Lug crimps and crimping tool

[The Artilleryman]

Any recommendations for a supplier of good quality lug crimps, the set I got from Amazon are rubbish - wrong internal diameter ?

 

[Raul]

Oxford welding supplies for lugs, or similar. Crimper, a 5-8T hydraulic from amazon ebay will do better than any pliers.

 

[Pukka]

For my build I used a hammer version of the crimp tool. But I made all of my connections outside of the motorhome

Heavy Duty Spring Loaded Battery Cable Crimping Tool [ALM Part Reference - TT83] - £13.86 : ALM Solutions, Auto Electrical Parts and Accessories for Cars, Boats, Caravans and Campers

ALM Solutions Heavy Duty Spring Loaded Battery Cable Crimping Tool [ALM Part Reference - TT83] - Product Information Heavy duty crimping tool suitable for copper tube terminals up to 120mm² The teminal is placed under the spring loaded punch and pressure is applied by either striking the top...

www.almsolutions.co.uk

 

[Raul]

I would only use that as a temporary measure, or low currents. Hydraulic it’s best and safest crimp for high currents.

 

[Pukka]

Nope sorry I do not agree with that. The cheap hydraulic ones are not fit for purpose and do not crimp correctly. If you are having to use the smaller die it's a bodge from the start.

Largest connection I made was 35sqmm and you could hang off the lug. I put 2100watt for over 40 min through the joins and nothing got hot.

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[Carpmart]

Nope sorry I do not agree with that. The cheap hydraulic ones are not fit for purpose and do not crimp correctly. If you are having to use the smaller die it's a bodge from the start.

Largest connection I made was 35sqmm and you could hang off the lug. I put 2100watt for over 40 min through the joins and nothing got hot.

You may be very skilled, us mere mortals need a hydraulic tool for larger connectors…

 

[martin1485]

I found 12vPlanet to be a supplier of quality components including lugs and a crimping tool.

 

[Googlebot]

You may be very skilled, us mere mortals need a hydraulic tool for larger connectors…

I have the hammer one, if you can get the room and the stable base, it makes very good connections. Even a small hammer is heavy enough if you hit it enough times.

 

[paddymcc]

I use Altec Automotive. Easy to use website and good quality.

 

[gerry mcg]

I would only use that as a temporary measure, or low currents. Hydraulic it’s best and safest crimp for high currents.

I used this but set the crimps with a vice rather than use a hammer

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[Gromett]

For the crimp tools I use these two.

https://amzn.to/3B6t0Os

and for normal red/yellow/blue I use these;

https://amzn.to/3HNVwsb

Wissel also got the 1st ones and I think he like them? I do however use the next size down when crimping as it gives a much better crimp.

 

[The Artilleryman]

For the crimp tools I use these two.

https://amzn.to/3B6t0Os

and for normal red/yellow/blue I use these;

https://amzn.to/3HNVwsb

Wissel also got the 1st ones and I think he like them? I do however use the next size down when crimping as it gives a much better crimp.

I've got similar to the 1st one but not had much luck with it, I think s**t lugs is the problem, so will try a different make this afternoon.
If still no better I'll gat these https://www.screwfix.com/p/ratchet-...text=RATCHET CRIMPING TOOL 7" (180MM) (96561)

 

[3crispies]

Any recommendations for a supplier of good quality lug crimps, the set I got from Amazon are rubbish - wrong internal diameter ?

can borrow mine depending where you are, it does up to 630a supplies for work so should be ok for mh!!
Based near Peterborough.

 

[The Artilleryman]

can borrow mine depending where you are, it does up to 630a supplies for work so should be ok for mh!!
Based near Peterborough.

Thanks for the offer, but crimping tools are one of the tools I like to have - my car ones are probably 30 years old, but still do a good crimp - and I'm determined to find a set that works.

 

[Gromett]

I've got similar to the 1st one but not had much luck with it, I think s**t lugs is the problem, so will try a different make this afternoon.
If still no better I'll gat these https://www.screwfix.com/p/ratchet-crimping-tool-7-180mm-/96561#product_additional_details_container:~:text=RATCHET CRIMPING TOOL 7" (180MM) (96561)

They do a shit crimp if you use the specified size. Try using the next notch down on the tool. That will probably fix your issue?

Is it that they are just pulling out too easy?

The one you linked to is just for 10mm² cable though? are you not doing anything bigger than that?

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[tonyidle]

I use a hydraulic crimper like this one:

16 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 16 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Any crimper must deform the strands of the conductor rather than simply gripping them.

 

[rod_vw]

What ever crimping tool with removable dies that you use you must make sure that the lugs you use are correct for the die. The metal thickness of lugs varies dependent on manufacturer (i.e. mostly quality dependent) thus lugs that are not matched to the die do not crimp correctly.

 

[The Artilleryman]

The one you linked to is just for 10mm² cable though? are you not doing anything bigger than that?

Well spotted, I missed that, so no I won't be getting them.

 

[Al n Val]

I use a hydraulic crimper like this one:

16 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 16 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Any crimper must deform the strands of the conductor rather than simply gripping them.

are these the same ones

Pardon our interruption...

 

[L' Hobo]

For the crimp tools I use these two.

https://amzn.to/3B6t0Os

and for normal red/yellow/blue I use these;

https://amzn.to/3HNVwsb

Wissel also got the 1st ones and I think he like them? I do however use the next size down when crimping as it gives a much better crimp.

I also have one of the Clark's one for doing bigger crimps but mine has red handles. Bought it from Machine Mart.
Never had any problems with it.

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[Ditcha]

Any recommendations for a supplier of good quality lug crimps, the set I got from Amazon are rubbish - wrong internal diameter ?

Screwfix sell lugs not sure of the quality but they look okay also Toolstation

 

[The Artilleryman]

I'll find out when SWMBO get's home.

 

[Raul]

Nope sorry I do not agree with that. The cheap hydraulic ones are not fit for purpose and do not crimp correctly. If you are having to use the smaller die it's a bodge from the start.

Largest connection I made was 35sqmm and you could hang off the lug. I put 2100watt for over 40 min through the joins and nothing got hot.

You will learn, cold weld is a safe connection in my book. I have tried various crimper and I do have a collection. Even the cheap Chinese 4-5T crimper can do better than pliers or hammer on. You need to learn to chose the dye and add strands in the lug, if necessary. I have done hundreds so far, with largest 95mm2. I have a resistance meter that can measure down to 0.001 ml ohm, yes ml ohm. You will be surprised the difference from a cold weld resistance, to hammer on.

 

[jockaneezer]

I'll see your 16 tonne crimper and raise you my 50 tonne Enerpac one !

 

[tkk]

You will learn, cold weld is a safe connection in my book. I have tried various crimper and I do have a collection. Even the cheap Chinese 4-5T crimper can do better than pliers or hammer on. You need to learn to chose the dye and add strands in the lug, if necessary. I have done hundreds so far, with largest 95mm2. I have a resistance meter that can measure down to 0.001 ml ohm, yes ml ohm. You will be surprised the difference from a cold weld resistance, to hammer on.

Adding strands to the lug is a great tip. Ive had a bit of an issue with the 16mm2 die on a Chinese hydraulic not fully crimping so used the next down, 10. Adding strands would probably have sorted it probably.
As to the multi packs of lugs on Amazon/e-bay a side view of the bigger lugs from a reviewer looked shockingly thin, definitely inadequate. I got mine from Simply Split Charge , sold singly and not cheap,and they look good. As I only use a few cost isn’t an issue after spending a lot on cable saving pennies on a critical component isn’t worthwhile.
I have wondered about the hammer techniques abilit to ensure an all round compression of lug onto cable core.

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[Brianmor]

The best place to get quality lugs would be from any large national electrical wholesaler, they all sell to the general public.

 

[TheBig1]

As mentioned, a proper quality crimp for a lug excludes all open space and compresses the conductors down so tightly that you are cold welding them into a single piece. The hammer crimp tools are fine for an emergency tool kit. But they only compress part of the lug. Some only with a dimple on one side. This displaces the inner cores and leaves loose areas

Up to 10mm or at a push 16mm then crimping pliers as shown above, look like bolt croppers so the force on the levers is magnified. 16mm and above, a hydraulic crimper is essential. The regardless of compression method, add heatshrink to protect the join, covering the compressed part of the lug and span the transition area over to the sleeving. This prevents corrosion setting into the joint where the inner cores started to stretch. It keeps oxygen and moisture out

Best manufacturers are not a DiY now and then tool. Very expensive and need maintenance to keep them working well. If you want to do a few super big cables, hire one from a local tool hire place. The cheap Chinese copies are fine for occassional use but unlikely to last years. £20 will buy a cheap one on ebay. Crimping pliers, likewise. I have a set in my shed 40 years old and 2ft long. But a 16 inch set will do most of what you would usually use on a motorhome. The dies on the cheap ones are not great, but will do the job better than a hammer and block can.

Most important thing with electrics is safety, especially where high current is involved.

 

[tonyidle]

are these the same ones

Pardon our interruption...

Look to be exactly the same.

 

[Raul]

Sometimes you can file the dye to suit, but if you change the lug supplier then its not right again. I buy expensive lugs with a flare for fine strands, and add few strands if necessary. Last job i did was my own solar system on the house. I had paralleled two multiplus 5kva, to enable me to fast charge the car. Now anyone having a idea of how important is to keep resistance close to equal on parallel inverters, will understand how important a crimp connection is. Power distribution in parallel is very iffy if not done right.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Screwfix sell lugs not sure of the quality but they look okay also Toolstation

They are about the same as the ones that came with my crimping tool.
Going down one size improves the crimp, but still getting the crimp squashed and flattened on one side, not much though.