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

[Jerry Shafer]

Wrenches,
If you are cutting fine stranded battery cable up to 4/0, a real cheap
solution is a PVC pipe cutter, they are ratcheting, sharp and very
inexpensive. I use a 36" manual crimper, l had a very nice hydrolic lever
pump 4 pin crimper but someone broke it and the manufacture refuses to
repair it. So manual is the way.
Fun times

On Wed, Oct 23, 2024, 5:39 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> My go-to is the Knipex Cable Cutter. It's a small handheld ratcheting
> cutter that fits nicely in my tool bag. Not cheap. Not cheap at all. But
> worth it.
>
> On Wed, Oct 23, 2024, 8:36 PM Chris Sparadeo <sparadeo.chris at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I’ve also noticed that the method of cutting the cable plays a big part
>> in how effectively it goes into the lug. When I use a bandsaw, loose jawed
>> cable cutters or even a really sharp circularity saw blade, strands get
>> slightly frayed and won’t fit properly. I’ve concluded that a long handled
>> and well tightened fine stranded cable cutter is the best option. It
>> compresses the cable from all sides and compresses circumference so it’s
>> less of an uphill battle when stripping and shoving.
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 6:01 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I use that Greenlee stripper (buta cheap knockoff) sometimes when using
>>> Allan's suggested double radial cut method, and it works well, but you have
>>> to make sure the depth adjustment is set properly for the cable you are
>>> using. With practice it can make nice cuts around the circumference.
>>>
>>> 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 Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 5:22 PM Sam Haraldson via RE-wrenches <
>>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks for the great discussion on this topic.  It's always a treat to
>>>> see the wide variety of preferences and knowledge this list offers.  I
>>>> contacted PV-Cables separately and Bryan had some good old school knowledge
>>>> to add that he said I could share here for posterity and those interested.
>>>>
>>>> *Hey Sam, *
>>>>
>>>> *Just getting back from lunch and saw the wrenches list.*
>>>>
>>>> *We build battery and inverter cables in house, one of our specialties
>>>> other than building PV Cable assemblies.*
>>>> *We use Hydraulic Crimping stations and strippers to build cables.*
>>>>
>>>> *I am not very familiar with the battery-operated tools.   *
>>>> *But I do have experience with the manual bench mount crimpers and
>>>> handheld crimpers.  We sell both that are specific for the Quick Cable lugs
>>>> we also sell.*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *The quick cable lugs are the best fit for both Cobra "X-flex" and the
>>>> Direct Wire "All-Flex" fine stranded cable.  *
>>>>
>>>> *For hand strippers, I am very old school and use these when in the
>>>> field building cables for friends and family. *
>>>> *https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/cable-stripper-1903*
>>>> <https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/cable-stripper-1903>
>>>> *But at work for our production builds,  we use table top strippers
>>>> that were designed for the battery cable we use.*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Feel free to share this if you would like on the wrenches list*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Bryan Norkunas *
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