ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTION WITH GALVANIC SACRIFICIAL METAL

1 . An electrical terminal comprising:

a body being copper-based; and

a coating disposed on at least a portion of the body, said coating being a metal selected from a group consisting of zinc, magnesium, a zinc alloy, a magnesium alloy or other metal that is more electronegative than aluminum and its alloys.

2 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said coating being an electroplated layer on said body.

3 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said coating being a cladding secured onto said body.

4 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said coating being a sprayed coating.

5 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said body having a pair of crimp wings constructed to crimp onto an aluminum-based electrical wire.

6 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said crimp wings having a contact section being free of said coating.

7 . An electrical terminal as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

said contact section having an outer tin plating thereon.

8 . A corrosion resistant electrical connection structure comprising:

an electrically conductive wire made of a first electrically conductive material;

a terminal electrically connected to the wire, the terminal being made of a second electrically conductive material that is more electro-positive than the first electrically conductive material when exposed to a salt water environment; and

a galvanic sacrificial material electrically connected to the terminal being more electro-negative when exposed to salt water than the first electrically conductive material.

9 . An electrical connection structure as defined in claim 8 further comprising:

said conductive wire being aluminum-based;

said terminal being copper-based; and

a galvanic sacrificial material electrically connected to the terminal being more electro-negative when exposed to salt water than said conductive aluminum-based wire.

10 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 9 further comprising:

said galvanic sacrificial material being selected from a group consisting of zinc, magnesium, a zinc alloy and a magnesium alloy.

11 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 10 further comprising:

said galvanic sacrificial material being a coating covering at least a portion of a surface of the terminal.

12 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 11 further comprising:

said terminal having a pair of crimp wings constructed to crimp onto an aluminum-based electrical wire; and

said crimp wings having a contact section being free of said coating.

13 . An electrical connection structure as defined in claim 11 further comprising:

said contact section having an outer tin plating thereon.

14 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 9 further comprising:

said galvanic sacrificial material being located remote from said terminal body and electrically connected thereto.

15 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 14 further comprising:

a protective conformal coating as a primary system to prevent corrosion with said galvanic sacrificial material being used as a secondary back up system to prevent corrosion.

16 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 10 further comprising:

a protective conformal coating as a primary system to prevent corrosion with said galvanic sacrificial material being used as a secondary back up system to prevent corrosion.

17 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 8 further comprising:

said galvanic sacrificial material being located remote from said terminal and electrically connected thereto.

18 . An electrical connection structure as define in claim 8 further comprising:

a protective conformal coating as a primary system to prevent corrosion with said galvanic sacrificial material being used as a secondary back up system to prevent corrosion.