[RE-wrenches] Ferrules for large fine-stranded wire.

[Kirk Herander]

IMO, any OEM that recommends a ferrule does not use fine-strand rated
compression lugs in their equipment.

Rated lugs do exist, they just don’t seem to be spec’ed by OEMs.

I don’t like ferrules on battery cable and always use fine-stranded
compression PDBs when building custom battery combiners.



*Kirk Herander / **kirkh at vermont.solar <kirkh at vermont.solar>*

*Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC*

*Celebrating our 34st Anniversary 1991-2025!!*

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

802.559.1225


On Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> From my memory none of the compression lug style are rated for fine stand,
> at least without a ferrule.
>
> Because strands can get into the threads and bind, making it seam like its
> tight but its not.
>
> But I could be wrong
>
>
> On Sep 3, 2025, at 2:39 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> I've got to ask: Are none of the lugs on these Chinese inverters approved
> for fine strand cable?  I just have not had a problem with that, but I've
> mostly used Magnum, Midnite, and Outback equipment over the years.   What
> were the lugs on the old Trace DC 250 boxes?  Were they fine strand rated?
> They sure were tough to get 4/0 into, as William mentioned.
>
> Ray
> Remote Solar
> On 9/3/2025 12:57 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> William,
>
> If the only reason the ferrule wouldn't fit after using the hex crimper
> was the ridge left where the dies meet, you could rotate the cable 120
> degrees and crimp the ferrule again.
>
> I doubt that the indenter crimper will do a decent job with large ferrules.
>
> I do like your thin piece of copper solution. Not UL approved but I dare
> say wrench approved.
> Kent Osterberg
> Blue Mountain Solar
>
>
> On 9/2/2025 8:55 PM, William Miller via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> Friends:
>
>
> Thank you for all of your input on this question.  I feel it only right I
> report back how this turned out
>
>
> I tried a crimper like this:
>
>
>
>
>
> It left a jagged ridge on both sides of the ferrule where the dies met.
>
>
> The crimper below was suggested but I have not tried it:
>
> This was suggested but I have not tried it either:
>
>
>
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