Side-post battery power distribution?

I need to add a power lead so I can install the P2 brake controller into my '99 Chevy van, which has side-post batteries. I looked into tying into unused circuits in the fuse box, but none of the unused ones have terminals attached.

I tried(semi successfully) to connect under the side post mount with ring terminal, and it's working for now, but I don't have much faith in it. So what's the right/best way to tap into the + battery cable on a side-post battery?

There should be a couple terminals on the engine bay fuse block.

I'm not sure exactly how a 99 G van will be, but if there is an underhood fuse block, somewhere on there , usually under a plastic cover, there should be a stud with the power feed from the battery. If its the older design, somewhere on the firewall there will be a block with battery power coming up from the starter. Inside on the fusebox, GM almost always has battery and switched power feeds . Often they will be piggybacked, with several wires coming off one terminal.

Failing those, there is always a stud with battery power on the back of the alternator.

While true, have you tried accessing the back of the alternator on a Chevy van? Not fun.

I would first go for the underhood fuise box stud, if the truck has one. It should.

If it does not, there's a not terribly pretty way to do it involving replacing the positive battery cable's bolt with a stud bolt. Auto parts stores do sell them in blister packs in the battery junk section. But... I've removed many of them from cars because they often suck.

Thanks guys, I'll try to find the underhood fuse box. I thought there should be one...somewhere.

If it's where I think it is, it's in a real F.U. spot in the driver's fenderwell. You need extended foreceps to remove a relay because there's no good way to reach a hand down in there.

I use these:

It replaces the bolt in the cable and then has a stud on top of it. That way you aren't interfering with the flat connection of the cable ring on the terminal.

curtis73 wrote: I use these: It replaces the bolt in the cable and then has a stud on top of it. That way you aren't interfering with the flat connection of the cable ring on the terminal.

I hate side-post batteries -- my truck has them.

The stud ones work, but the downside is that you wind up with no really convenient way to cover the exposed +12 post. I've got a hacked-up brake cleaner can cap taped over mine. Ugh. :)