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Ratchet Crimper 10 AWG?

Omkar

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Feb 21, 2022
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We are having issues with the Wirefy Ratchet Crimper when using 10 AWG wire. The crimp won't complete, so having to use the release mechanism to open the jaws. We have adjusted the crimp force, but then the crimp is not adequate. What crimper have you had success with on vinyl or nylon terminals and barrel connectors for 10 GA wire?

Thank you!
 
We are having issues with the Wirefy Ratchet Crimper when using 10 AWG wire. The crimp won't complete, so having to use the release mechanism to open the jaws. We have adjusted the crimp force, but then the crimp is not adequate. What crimper have you had success with on vinyl or nylon terminals and barrel connectors for 10 GA wire?

Thank you!
I would try returning it for another one. I have the same crimper, and I use it to crimp 10 awg all the time. Maybe yours is defective.
 
Consider just skipping insulated terminals. Much better crimp on bare metal. Add heat shrink if strain relief, insulation, or sealed connection is needed.
 
I have a crimper that says it does 10 awg and if you remove the plastic, or whatever, and jump up and down on the handle it will work. ;)
If you have a gorilla buddy you can call, that's another option.
 
I have a crimper that says it does 10 awg and if you remove the plastic, or whatever, and jump up and down on the handle it will work. ;)
If you have a gorilla buddy you can call, that's another option.
Sounds like you have had issues as well...
 
I also generally use the Wirefy brand heat shrink connectors, it doesn't like the big plastic (not heat shrink) yellow ones from home Depot or Lowe's.

I'm also what some people would call a "gorilla buddy", so it's totally possible that I'm just able to wrench the crimpers down really hard.
 
I'm also what some people would call a "gorilla buddy", so it's totally possible that I'm just able to wrench the crimpers down really hard.

Will crimp for beer?
beer.gif
 
Sounds like you have had issues as well...
Yep, could not get a 10 awg to crimp at all with craplastic shrink tube attached to crimp ring. I cut off the craplastic and wished I was 50 again. Strained and struggled, over and over and finally got it to crimp - the wrong way. I indented the seam, SHEESH. ?

Said screw it and bought this:

Now I can do all my crimps correctly without swearing. ?
 
I have a crimper for heat shrink terminals. it will not work properly on insulated terminals. I have crimpers for insulated terminals. They don't work well on heat shrink terminals. I assume you are using the right die. You need better quality terminals.
 
Am I the only one here welding his terminals? ?

I am welding everything 12 AWG and above (if not using ferrules) and for the rest, no need to use a 10 ton hydraulic crimper…. For these, I have a cheap crimper (that I will probably upgrade now thanks to this post ?)

56C22120-F677-4CF3-ADF8-6CEA2B5698DF.jpeg
For the smaller wires, I was using heat shrink terminals but after breaking a few (a lot) of them, I switched to bare metal terminals with heat shrink tubing…
 
My personal number one best crimper ever for 10awg and smaller. It says it's for non insulated terminals but it works fine on insulated as well, it's all in the technique. FWIW I hate insulated terminals unless they're the shrink type.

Thomas & Betts WT111M
Yep, what Paul said.(y)
I bought a crap chinese crimper, bought the nice TEMCo and screwed around with trying to crimp 10 awg insulated. Pain in the ass.
Dug my Thomas & Betts WT111M crimpers out and BAM. Even with fiddling around, I was crimped perfectly in 30 seconds. Insulation 100% intact.

My crimpers have a history. I inherited them from my father. He cut a hot wire at work and had to get a new pair. Electricians can't be seen with holes in cutting blades :ROFLMAO: but their children can. 30 years later they work just like new, at least for crimping AND BONUS I can strip 18 awg. WT-111-M mine.png
 
I might be doing something wrong, but these or anything like it available in any autoparts, department, or hardware store have worked fine for me:

1646496094029.png
I only use these for low amperage connections. Like for my USB charging plugs. If I have 3000 watts of power flowing through the wires, I removed the insulation crimped and used heat shrink as suggested.
 
Yep, what Paul said.(y)
I bought a crap chinese crimper, bought the nice TEMCo and screwed around with trying to crimp 10 awg insulated. Pain in the ass.
Dug my Thomas & Betts WT111M crimpers out and BAM. Even with fiddling around, I was crimped perfectly in 30 seconds. Insulation 100% intact.

My crimpers have a history. I inherited them from my father. He cut a hot wire at work and had to get a new pair. Electricians can't be seen with holes in cutting blades :ROFLMAO: but their children can. 30 years later they work just like new, at least for crimping AND BONUS I can strip 18 awg.
Mine have history too. After 21 years with the power company, mine came home with me when I retired. ?
 
I might be doing something wrong, but these or anything like it available in any autoparts, department, or hardware store have worked fine for me:

View attachment 86188
I only use these for low amperage connections. Like for my USB charging plugs. If I have 3000 watts of power flowing through the wires, I removed the insulation crimped and used heat shrink as suggested.
I use have a pair of these in my "go-bag" for work, they were cheap, and work for 95% of all the crimps I need to do. The ratcheting crimpers are nice for odd types of connections (power pole, MC40, etc), but the simple ones are great for just about everything else.

Klein Tools 1001 Multi Tool, Wire Stripper, Wire Cutters, Crimper Tool for 8-22 AWG, Multi-Purpose Electrician Tool is 8.5-Inch Long https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVLUR2/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_AD9ZT263YK2TETD9FBXG
 
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