Battery cable crimpers

[DanTribe]

I need to make up several 25mm2 battery cables and it will be easier to do it on the boat rather than going backwards & forwards to an electrician.
Has anyone used the Draper 64335 crimper? basically a glorified punch that you hit with a hammer. I like the idea of it's simplicity, little to go wrong.
Would I be better off going for one of the hydraulic types.

 

[Sandyman]

As you say little to go wrong. Own one and used many times. Simple & easy to use. Dont be afraid of it & give it a good wack with something the size of a lump hammer.

 

[adwuk]

I've got one of the hydraulic ones. Very easy to do in a confined space, and did a nice neat job. I cut the first test one to see how tight the crimp was - result was solid copper. Wouldn't have wanted to try and whack anything with a lump hammer lying on my back in the forepeak!

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Looks mighty fine for the task, I would only use a hammer with it if there was no chance of a vice. The only reason I would use hydraulic over this and a vice is portability.

 

[duncan99210]

As you say little to go wrong. Own one and used many times. Simple & easy to use. Dont be afraid of it & give it a good wack with something the size of a lump hammer.

Plus another one. It was cheap to buy, easy to use and fits into the tool box on the boat easily. I've completely redone all of my battery wiring over the past couple of seasons and it's produced first class crimps on a variety of cable sizes. The only downside is the one I have has a "+" symbol on the head of the crimper: ideally I'd have liked a "-" one as well....

 

[duncan99210]

As you say little to go wrong. Own one and used many times. Simple & easy to use. Dont be afraid of it & give it a good wack with something the size of a lump hammer.

Plus another one. It was cheap to buy, easy to use and fits into the tool box on the boat easily. I've completely redone all of my battery wiring over the past couple of seasons and it's produced first class crimps on a variety of cable sizes. The only downside is the one I have has a "+" symbol on the head of the crimper: ideally I'd have liked a "-" one as well....

 

[Poey50]

I spent last weekend replacing all the batteries and high current cabling and adding fuses (the boat had no fuse on any high current cables!), switches and installing an alternator to battery charger. This was invaluable ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydraulic...561877?hash=item33bdcb7d95:g:Cb0AAOSwgZ1XvFmO

Cutting 50mm2 cable was less fun ... in the end I settled on using a Dremel cutting disc with both sides of the cut held together with small zip ties. Quite a satisfying weekend.

 

[Malish]

A bit crude for my taste - I use one of these
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/174/battery-terminal-hexagonal-crimp-tool
A little more pricy but consistently gives a good crimp

 

[DanTribe]

Thanks for all your responses.
I've decided to go for a hydraulic one.
The Draper looks like a good bit of kit but the thought of bashing away with a big hammer on a boat without a firm base is probably not a good idea.

 

[Poey50]

A bit crude for my taste - I use one of these
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/174/battery-terminal-hexagonal-crimp-tool
A little more pricy but consistently gives a good crimp

The only crude thing aboard was me (I had a couple of bad moments). The eBay crimper was faultless.

 

[Aurai]

Should

Anyone wish to borrow my own hydraulic crimper, ex engineering for generator sets, with stainless steel dies, feel free to ask. It is heavy so collection only and the crimper is based in Hoo, Kent. The package is excellent and produces perfect crimps each time. Best not forget the lugs to size and the Heatshrink to make quality connections. Thanks

 

[Stavvy]

Electrical wholesalers often hire hydraulic crimpers, might be worth a phone call

 

[duncan99210]

Thanks for all your responses.
I've decided to go for a hydraulic one.
The Draper looks like a good bit of kit but the thought of bashing away with a big hammer on a boat without a firm base is probably not a good idea.

I use a lump of timber stood on a bit of 15mm plywood. Works well, no damage to the deck.

 

[Yngmar]

Last time I needed to crimp 75mm² wire I got one of these cheap hydraulic crimpers. It's not amazing quality, but works well enough, is compact and comes in a transport box.

As for cutting big wires, I tried a saw with a fine metal blade and that pulled strands out of the wire. Then I remembered the emergency rigging cutter that lives well oiled in a box strapped to the lazarette lid - it appreciated the rare workout and made a clean cut.

 

[nigelmercier]

... Would I be better off going for one of the hydraulic types.

Obviously.

 

[savageseadog]

Thanks for all your responses.
I've decided to go for a hydraulic one.
The Draper looks like a good bit of kit but the thought of bashing away with a big hammer on a boat without a firm base is probably not a good idea.

Agree. It's probably OK when used on a solid workbench or steel block on the ground. It's a mystery to me why anyone would risk inferior terminations on battery terminals for the sake of a few quid. The boat and crew's safety is critically dependent on the electrics being in good order. Hire or borrow a good quality crimper.

 

[Cantata]

Hire one, unless you plan doing more of this in the future. When I rewired my boat I prepared all the cables and hired the tool for one day. Cost about 10 quid I think.
Had I bought one instead, I would never have used it since.