Battery Cable Crimping Tool

[ggray]

If I can't find one to borrow, I may need to buy one for a couple of crimps of different size lugs.

Since it will only be used a few times, I figure one from Amazon will do, but can anyone recommend this tool?

https://www.amazon.com/IWISS-Battery...hlbWF0aWM&th=1

[coopec43]

I'd like to know the dimension of the tool because you need a lot of leverage to crimp a 4/0 cable properly. I'd much prefer a hydraulic cable crimper at half the price.

Let's see what the experts have to say.






https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20433881...3ABFBM-qL3udBj

[ggray]

I looked at a hydraulic one like that on Amazon first, but with the smaller sizes, they only include every other size die.

So can you crimp #1AWG with a #2AWG die?

[flee27]

Look at this MarineHowTo link. A lot of great information on this subject (and others). I purchased the FTZ tool and it works great. It is not worth using inferior tools. Your goal should be for your DIY to not look or perform as "DIY". Especially electrical on a boat. Not a time to do sub par work or use sub par tools that will lead to failure or worse.

Good luck and take pride in your DIY projects.

Foster

[SailingHarmonie]

I recently got caught at a travel job needing lug crimpers, but left mine home. The local tool rental had a beast of a dieless crimper that did a great job on 1/0 and 4/0 cable. 435 for 24 hours. Just what I needed.

[capt jgw]

Originally Posted by ggray

So can you crimp #1AWG with a #2AWG die?

No. The die has to fit the lug and wire.

The hand operated one may have dies to do 4/0 but I really doubt you'd be able to squeeze it hard enough, unless you put it in a vice or something, and then it would probably break. I got a hydraulic one at Harbor Freight, looks like the yellow one pictured above. I've done 15 or 20 crimps with it, works fine.

[JBP]

If you only need it for a couple crimps, the hammer type are much cheaper.

https://a.co/d/i0TOjcC/

[capt jgw]

Originally Posted by JBP

If you only need it for a couple crimps, the hammer type are much cheaper.

https://a.co/d/i0TOjcC/

But the crimps aren't nearly as good. My hydraulic wasn't much more expensive but didn't have the dies for 2/0. When I needed those I bought a hammer one, it worked but I want really happy with them. If buying for a particular job I'd get a hydraulic that fits that job.

[flee27]

Please do some research. Improper crimps, especially on large wires that carry a lot of current, double especially if it is high current for a long period of time like an inverter, high output alternator, etc., is very dangerous. It can also shorten the life of whatever it is running.

Crimping tools don't have to be expensive to be good. But it is imperative that you make good crimps using quality lugs and crimping tools. This IS NOT a time to do what is cheap over what is right.

Hammer crimps are not better than just squeezing the lug in a vise or something similar.

Foster

[thinwater]

ABYC does permit soldering of battery lugs. Additionally, if you are not satisfied with the crimp, you can always solder too.

[Shrew]

https://www.amazon.com/TEMCo-Lug-Cri.../dp/B00HJYVFSG

I use ^^This^^. It's dieless, can be used on a bench or the deck for leverage, and goes up to 4/0.

[CrispyCringle]

I used this one (or one like it) for my inverter project. Very easy to crimp and worked just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLPC8HHJ...hlbWF0aWM&th=1

[NorthCoastJoe]

I got this one it works fine and is cheaper. I have used it for several size crimps.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by NorthCoastJoe

I got this one it works fine and is cheaper. I have used it for several size crimps.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

I have one like this ... I managed to get acceptable 2AWG crimps, but it made a bunch of very poor crimps on 6AWG lugs ... eventually I got some good crimps, but I wasted a bunch of lugs and wire.

Hence I now consider it unreliable ... I'll keep ot on board in case I need to mess with battery cables in an emergency, but if I ever want to rewire my batteries again, I'll buy something better.

[Cheechako]

West Marine stores no longer have a rigging crimper to use in store? Those work great for battery cables.