<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>From what I'm hearing I think may go with a hammer crimper. Being able to crimp in a box might be handy, but it sounds like the quality of the crimps produced by the hammer crimper is where it's at. </div><div><br></div><div>Maybe a hammer and a long handle?! </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Jesse</div><div>RE-Power <br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On May 1, 2014, at 1:08 AM, Ray Walters <<a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Here's all the battery lug crimpers I
tried over the years in order of the best to worst connections
they produced:<br>
<bdbagfhj.jpg><br>
Yes, believe it or not: the venerable Hammer crimper makes
excellent connections. Its also Cheap, but its Slow, cumbersome,
and can't be used in a J box.<br>
The V and indent connection with the thin wall lugs makes the
ideal battery and DC connections. They look just like the crimps
from Outback, Trace, Midnite,etc. I've cut them open on a band
saw, and the fine strands are practically fused together into an
almost solid cross section of copper with no voids, but no tearing
of strands at the edges either.<br>
This crimper goes out on most jobs, as it fits in the bottom of
the tool box.<br>
<fhibhicd.jpg><br>
The Greenlee indentor crimper makes the same V crimp connection
as the hammer crimper, but is faster, and can be used up in a j
box. More expensive, and adjuster readings can't be counted on.
I tighten the adjuster until I can just pull the handle down with
putting some body weight into it, but not so much that I'm
standing on it or straining the tool. Depending on the cable and
lug combination, the setting may be 2 sizes smaller with thin wall
lugs.<br>
Overall, this is what we use most of the time. I found that this
set in a drill vice makes a good bench crimper, when you need to
do a batch of battery jumpers.<br>
<br>
<fcafcjdi.jpg><br>
I used this one for many years, also a V crimper, but has
different dies. Crimp quality was not as good, as the dies tore
into the lug some. Also changing the dies took time, and we once
lost one of the dies, and it took months to get a replacement.
Not adjustable for different lug and cable combos.<br>
<br>
<bfdddceg.jpg><br>
The "UL" Hex type crimper that you will find at regular electrical
supply houses. Quite expensive, but I am not a fan. The dies
bend slightly under pressure and so the hex crimps are not aligned
with each other. The dies tear the lugs, leaving sharp edges that
can tear heat shrink, and there is no adjustment available to
account for different cable and lug combinations. <br>
We have X flex from Cobra, MTW from Quick Cable, and some DLO
from another supplier. All are UL listed 4/0 and all somewhat
different in diam. and how the strands crush. I have had a
connection failure with this tool, and cutting through a cross
section of the lug was not as solid a crimp as the V type. I
removed this tool from our shop, to avoid mistakes.<br>
I'm sure with regular Class B stranded THHN, and the heavy wall,
color coded lugs, that this is a good tool, but for battery
connections, it does not work as well with thin wall lugs.<br>
Finally, I do not recommend the heavy wall, long barrel lugs on
batteries. The square lug end is just too big and thick, and
can't bolt to battery terminals in some cases. We have had to
grind away a corner for instance to have the heavy wall lugs land
on an battery Flag terminal. <br>
The heavy terminals some what negate the advantages of flex cable
in the first place.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
On 4/30/2014 7:33 PM, Solar wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:F743366F-0609-47FA-AA72-4D955C509A54@gmail.com" type="cite">
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<div>I'd love a battery crimper, but a little out of my price
range. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think a hand crimper will do. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Jesse<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone</div>
<div><br>
On Apr 30, 2014, at 1:42 PM, Jerry Shafer <<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jerrysgarage01@gmail.com">jerrysgarage01@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p dir="ltr">hydraulic or long handle bog difference in price
</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Apr 30, 2014 8:32 AM, "Solar" <<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:dahlsolar@gmail.com">dahlsolar@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br type="attribution">
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Hello all,<br>
<br>
I am looking for recommendations for a battery cable
crimper. I'd love to get one with the dies built in, but
the ones I've looked at are only for non-fine strand wire.<br>
<br>
Suggestions?<br>
<br>
Thanks!<br>
<br>
Jesse<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone<br>
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