Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 02-01-2015, 15:17   #16
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 223
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Thinwater: I am not sure what you are throwing in the trash but since you posted immediately after my post I am assuming you are making a small mistake in identification. The Klein tool is a copy of the Thomas and Betts, though if you compare the fine points of construction and the strength of the handles the T&B is superior. The only way to tell them apart at a glance is one has black and red handles and on the other both are red. Not sure where you get the idea that the handles are short, You thinking of something else?

You are right that a perfectly calibrated automatic crimper is the best. Note that I say calibrated. The big boys that do production have the crimper calibrated to a particular wire size, insulation type and probably brand. The same for the connector and that gives a near perfect repeatable crimp. Change any of the variables and the tool just blindly goes on making, potentially at least, less that ideal connections. The simple hand ratchet crimper using a variety of wire and brands of connector in no way compares to that factory standard.

A simple hand tool like the T&B or the Klein will make excellent connections in the hands of a good electrician.

When all my connections start failing I will certainly let you know.

Um saudade
um saudade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2015, 17:16   #17
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by um saudade View Post
Thinwater: I am not sure what you are throwing in the trash but since you posted immediately after my post
My apologies. It was directed at a much cheaper combination tool 2 posts farther up.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2015, 19:21   #18
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Refit in Port Townsend, WA
Boat: 1984 Slocum 43
Posts: 425
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Maine Sail has a good article on lug crimpers:
Making Your Own Battery Cables Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com
Mycroft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 06:17   #19
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: panama
Boat: solaris 42 1978
Posts: 170
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

i dont know how many times working in a cramped space i have had to use a pair of small vice grips to re crimp wire that was loose or pulled out ,,
svfraidknot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 08:26   #20
Moderator Emeritus
 
HappyMdRSailor's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
I have recurring nightmares about last months solar panel installation on my new davits.
To do the four panels I splashed out on a new ratcheting crimper and stretched full length over the stern of the boat reaching up to the first connection to be crimped and applying force to the crimper was not enough to release the mechanism.

Hung there in space I suddenly, if slowly, worked out that unless I could release the crimper from the connector I would be left dangling forever till my strung up body would be found, eyes pecked by sea gulls, in a day or so.

My last effort of squeezing saved my life and dignity.

Who sells this crap???


Best post here...

Thanks for the laugh Mark!
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...

Mai Tai's fix everything...
HappyMdRSailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 09:19   #21
Registered User
 
colemj's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
Images: 12
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
I have recurring nightmares about last months solar panel installation on my new davits.
To do the four panels I splashed out on a new ratcheting crimper and stretched full length over the stern of the boat reaching up to the first connection to be crimped and applying force to the crimper was not enough to release the mechanism.

Hung there in space I suddenly, if slowly, worked out that unless I could release the crimper from the connector I would be left dangling forever till my strung up body would be found, eyes pecked by sea gulls, in a day or so.

My last effort of squeezing saved my life and dignity.

Who sells this crap???


This post confuses me a bit. Ratcheting crimpers are designed to provide the correct compression that ensures a proper crimp before they release. If you haven't reached that point, the crimp is not good.

I wouldn't call that crap.

Are you saying you prefer to base your crimps only on the pressure you choose to apply?

Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
colemj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 10:12   #22
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

If folks would read the instructions....

a. Ratchet crimpers have a release lever. Simple.
b. The crimper must be calibrated for the wire/fitting combination before use (wire should break before pulling out). Takes only a minute.

Perfect, lifetime job, every time.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 10:44   #23
Long Range Cruiser
 
MarkJ's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
Images: 25
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinwater View Post
If folks would read the instructions....

a. Ratchet crimpers have a release lever. Simple.
b. The crimper must be calibrated for the wire/fitting combination before use (wire should break before pulling out). Takes only a minute.
There were no instructions. It was the first time I had used them. I worked out their correct use whilst dangling
__________________
Notes on a Circumnavigation.
OurLifeAtSea.com

Somalia Pirates and our Convoy
MarkJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 17:13   #24
Registered User
 
autumnbreeze27's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Cruising Mexico
Boat: 50' Herreshoff Ketch
Posts: 965
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Ratcheting Crimping Tool

$15, come on that other crimper isn't worth $120 more.
autumnbreeze27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 17:21   #25
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
There were no instructions. It was the first time I had used them. I worked out their correct use whilst dangling
That always speeds the learning process! Necessity and all of that.

I will say that ratchet crimpers encourage the user to stay with one brand of wire and fittings.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 18:15   #26
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by autumnbreeze27 View Post
Ratcheting Crimping Tool

$15, come on that other crimper isn't worth $120 more.
A good ratcheting crimper can be purchased for around $40.

For around $15 you can...LOL.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2015, 16:34   #27
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Indies
Boat: Burger 74' motor yacht, 65 foot 12 metre, Flicka and sailing dinghy
Posts: 643
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

that is my point. sometimes, due to the circumstances of the install or repair, its too difficult to use the racheting crimper and to get the best crimp you use something else.
__________________
To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
dohenyboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2015, 16:56   #28
Registered User
 
Opie91's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CT
Boat: C&C 34
Posts: 1,046
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Why pay $15 when these are laying all over the place?



Same quality crimp
Opie91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2015, 05:40   #29
Moderator Emeritus
 
HappyMdRSailor's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinwater View Post
If folks would read the instructions....

a. Ratchet crimpers have a release lever. Simple.
b. The crimper must be calibrated for the wire/fitting combination before use (wire should break before pulling out). Takes only a minute.

Perfect, lifetime job, every time.
Reminds me of a test lab job I had once.... The item was cables utilized for an "electric chair" .... Yep... the capital punishment kind....

We weren't requested to test current passing capabilities....

Only... Pull out strength of the terminals...
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...

Mai Tai's fix everything...
HappyMdRSailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2015, 10:16   #30
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
Re: No more racheting wire crimper for me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor View Post
Reminds me of a test lab job I had once.... The item was cables utilized for an "electric chair" .... Yep... the capital punishment kind....

We weren't requested to test current passing capabilities....

Only... Pull out strength of the terminals...
Uhh....

Sounds like a good job for an apprentice. The one that showed up late.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale: Heavy Duty Lug Crimper Juanona Classifieds Archive 0 18-11-2013 12:01
Crimper SVNeko Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 27 07-07-2013 20:25
For Sale: Hydraulic Crimper pdhiller Classifieds Archive 4 05-05-2012 20:37
4/0 Lug / Connector Crimper Extemporaneous Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 86 16-04-2011 17:49
New Dies for a Heavy-Duty Crimper ? Beausoleil Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 2 30-06-2010 08:02

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 16:30.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.