Recommend me some nice thick copper battery/power lugs

[Moodysailor]

I am sitting next to a pile of crimps that did not work. On the smaller "Red" (well more pink for the Adhesive Heat Shrink ones) my hit rate yesterday was around 30% failures.

On the larger ones the large lever crimp I have does a good job if I can align it all and keep the wire pushed in. Sometimes easier said than done.

One area I have failed to crimp is Anderson SB175 connectors. I solder those. This is mostly due to the tool I have been too weak to crush the very heavy gauge Anderson SB175 connectors.

I am careful on the amount of exposed wire (a few mm) and heatshrink goes over the top.

@Moodysailor I like your point on leaving service length - this is something I have omitted in the past and now regret.

Also with my past experience of an LA Battery cooking I am now removing all connections from the batteries and having some buss bars near them for those "Direct to battery" devices (VHF/Bilgepump/Chargers). I am to have the batteries on Anderson connectors.

Ah yes - heatshrink connectors - the enemy of the ratchet crimper.

I have to be honest and say that I retired my ratchet crimper for a fully manual one years ago, and have never looked back. My favourite tools are my Snap-On wire stripper, and electrical pliers. My Snap-On one are re-braded klein that can be bought off Amazon. Ratchet tools are better for most insulated terminals if you don't have the 'feel' for getting a consistent crimp, but these work brilliantly on heatshrink terminals: Klein

Definitely a good idea with the busbar near the battery - you can also get a fused one for permanent loads (bilge pump, radio memory, etc). Personally I wouldn't bother with an Anderson connector for the batteries, an ANL fuse and the isolator switch are enough for me.

 

[gregcope]

@Moodysailor that is good info. I have found it hard with the Adhesive Lined ones as the crimps damage the heat shrink.

I have swapped out the jaws and used the larger settings (ie red in a yellow). They pass the "JGP test" and the heatshrink is not damaged and also 100% success rate.

 

[gregcope]

For those interested this is my larger crimper. Its obviously a copy of the Klauke one after the post here that showed the original

Ebay: 6 - 50 mm² Anderson Plug Crimp Crimping Tool Battery Cable Lug Hex Crimper

£18.99 at time of posting (in the UK).

I find it works well. It can leave a "Bur" but I just move the cable/lug round 90deg or so, so that the burs are now vertical and crimp again to flatten them. With practice is makes some nice looking crimps, that if I cut them up are very tight and look good.

 

[sarabande]

GC, does your Klauke copy look like this at the dies, or has someone put the die in wrong in the picture ?

Here's the original

 

[gregcope]

Here is a picture of mine on the 6mm setting.

The dies are not interchangeable. Neither are they precise in their location and care is needed to ensure they align.