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ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - edlithgow

Don't seem to get very good results with my cheapo combo wire stripper and crimping tool.

My breakout for the fan relay failed on the way to the 6-monthly Taiwan vehicle inspection, with typical Sod's Law timing, and I had to wire the fan permanently on. The inspection people either didn't notice this or didn't think it was any of their business (I don't THINK it should be a UK MOT fail either), so it didn't prevent a pass, while boiling over during inspection would have.

Probably be similar types available here, and some of the same brands. The better quality tools here tend to be Japanese, but some Taiwan stuff is pretty good.

And/or I could get a wee gas pen torch and reinforce with solder, cutting the plastic off the connector first (either before or after crimping?)

ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - Oli rag

You need a ratchet crimp tool to get a decent crimp, they’re not expensive.

ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - Crickleymal

What Oli Rag said. You can buy decent ones from RS Components or CPC (a subsidiary of Darnell Electronics). CPC will be cheaper.

ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - edlithgow

Thanks both. When I have a bit of time I'll use the RS and CPC online catalogues and compare them with local offerings.

ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - focussed

Yes I've had a problem with insulated crimp connectors when I crimped them with an apparently decent AMP plier-type crimper on our robot lawn mower guide loop wires.

Cut and stripped the wires back, dug out my ratchet crimper and re-crimped new connectors, got rid of the problem. Surprised that my old AMP crimper didn't do the business, I've used it for more years than I care to remember.

AMP tags used to be the only available industrial crimp connectors.

I can't remember where I got the ratchet crimper from but it came with a full set of dies to crimp any type of connector - probably Amazon uk or fr.

ANY - Crimping Tool Recommendations? - edlithgow

Ordered one of these.

uk.farnell.com/klein-tools/1005/hand-crimp-tool-22...l

34 quid with free delivery and a months free trial of Amazon Prime (which I'll cancel after I've watched The Grand Tours)

This guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euq7Gv_0msw

reckons the Channellock equivalent is better cos the insulated terminal bit is on the outside so you don’t have to open it so far. Its also slightly cheaper, but I couldn't find one in stock.

I probably wouldn't use insulated connectors again anyway, since the insulations gets in the way, so I prefer to use shrink wrap instead.

Both US made. There must be UK, Far East etc alternatives but I didn't see any

Edited by edlithgow on 12/12/2022 at 19:36