We bought a bunch of 6V 42ah batteries for our Spartan cell cameras. After just 2.5 weeks one of the negative terminals is corroded really bad. Hardly seen anything like that and certainly not that quick. What would be the deal on that???

Sounds like that one is leaking electrolyte (sulfuric acid) from that terminal - are you operating them standing up, or laying on their side?
Hermetic seal on that terminal may have broken loose in shipping.

let me gues, the cheapest batteries you could find?

There is a ground somewhere...based upon my feeder experience. It always happens to me when the motor box gets bunched up with corn and "shorts" out the motor with moisture from the corn.

I realize we've not had rain in forever and the cameras don't have corn in them but my guess is something is shorting them out.

Good luck tracking it down, sounds like a PIA.

They are standing up.
Yes, they were the very cheapest and they were ordered against my better judgement.
Judd not sure what to think of yours.
Thanks guys.

Scrub the terminal with a toothbrush and alcohol. Try to seal around the base of the terminal with glue or nail polish. Coat the terminals with dielectric grease. (Bulb grease from the Auto parts store)

try putting some bakingsoda/water on the terminal, and see if it fizzes - confirming Sulfuric acid ....

Listen to JESmith here. After hooking them up, spray a lubricant on the terminals. Do not, and I repeat do not, get the lubricant from Buzz.

Good advice here. Anything that cleans off the corrosion will work. Corrosion is an oxidation process, so anything that keeps oxygen away will keep it from reoccurring.

Old school method.

Wash it with Coca-Cola and brush. Rinse with water. Allow to dry. Reinstall connector and coat with red battery battery terminal spray protector. AutoZone carries CRC brand. . Better than grease. My opinion.

Coat both terminals on every battery. Hadn't had a connctor problem in 50 years

Corrosion Block aerosol spray from the marine supply
store.

I’ve never had a connector problem(hardly) either and I don’t do any of that stuff.
I have heard stuff like that helps and I will now do it for sure. Excellent advice guys-much appreciated.

Sounds like lots of ways to clean and then protect. I’m guessing whatever product I find will work. Anybody real adamant about one or other?

They have corrosion pevention stuff in a can, but I just use something with lithium grease in it - you need something that sticks. WD40 will clean it but won't do much for protection.

Did not expect a serious post from the Hudster.

I have been using my method since I worked in sevice station in high school. 1968 or 69. Tried baking soda and greases and rings. Nothing works better.

Vaseline works very well on preventing corrosion on battery terminals.

yes, clean them good and use a heavy grease like Big Fitz suggests. The spray doesn't protect. The golf cart tech told me what causes this, of course I forgot.

Dialectice grease is good for smaller projects

I use bulb grease on my terminals along the the green and red disks.

Dielectric grease is what we use in telecom applications with back up batteries and grounding connections.

corrosionX is what you need

So many opinions/ I should of just asked ford or chevy….