So today when I got back to the launch I noticed that the connectors from my tm to the battery were very hot. I looked it up and says bad connection, but that's not the question. You can see where the plastic actually started right above the date sticker melting and the whole connecting post actually looks that it got so hot it slightly started sinking into the plastic. I'm planning on picking up a new tm, but do you guys think the battery is still safe to use without being potentially dangerous seeing it has sulphuric acid in it. Thanks , Joe * tried to add pictures not working now will try later

That battery is toast. There is a bad connection, but it sounds like the internal connection is bad. A good amp draw from your TM could cause a fire.

4 minutes ago, Scott F said:

That battery is toast. There is a bad connection, but it sounds like the internal connection is bad. A good amp draw from your TM could cause a fire.

Oh wow wouldn't want to cause a fire. Are you talking about the internal connection from the TM?

Could very well be just a bad connection at the battery. pull off the terminal, and check for corrosion. resistance is heat. I've seen the same on my TM to battery connection. remove, clean, reattached, go fishin' ?  

**CORRECTION** ITS not the terminals but the post that you connect to tm to.

Hot/melting terminals is a short or dead cell in the battery.

 

Take the battery to your local auto parts store and ask them to do a load test on it.  They’ll know quickly if the battery is toast.

 

If your battery passes start looking for a short, worn wire insulation, or a problem with your trolling motor.

 

If you have another known good battery, hook your TM to it and run it. If the terminals get hot quickly, you’ve found your problem.

 

Best of luck....

12 minutes ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

Oh wow wouldn't want to cause a fire. Are you talking about the internal connection from the TM?

 

1 minute ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

**CORRECTION** ITS not the terminals but the post that you connect to tm to.

I was talking about the internal connection on the battery. If there was a problem with the TM, it probably would have melted wires/connections inside the TM.

Based on the date it's new so should be covered by warranty.  

24 minutes ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

Hey @Arcs&sparks , is this a terminal gauge-size problem?

I absolutely would not trust that battery. There are too many things that can cause problems.

1 hour ago, Log Catcher said:

I absolutely would not trust that battery. There are too many things that can cause problems.

Yeah I couldn't either. I brought it back to Walmart where I bought it a few months ago and they exchanged it for me. Hopefully this one won't have that problem

6 hours ago, Angry John said:

Based on the date it's new so should be covered by warranty.  

Yeah I brought it back to Wally and they exchanged it no problem

7 hours ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

Yeah I couldn't either. I brought it back to Walmart where I bought it a few months ago and they exchanged it for me. Hopefully this one won't have that problem

Yeah I brought it back to Wally and they exchanged it no problem

I had the same problem with my Everstart  the terminal post melted off.

 

 

 

 

Ive had a few melt plastic around corroded connections, a wire brush usually fixes it. Just hold your breath while brushing!

Do you have a fuse or circuit breaker connected in series near the battery?

^^^^this^^^^^

You must have a 40 to 50 amp circuit breaker between the battery and TM.

Looks like a loose terminal connection caused the terminal to heat up and melt the spot on the battery.  I doubt the battery caused the issue.  I’d inspect the battery closely and test it.  If it’s ok I’d use it.   My concern would be the wiring or a trolling motor pulling too many amps.

On 7/22/2018 at 3:42 AM, Wurming67 said:

I had the same problem with my Everstart  the terminal post melted off.

 

 

 

 

Yeah that's what is is, an everstart. 

 

On 7/23/2018 at 9:07 PM, slonezp said:

Do you have a fuse or circuit breaker connected in series near the battery?

The TM is connected right to the battery. Just a little 10 ft jon, 

I won't buy another Everstart after seeing that

15 minutes ago, Wurming67 said:

I won't buy another Everstart after seeing that

Yeah not sure if I would either. What did you get to replace that?

34 minutes ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

Yeah not sure if I would either. What did you get to replace that?

They exchanged it out for me at no charge but I'm keeping a close eye on it,I won't buy another one though.

4 hours ago, BeardedBassGuy said:

 

 

The TM is connected right to the battery. Just a little 10 ft jon, 

Doesn't matter if it's 2ft or 20ft,. Any kind of high amperage malunction is a potential cause for fire

On 7/21/2018 at 11:53 AM, BeardedBassGuy said:

So today when I got back to the launch I noticed that the connectors from my tm to the battery were very hot. I looked it up and says bad connection, but that's not the question. You can see where the plastic actually started right above the date sticker melting and the whole connecting post actually looks that it got so hot it slightly started sinking into the plastic. 

 

Do you have an inline fuse or circuit breaker between the TM and the battery? Preferably as close to the battery as possible. This is a must have, not optional. Alternative: fire.

 

If inline fuse clears or circuit breaker flips, there may be a short upstream towards (or in) the TM.

 

I agree with Dink above Looking at the photo that has nothing to do with the battery, it looks more like a loose connection, (wire in the terminal) as that's where the heat is shown. Things to check, make sure the terminal is the correct size and length for the amps of your trolling motor,make sure the terminal is crimped good . If you have a breaker or a fuse installed and its sized correctly it would have tripped the breaker or blew the fuse if the there was a short or if the wire is two small it would have melted before it would have tripped the breaker or blew the fuse. You need to cut the end off the wire and inspect if there is any sign of heat it needs to be cut out or the wire replace or your problem will still exist.