Ferrule Crimper - Square or Hex?

[imroberts]

I'm looking to buy a ferrule crimper.

I've noticed that these seem to come in two variants - ones with 4 jaws which crimp in a square and ones with 6 which crimp a hexagon.

To my mind, the hexagon feels like a better option however I notice that both the cheap brands on Amazon / eBay and also the more established brands like Knipex seem to offer models in both variants.

Are there any significant benefits one way or the other?

 

[333rocky333]

i take it your looking at the type that adjusts automatically, i have the tool that has seperate slots for each size that leaves the crimp sort of half round with one indented flat edge.
I quess it depends on what terminals your going into really and if you intend to bunch ferrulles together in one hole

 

[SUNRAY]

i take it your looking at the type that adjusts automatically, i have the tool that has seperate slots for each size that leaves the crimp sort of half round with one indented flat edge.
I quess it depends on what terminals your going into really and if you intend to bunch ferrulles together in one hole

Not supposed to put more than one ferrule in a terminal unless it has more than one hole or space.

I have a selection of crimpers, and none of them automatic, producing different shaped crimps for different types of terminals. Sometimes I'd take minimal tools to site and if just one crimper it would be as Rocky's or a similar but with trapizoidal rather than round shape.

Sometimes the consultant or employer [I'm self employed so have worked for a selection] may specify shape of crimp or even make and model of crimper.

And finally some of those automatic crimpers produce abominable crimps where the ferrules get trapped in between the edges of the jaws so study the way the automatic jaws close to make sure there are no voids before buying.

 

[333rocky333]

Not supposed to put more than one ferrule in a terminal unless it has more than one hole or space.
.

Does that apply to uninsulated though

 

[chivers67]

You can get Twin Entry Ferrule Crimps for Two Cables.

I have a Set Of SWA Crimpers and they Produce a very flat End

 

[SUNRAY]

Does that apply to uninsulated though

Absolutely not 2 insulated ferrules in one hole.

I've had several jobs where my sole reason for being there was to replace multiple single ferrules with doubles.

It's fine to insert a wire/ferrule both sides when the terminal is a screw and square plate. however I'm reluctant to do this on a long run of say the 0V line feeding all of the relays in a panel due the the reliability issue.

 

[mattylad]

Sometimes single ferrules will fit where doubles will not.
Like in an Omron relay base.

IF they wont pull out then whats the problem?

 

[SUNRAY]

Sometimes single ferrules will fit where doubles will not.
Like in an Omron relay base.

IF they wont pull out then whats the problem?

Yes agreed to some degree.

Absolutely not 2 insulated ferrules in one hole.

I've had several jobs where my sole reason for being there was to replace multiple single ferrules with doubles.

It's fine to insert a wire/ferrule both sides when the terminal is a screw and square plate. however I'm reluctant to do this on a long run of say the 0V line feeding all of the relays in a panel due the the reliability issue.

Omron use the type of clamp I tried to describe. Yes they do efectively have 2 holes to receive a wire/ferrule so I have no specific objection. It also depends on the size of the wire and the style of crimper, personally I'll happily use a double 1.5mm² ferrule in Omron style bases but I'm fully aware not all crimpers make that possible.

The reliability I mention is based on a few years of experience; when there are say 100 relays in a panel with a common 0V line there are effectively 200 joints before the final device and it only needs one screw to become loose - or - for the incorrect shaped crimp to be used and work loose to potentially lose 99 relays.
Using double ferrules effectively reduces the number of connexions to 2 [as long as they're correctly crimped] with all of the additional reliability.
when future works are done it can be so easy to not termiate the second ferrule correctly or to simply not see it amongst the plethora of wires.
Another issue is replacing a component from say an Omrom base to one with a single clamp style terminal one has to start changing ferrules but generally going the other way is fine.

I'm not having a pop, just putting my experiences forward and I freely accept others have different experiences and modus operandi.