[Elecraft] how to seal holes in a car battery useable for /p operation?

[Tom Hammond NØSS]

Chris:

>the starter relays of my '73 F-250 caused the battery cables and the harness
>plastic to melt. The starter kept grinding without key... The hot plus cable
>burnt several holes, which I will seal. Or else, the water content would
>evaporate in the dry desert climate. - Any suggestions which stuff to use?
>Epoxy, beewax? Please e-mail direct as this is off-topic. Mni tnx de Chris

Well, ost certainly NOT beeswax!

To seal a hole against the weather, probably one of the best sealants is 
silicone rubber... the type commonly referred to as "silicone bathroom 
sealant".
You can find this sealant in hardware and grocery stores (usually in white 
or clear), automotive supply stores (usually black, clear, blue, or red).

If you can find it, buy from an automotive store and get the type referred 
to as "RTV". RTV depends upon the moisture in the air to cure and contains 
no acetic acid (vinegar). Most of the "bathroom sealants" contain acetic 
acid as part of the curing mechanism. Though the effect is generally 
minimal to nonexistant, the acid can sometimes do damage to the vinyl 
insulation of wires, and certainly to any electrical components it might 
contact. This having been said, many of us have successfully used silicone 
bathroom sealant for decades with no noticeable problems at all.

73, Tom Hammond   N0SS