I only use the Quick Cable Hex crimpers, yes there ARE different models but using the "industrial" models and rotating the crimp as stated in the directions, and using QC lugs I have never had a problem. I do ALOT of 2/0 & 4/0 cables. Page 69 of their catalog offers you selection of crimp tools & dies. I do not recommend the CUB. My $.02 On May 1, 2014, at 9:12 AM, Solar wrote:
> 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. > > Maybe a hammer and a long handle?! > > Thanks! > > > Jesse > RE-Power > > Sent from my iPhone > > On May 1, 2014, at 1:08 AM, Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > >> Here's all the battery lug crimpers I tried over the years in order of the >> best to worst connections they produced: >> <bdbagfhj.jpg> >> 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. >> 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. >> This crimper goes out on most jobs, as it fits in the bottom of the tool box. >> <fhibhicd.jpg> >> 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. >> 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. >> >> <fcafcjdi.jpg> >> 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. >> >> <bfdddceg.jpg> >> 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. >> >> 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. >> 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. >> 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. >> The heavy terminals some what negate the advantages of flex cable in the >> first place. >> R.Ray Walters >> CTO, Solarray, Inc >> Nabcep Certified PV Installer, >> Licensed Master Electrician >> Solar Design Engineer >> 303 505-8760 >> On 4/30/2014 7:33 PM, Solar wrote: >>> I'd love a battery crimper, but a little out of my price range. >>> >>> I think a hand crimper will do. >>> >>> Jesse >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Apr 30, 2014, at 1:42 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> hydraulic or long handle bog difference in price >>>> >>>> On Apr 30, 2014 8:32 AM, "Solar" <dahlso...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> 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. >>>> >>>> Suggestions? >>>> >>>> Thanks! >>>> >>>> Jesse >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>>> >>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> Change email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List-Archive: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out participant bios: >>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>>> >>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> Change email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List-Archive: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out participant bios: >>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > t...@swnl.net www.SWNL.net > Solarwinds Northernlights > Serving Mid Coast Maine & Northern California > 207-832-7574 Cl. 610-517-8401 > > Blair "TUMP" May > ******** MAINE'S CHARTER ******** > NABCEP "Certified PV Installer" > > ******** MAINE'S CHARTER ******** > Trace Xantrex "Certified" Dealer / Installer" >
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