Why would you need a battery terminal boot for the negative terminal?

I switched to military battery terminals today and could no longer use the stock boot that prevents accidental shorts.

I ordered a boot from http://www.prime4x4.com/shop/OffRoa...ssories/p/Military-Battery-Terminal-Boots.htm

They come in pairs, one for the positive which I understand and one for the negative.

My question is why do they sell a boot for the negative terminal?

Isn't it useless or am I missing something?

Can anyone think of a legimate reason why you would want or need a cover on the negative terminal?

 

Corrosion prevention....and it helps in case you are working on the positive side and accidentally drop a screwdriver or wrench on the terminals. Lol. Ask me how I know.

 

But I am thinking it is going to be somewhat of a pain in the ass to put on, and then every time you need to disconnect the battery, its just that much more trouble. I don't see the point.

 

A negative terminal boot would be useful for a positive ground application.

 

I want to hear the story!

 

And

X2.

 

This I agree with.

 

Let's just say my 1/2" open end... 10mm. Whatever the hell size it was now has permanent black marks on it from where it sparked.

 

This does make sense. It gets pretty hairy sometimes, with winch cables, power block cables etc all coming out of these terminals, but I always disconnect the neg cable and thoroughly tape the terminal any time I am working near the battery with the positive terminal uncovered. Hmmm...

 

Haha!

That's nothing, what prompted this question is BJMoose on another thread said he caught his dipstick on fire!

I guess if it isn't to big of a deal, I will put it on when it comes in. I can see a scenario where I just want to check the bolts on the positive terminal without disconnecting the negative and even though there is a lot other metal to ground to, it just might save the day to have the negative covered. We will see what happens when I get the boots.

 

^ Now that's funny.