well, with the wind steady at ~5-10 mph, I would've never got a lighter to stay lit and the torch was too much for that and I need it running more than I need that cable to be perfect right this minute. I will try to slip a tube over it but the smaller one will be a pita since it's ring is much wider then the wire. it's just one of those things where you gotta weigh the risks.
and yeah, I am pretty familiar with lead acid batteries and corrosion. it just doesn't seem like this battery is giving any fuss with it's gasses so as to cause corrosion from that. the corrosion I see here looks more like weathered corrosion than it does like battery acid vapor corrosion. but either way I do agree, I should get them properly covered. thatll end up waiting till after the rain stop after sunday.
I apreciate the help man!