side Mount - Battery Posts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Top Mount vs Side Mount - Battery Posts
I have noticed that some battery terminal posts are on the top of the battery and some are on the side. And some batteries have two sets of posts. My OEM 01 Delco AGM battery has side mounted posts
Is there any advantage/disadvantage of top vs side mounted posts?
I am not sure, but the AC Delco Professional battery may have top mounted posts. IF that is true, can the OEM battery cables be used with either top or side mounted batteries or do you have to change the cables if you want to use batteries with top mounted posts?
Thanks,
Mordi
Is there any advantage/disadvantage of top vs side mounted posts?
I am not sure, but the AC Delco Professional battery may have top mounted posts. IF that is true, can the OEM battery cables be used with either top or side mounted batteries or do you have to change the cables if you want to use batteries with top mounted posts?
Thanks,
Mordi
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
If your cables were originally intended for a side mounted battery, they may not stretch to top mounted posts.
Side mount design usually requires a stud/ring terminal connection at the battery.
Top post are usually clamp type connection at the battery.
Either can be overcome with after market adapter terminals, changing of the terminal ends or new cables from the year specific that came in the configuration you're electing to use.
Trying to stretch/force the cables might put undue stress on something along the routing.
I use an OPTIMA red top (with top and side posts) and the configuration of the battery required I slightly angle the terminals/cables from the original top post only oem battery configuration.
Side mount design usually requires a stud/ring terminal connection at the battery.
Top post are usually clamp type connection at the battery.
Either can be overcome with after market adapter terminals, changing of the terminal ends or new cables from the year specific that came in the configuration you're electing to use.
Trying to stretch/force the cables might put undue stress on something along the routing.
I use an OPTIMA red top (with top and side posts) and the configuration of the battery required I slightly angle the terminals/cables from the original top post only oem battery configuration.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
hotwheels 57,
That was the kind of information I was looking for. Now I have a good understanding of what I need to do in the event I decide to switch to a top mount battery.
Thanks for the reply
Mordi
That was the kind of information I was looking for. Now I have a good understanding of what I need to do in the event I decide to switch to a top mount battery.
Thanks for the reply
Mordi
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Mordi,
As an FYI, the new AC Delco Professional batteries are available with either, depending upon what year Corvette is specified. If you go to the AC Delco website, you can run a search for the correct battery part number. That battery's description will mention its post orientation.
Dave
As an FYI, the new AC Delco Professional batteries are available with either, depending upon what year Corvette is specified. If you go to the AC Delco website, you can run a search for the correct battery part number. That battery's description will mention its post orientation.
Dave
Navigator
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Both top and side is the best!
I recently replaced my battery with one with both top and side posts. The car requires the side post connection BUT I use the top post for my 1/0 guage amp power cable. Before, I had to actually use a charging post screw-in adaptor in place of the side post screw to accomplish this.
Another major benefit is that a top post is easier to connect a jumper cable to.
Another major benefit is that a top post is easier to connect a jumper cable to.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I recently replaced my battery with one with both top and side posts. The car requires the side post connection BUT I use the top post for my 1/0 guage amp power cable. Before, I had to actually use a charging post screw-in adaptor in place of the side post screw to accomplish this.
Another major benefit is that a top post is easier to connect a jumper cable to.
Another major benefit is that a top post is easier to connect a jumper cable to.
Mordi
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
