[RE-wrenches] Power Crimper and Stripper Recommendations and Questions

[Jason Szumlanski]

Maybe it's the lugs I am using, but even when I VERY carefully strip 4/0
fine stranded cable, it is very difficult to get all strands into the lugs.
I don't think a mechanical stripper would be workable, but maybe I'm doing
something wrong.

I gave up on Magna Lugs in favor of the flared lugs from PV-Cables.com.

I am watching with interest about feedback on the Milwaukee crimpers. I
like expensive tools, but I'm having a hard time justifying this one. My
local battery store has a manual bench mounted crimper that works wonders
and they let me use it for free as long as I buy something there. I keep
forgetting to get the model number on it because I might buy one to clamp
to my bumper for making cables when necessary.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208


On Tue, Oct 22, 2024 at 2:49 PM Sam Haraldson via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Wrenches,
>
> We are embarking on a project in November that has enough battery cable
> and terminal crimps to justify researching and buying power tools specific
> to the task.  If other Wrenches have product recommendations I'll take
> them.  The battery wire we've spec'd is 4/0 copper (UL 1283 / MTW / THW).
>
> For the stripper should I be looking for a stripper that works for copper "THHN
> / XHHW" or "RHW / RHH / USE"?  Logic would suggest THHN but I don't know
> enough about the individual properties of these wire types to understand
> the pros and cons of how well it will strip the wire given the different
> insulating jacket thicknesses.
>
> So far in my initial research I have only found crimpers that are
> lineman-specific and haven't dived into the realm of automotive tools so
> any direction that folks could throw my way along this avenue will also be
> appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
> Sam
>
> [image: OnSite Energy]
> <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onsiteenergyinc.com/&source=gmail-html&ust=1677085494759000&usg=AOvVaw2NN36GoM1sjnS4RdC8Svt->
>
> SAM HARALDSON
> Operations Specialist
> (406) 551-6135
> 1515 N. Rouse Ave Bozeman, MT 59715
> Locally owned and operated since 2012
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