Battery cable crimping tool recommendation please

[YellowHound]

As per the title.

Lots of options but the reviews are mixed at best, though anything I buy will not see anything more than light use.

Been looking at the hydraulic options, like this ColdShine Hydraulic Crimper Tool Kit Tube Terminals Lugs Battery Cable Wire Crimping Force: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

I need to do some work on some battery connections and it seems worthwhile to buy the right tool.

Recommendations please.

TIA

 

[paddy26]

Looks the same as the one I bought in 2017:

ReaseJoy 10 Ton 9 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Shop ReaseJoy 10 Ton 9 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

www.amazon.co.uk

For diy use I've found it great.

 

[lydart]

As per the title.

Lots of options but the reviews are mixed at best, though anything I buy will not see anything more than light use.

Been looking at the hydraulic options, like this ColdShine Hydraulic Crimper Tool Kit Tube Terminals Lugs Battery Cable Wire Crimping Force: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

I need to do some work on some battery connections and it seems worthwhile to buy the right tool.

Recommendations please.

TIA

I bought this crimper last year for my dual battery installation and it worked very well. Also used it with Anderson connectors without any problems.

 

[Dellmassive]

I've got the hydraulic one too . . . not to happy with it tbh . .

 

[Dellmassive]

hold on thats no quite fair . . . . . .

the hydraulic works ok, but I've found i get better "cold welds" with other crimpers . . . . (I've managed to pull off some of the luggs from the hydro crimper)

I've got these . . . ill run through them with you.

EDIT: battery terminal are very important and must be on 100% tight and secure. - loose crimps will cause high resistance and heat and can also wick up moisture and corrode from inside.

so to test a good battery lug connection . . . i crimp it on . . . then double crimp it.

then get a fat screwdriver and pass it through the lug,, the stand on either side of the screw driver them pull up hard on the cable . . .

a properly crimped lug will not put off . . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

I've got this one . . : HFS (R) 10T Hydraulic Wire Terminal Crimper Battery Cable Lug Crimping Tool W/9 Pairs Dies: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools


if found that depending on the size of lug / terminal sometime you cant get the right size die.

its either too large or too small. I've tried going large, then recrimping small . . . but it just crushes the sides of the lug..

so it works fine if you have perfect size cable and lugs for the dies . . . . . . which for some reason i never seem to have ={

I've had this one for a few years now and dont bother using it any more.


HFS (R) 10T Hydraulic Wire Terminal Crimper Battery Cable Lug Crimping Tool W/9 Pairs Dies





next up . . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

next up is this Durite one . . . . i love it.

you get to smash it with a hammer or crush it in a vice . . . great fun.

the centre pin is sprung loaded , so you place the cable in the lug . . . then lift the sprung loaded pin and place the lug in the V notch . .

then place it all on a solid floor and smash it with a heavy hammer . . . =] (or put it in a vice and clamp down - i dont like that method)

the pin will crush the lug perfectly creating a very good connection.

i use this one for large gauge cables and battery terminals.

its a great tool provided you can smash the hammer on it . . . . if you are in a tight engine bay and need to add a lug then this might not be the best solution.

I've now seen a screw/ratchet version that clamps down with a ratchet/socket or screw gun (instead of the hammer action) . . . ill have to hunt one down and test.

Durite - Hammer/Vice H/D Crimping Tool for Large Tube Terminals - 0-703-90 : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

Buy Durite - Hammer/Vice H/D Crimping Tool for Large Tube Terminals - 0-703-90 at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.

amzn.to

Durite - Hammer/Vice H/D Crimping Tool for Large Tube Terminals - 0-703-90







4lb hammer . . .

OX Club Hammer - Sledgehammer with Fibreglass Handle - Forged and Induction Hardened Hammerhead - 4 lb / 1.8 kg: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Shop OX Club Hammer - Sledgehammer with Fibreglass Handle - Forged and Induction Hardened Hammerhead - 4 lb / 1.8 kg. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

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OX Club Hammer - Sledgehammer with Fibreglass Handle - Forged and Induction Hardened Hammerhead - 4 lb / 1.8 kg



next up . . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

next up is this beauty . . . my first port of call and go to large crimper.

it will crimp most large lugs and crimps . . . . if it fits on the gap . . . it will crimp it.

I've have some tough crimps before . . . and even with 15stone leaning down on it its not broke.

its big at 13 inches long.

this is the most used crimper for large cables.

i cant remember where i got it from now . . . but been using it a couple of years now.




next up . .

 

[Dellmassive]

next up is the other daily driver . . . .

if im not usning the yellow set above im using these . .

the good old HS-16 crimper . . . 1.5-16 mm² (15-5AWG)


i use these for everything else . . . Andersons, but connectors . . etc etc etc . . . i even used them for the red,blue,yellow crimps.

love them . . . . and they work great. - everyone who does some electricals should have a set of these.





..

Heschen Ratchet Terminal Crimping Tool HS-16 Use for 1.5-16 mm² (15-5AWG) Non-Insulated terminals (Point Type) : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Shop Heschen Ratchet Terminal Crimping Tool HS-16 Use for 1.5-16 mm² (15-5AWG) Non-Insulated terminals (Point Type). Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

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[Dellmassive]

size wise you can see them here . . .




...



thats my experience with them any way...

 

[Dellmassive]

a nice vid here showing a good crimp (cold weld) cut open . .

and a few ideas from Will P . . .

.

 

[YellowHound]

Jeez - thanks @Dellmassive
Everything I wanted to know.
Seems I was right to be nervous about the hydraulic options.

 

[DXX]

If you‘re not an electrician it’s probably not going to get much use.
I picked up a good quality almost new item on Ebay at a fraction of the new price, there was plenty of choice.

 

[YellowHound]

If you‘re not an electrician it’s probably not going to get much use.
I picked up a good quality almost new item on Ebay at a fraction of the new price, there was plenty of choice.

Very true but I can't do the job without the right tools.

 

[Dellmassive]

I've just seen this ratchet version . . looks interesting?

ill get one an give it a run through.


its says 8.3mm - 33.6mm or 2,4,6,8 AWG

IWISS AP-50BI Cable Crimper 8.3-33.6mm² for Copper Cable Lugs, Battery Cable Ends, Cable Lugs, Battery Lugs: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop IWISS AP-50BI Cable Crimper 8.3-33.6mm² for Copper Cable Lugs, Battery Cable Ends, Cable Lugs, Battery Lugs.

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[Eclipse Custom Vans]

Those cheap hydraulic ones work but fiddly. I had to use next size down dies as @Dellmassive says not a tight crimp so be careful. I've used hydraulic tools for cables to 300mm2 so a good set works well. The hand held ratchet type work well also. You really need to try them to see if they work well or get a decent set from a electrical wholesalers.

 

[travelvolts]

Probably worth also mentioning that there is a huge variation in lugs. The wall thicknesses and material used all have a bearing on what kind of tool you will need.

 

[Niknak]

I just pop into my local battery shop if you buy the end from him he’ll crimp it

 

[VanDamMan]

On the back of this thread..... Does anyone use soft solder rather than crimp... I’m about to re cable my solar panels using Anderson Powerpole connectors and watched a YouTube Australian clip ....didn’t realise how easy ....but is it a better conducive joint

ps My solar setup is mobile and find the MC4 connectors don’t like being pulled apart

 

[Niknak]

You can crimp and sweat some solder in