Bruce--good point. The binding posts that I bought at Radio Shack were already colored--one red and one black. Take care to hook the black to the - battery post, and the red to the +, and you should be fine! As far as electric vs. hand, I don't see much difference on either side of the issue--it's all personal preferece. I can hand pump about as fast as my electric pump can pump. In the past year, I've seen two 14 dollar hand pumps go bad (one of my brothers, and one of mine). I've seen one 15 dollar hobbico electric pump go bad, and now have a 14 dollar sullivan direct drive electric pump. The pumps are about the same price--electric or hand, and seem to last about the same to me. I keep a hand pump for a backup--that is the only advice I can give you if you go electric on the pump--(also have a hand pump with you). Nothing worse than a bad pump to ruin your day!