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Stainless steel bolts for electrical connections.
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Dave Plowman (News)
Jan 22, 2015, 9:50:02 AM1/22/15
to
Been a thread on a forum I read about a chap using stainless steel nuts
and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
conducting surfaces together?
--
*What do little birdies see when they get knocked unconscious? *
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
conducting surfaces together?
--
*What do little birdies see when they get knocked unconscious? *
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
meow...@care2.com
Jan 22, 2015, 10:31:15 AM1/22/15
to
On Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 2:50:02 PM UTC, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> Been a thread on a forum I read about a chap using stainless steel nuts
> and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
>
> Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
> ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
> and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
> weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
>
> Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
> but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
> conducting surfaces together?
With an ss bolt you get 2 problems
> Been a thread on a forum I read about a chap using stainless steel nuts
> and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
>
> Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
> ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
> and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
> weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
>
> Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
> but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
> conducting surfaces together?
1. chrome oxide layer
2. dissimilar metals plus electricity
Just what impact those have I wouldnt know.
NT
Dave Plowman (News)
Jan 22, 2015, 12:21:21 PM1/22/15
to
In article <4d70b00c-1147-4a64...@googlegroups.com>,
That's probably the one of interest.
> 2. dissimilar metals plus electricity
Well, a typical ground connection on a car will be a plated brass ring
terminal to the steel chassis. Most likely a steel nut welded to the back
of the panel, and a steel bolt doing the clamping.
> Just what impact those have I wouldnt know.
Is what I wondered if anyone could give chapter and verse on.
--
*Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...
That's probably the one of interest.
> 2. dissimilar metals plus electricity
terminal to the steel chassis. Most likely a steel nut welded to the back
of the panel, and a steel bolt doing the clamping.
> Just what impact those have I wouldnt know.
--
*Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...
Bob Minchin
Jan 22, 2015, 12:44:22 PM1/22/15
to
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <4d70b00c-1147-4a64...@googlegroups.com>,
> <meow...@care2.com> wrote:
>> With an ss bolt you get 2 problems
>> 1. chrome oxide layer
>
> That's probably the one of interest.
>
>> 2. dissimilar metals plus electricity
>
> Well, a typical ground connection on a car will be a plated brass ring
> terminal to the steel chassis. Most likely a steel nut welded to the back
> of the panel, and a steel bolt doing the clamping.
>
>> Just what impact those have I wouldnt know.
>
> Is what I wondered if anyone could give chapter and verse on.
>
I'm no expert but a sailing friend often talks about the huge range of
> In article <4d70b00c-1147-4a64...@googlegroups.com>,
> <meow...@care2.com> wrote:
>> With an ss bolt you get 2 problems
>> 1. chrome oxide layer
>
> That's probably the one of interest.
>
>> 2. dissimilar metals plus electricity
>
> Well, a typical ground connection on a car will be a plated brass ring
> terminal to the steel chassis. Most likely a steel nut welded to the back
> of the panel, and a steel bolt doing the clamping.
>
>> Just what impact those have I wouldnt know.
>
> Is what I wondered if anyone could give chapter and verse on.
>
stainless grade and only a few are suitable for use in salt water.
Stories include keels falling off due to using incorrect bolt grade.
So it seems there is scope for electrolytic problems with certain grades.
Brian Gaff
Jan 22, 2015, 12:49:41 PM1/22/15
to
Perhaps he did not actually bolt the surfaces directly but put a nut in
between so it was more like a terminal. That would cause corrosion I'd
imagine. I found this out once many years ago on a lawn mower battery we
used during the 3 day week back in the day, and I scuffled around to find
some usable screws, and one must have been stainless, at least it was for
about two weeks. :-)
Brian
--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
<meow...@care2.com> wrote in message
news:4d70b00c-1147-4a64...@googlegroups.com...
between so it was more like a terminal. That would cause corrosion I'd
imagine. I found this out once many years ago on a lawn mower battery we
used during the 3 day week back in the day, and I scuffled around to find
some usable screws, and one must have been stainless, at least it was for
about two weeks. :-)
Brian
--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
<meow...@care2.com> wrote in message
news:4d70b00c-1147-4a64...@googlegroups.com...
harryagain
Jan 22, 2015, 1:08:39 PM1/22/15
to
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:548a02e...@davenoise.co.uk...
> Been a thread on a forum I read about a chap using stainless steel nuts
> and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
>
> Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
> ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
> and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
> weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
>
> Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
> but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
> conducting surfaces together?
Any two dissimilar metals plus none pure water =galvanic action=chemical
> and bolts on a kit car when doing the wiring, and had problems.
>
> Difficult to be specific, but sort of implied he's used them to clamp a
> ground to the chassis where it would be normal to use ordinary steel nuts
> and bolts, and had a problem with corrosion very quickly (in a matter of
> weeks) resulting in a poor ground.
>
> Now obviously if using a stud to distribute power, you'd use brass etc -
> but would it really make a difference when the bolt is merely holding two
> conducting surfaces together?
saltsformed that don't conduct as well as metal.
So cars are a big no no due to the salt used on roads.
Always made worse if there is electrical current from exterior source.
So the worst thing he could possibly do.
Metals that are far apart in the reactivity series are the worst, eg zinc
and copper/brass.
But aluminim and zinc not as bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactivity_series
Dave Plowman (News)
Jan 22, 2015, 1:18:59 PM1/22/15
to
In article <m9rd6k$prf$1...@dont-email.me>,
to a clean chassis there would surely be (near) zero current flow via the
nut and bolt?
--
*If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make terrible?
Brian Gaff <brian...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Perhaps he did not actually bolt the surfaces directly but put a nut in
> between so it was more like a terminal. That would cause corrosion I'd
> imagine.
Yes - that's what I did wonder. If it's merely used to clamp the terminal
> Perhaps he did not actually bolt the surfaces directly but put a nut in
> between so it was more like a terminal. That would cause corrosion I'd
> imagine.
to a clean chassis there would surely be (near) zero current flow via the
nut and bolt?
--
*If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make terrible?
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