Crimping confusion

[MisterBoy]

I've never crimped before but I wanted to do my earths securely in some recent SWA wiring.

I found the old crimping tool in my late father's tool box and when buying components for my project, it recommended these so I bought them: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CTEYEslashYslash4.html

Damned if I can do them. Using both hands and all my strength I can JUST about do it. I looked online before I started and it seems it takes a bit of effort, but not veins popping out on the side of the head effort... Right? I'm no strongman but my hands are reasonably strong which makes me think something is wrong.

Am I being a weakling, have I bought the wrong thing, or is it more likely I'm misusing the tool?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, they are just rubbish squash-flat insulated crimps - and I suspect your crimpers are not a suitable type either.

To do the job properly uninsulated crimps and hexagonal crimpers are required.


Having said that, and depending on the size of the conductors, poor crimping might be adequate.

 

[RF Lighting]

Those crimps are fine. I’ve fitted thousands of them.

Two things that may be a problem.

1. Are you using the correct sized crimp? They are colour coded for the size of wire you’re using. If you’re trying to crimp a yellow crimp onto a 1.5mm² wire you’ll struggle to crimp it tight enough to make a sound connection.

2. You need to use a proper ratchet crimper such as https://www.screwfix.com/p/crimping-tool-9/3137v

 

[sparxxxx]

I've never crimped before but I wanted to do my earths securely in some recent SWA wiring.

Don't quite understand what you mean, but you can't hand crimp swa armouring, it is too hard and won't compress.

 

[crystal ball]

I think he means the earth tails from the gland

 

[sparxxxx]

I think he means the earth tails from the gland

I'm not so sure, any old crimper will compress a yellow crimp onto copper wire, maybe not properly, but it will squash it. Hence my query .

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I found the old crimping tool in my late father's tool box and when buying components for my project, it recommended these so I bought them: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CTEYEslashYslash4.html

If it is not a proper ratchet crimping tool, it will be a struggle with a larger size. It is also unlikely you will end up with a reliable crimp, no matter what the size.

 

[mattylad]

@MisterBoy - can you show us a photo of your crimpers or a similar one found on the net?
Also explain more about exactly what it is that you are crimping?

 

[333rocky333]

 

[SUNRAY]

Oofff

terrible things, all wibble wobble and never really know if it's perfectly crimped. But of course infinitely better than a pair of pliers.

 

[SUNRAY]

Those crimps are fine. I’ve fitted thousands of them.

Two things that may be a problem.

1. Are you using the correct sized crimp? They are colour coded for the size of wire you’re using. If you’re trying to crimp a yellow crimp onto a 1.5mm² wire you’ll struggle to crimp it tight enough to make a sound connection.

2. You need to use a proper ratchet crimper such as https://www.screwfix.com/p/crimping-tool-9/3137v

I'm not knocking the linked product but personally I buy better quality crimpers in the region of £50 upwards but having said that as a panel builder where 1000 crimps a day is totally likely the difference is very soom apparent. Additionally they tend to stay in calibration longer.

 

[RF Lighting]

I'm not knocking the linked product but personally I buy better quality crimpers in the region of £50 upwards but having said that as a panel builder where 1000 crimps a day is totally likely the difference is very soom apparent. Additionally they tend to stay in calibration longer.

I personally have better sets than the one in the link, but for a DIYer such as the op, they’re 1000 times better than squeeze and hope crimpers, yet not too prohibitively expensive.

 

[SUNRAY]

I personally have better sets than the one in the link, but for a DIYer such as the op, they’re 1000 times better than squeeze and hope crimpers, yet not too prohibitively expensive.

Yes I agree. As said I'm not knocking the product in the slightest, they are good value for money if being used for only a handful of crimps a year. But I wish the 'flat plate' type [in Rockys post] could vanish off the face of the earth though, they make a horrible mess of the terminals.

 

[john4703]

personally I buy better quality crimpers in the region of £50 upwards but having said that as a panel builder where 1000 crimps a day is totally likely the difference is very soon apparent. Additionally they tend to stay in calibration longer.

Can you post a link to the sort that you use?

 

[ericmark]

Mine look like this

rated 10 - 120 mm, the scale on the side

is rather approximate, and it is really down to user to realise when not enough pressure exerted, the problem with the smaller size this

is for non insulated and looks very like the ones used for insulated crimps. This

also for non insulated and designed to curl over the tags oddly they can cost more than the insulated type, down to how many made. I know the ones shown are for uninsulated as it says so on the web site, but looking at the picture it would be hard to tell.