# Attaching battery clips for a small accessory **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863 "2017-06-25T22:01:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/1 "2017-06-25T22:01:01Z")
I have a tiny row boat that fills up with rain water more quickly than my arm recovers from bailing it. I purchased a little submersible bilge pump that connects to my marine battery and empties the water at tremendous speed (600 gph). It is a joy to behold. Unfortunately the gizmo comes only with tinned wire ends - so I’ve had to strip a little extra to form a loop to put over the battery terminals. The little gizmo is so enthusiastic that it pulls itself off the terminals at regular intervals. I got some small battery clamps to attach to the wire ends, but I don’t remember enough science to know if I’m making a mistake trying them. The bilge pump has an operating current of 3 amps. I bought 10A alligator clips. Am I going to break my gizmo? Will anything blow up? Is it safe to use? Thank you for your wisdom and knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/2 "2017-06-25T22:12:26Z")
Sure, it’s safe. But, the should be NO strain on the leads - if there is, the wire will eventually fatigue and break. Try to restrain your little-pump-that-could so that it doesn’t tug on the power leads. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/3 "2017-06-25T22:16:25Z")
Will do - thank you so much. It’s such a happy little thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/4 "2017-06-25T22:28:27Z")
Pictures! Could you beach it and repair the hull? I don’t doubt you’ve thought of that and perhaps it’s more than you can do. But… You did say tiny row boat. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/5 "2017-06-26T00:02:54Z")
Use zip ties to hold the leads on the terminals? Wire fatigue is probably an issue still though, maybe get creative and use some PVC pipe and mending plates to fashing some sort of stabilizer (only cost a couple bucks and 20 minutes) That being said, my mother’s basement keeps getting flooded, maybe I’ll pick up one of those instead of slow sump pumps. Where did you get yours? What brand? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/6 "2017-06-26T00:20:47Z")
Soldering them would be a good idea. And don’t forget the heat-shrink! ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/7 "2017-06-26T00:29:37Z")
It’s the Shoreline Marine Bilge Pump - good for fresh or saltwater. I believe the model is SL52256. It’s tiny but mighty and costs very little. It’s my favourite thing as we’re getting more rainy days than sunny in Ontario. There is a way to anchor it so that it won’t bounce around and compromise the connection. I’ll get the water out one more time and secure it in place. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attaching-battery-clips-for-a-small-accessory/789863/8 "2017-06-26T13:22:51Z")
I have a couple pieces of equipment that bounce around a bit and use battery clamps for the connection. I just make a loop from the clamps and put a piece of duck tape over them on the body of the device. All the strain is at the duck tape. I have to peel it off when I remove them, but that’s trivial. I can still disconnect a clamp to power the unit down without removing the duck tape.