Ferrule Crimper vs. MC4?

[BoonieBasher]

I have the Victron IP22 on the way, watched a couple videos and it's said the charger takes a ferrule connection. Of course, I don't have 'ferrule' crimper.
Just got an MC4 crimper and have a couple standard butt connector crimpers, Anderson, etc.

I'm not finding any pre-made DC cables with ring on one end and ferrule on the other. ??
Would much prefer a one-time purchase instead of a new tool that I'll use once.
Since I don't yet have the charger, I don't know if there are alternate methods to connect safely.

TIA

 

[LakeHouse]

have a couple standard butt connector crimpers

This would work, you just need to crimp the ferrule enough that it stays in place, and the connector should tighten down on it to deform it further.
But I'd suggest that you may want to buy a ferrule crimper anyway. $25 on amazon for a crimper and 1000 ferrules. Once you have one of these, you'll never use a bare stranded wire again. They're soooo much easier to work with if you install a ferrule.

 

[Drizzt321]

Very much agree with LakeHouse, ferrule crimper for up to ~12-10, maybe 7, awg are pretty cheap and often will come with a pack of ferrules in similar sizes. Definitely buy one, it's just really handy for anything you end up having those small screw down terminals even.

 

[chamilun]

I tried it a couple times and no bueno.

bite the bullet and order a ferrule crimper off amazon. save your wrist and your sanity

 

[A.Justice]

I used bare copper on my first build, until a single strand came loose and shorted out the terminals on my SCC. No damage, but lots of sparks. Once I got a ferrule crimper (actually, I got a set of crimping handles and different heads for them, but it was still relatively inexpensive for what it is), and some ferrules, I never use bare wire on anything. Even at work, some of the equipment that I install doesn't require ferrules, but I use my personal stash just because it's so much easier / better.

Good crimpers are on my list of absolute minimum essentials for setting up anything with wires, you just can't do a consistently good job without them. it's also a tool that should last a lifetime, and I guarantee that you'll find other uses for it, especially the one with the changeable heads.

Also, if you find a cool electrician / electrical company (or a pool guy ), most of them will have quality ferrules and crimpers. If somebody approached me at work asking me to crimp a few wires for them, I'd probably do it for free if you were doing something cool. Auto shops that work a lot with car stereos / electrical also have that kind of stuff too, and probably RV repair / dealers.

 

[Hungfish]

@A.Justice @chamilun @LakeHouse
can you post the link to your crimper please ?
and amazon ferrules are working good for you ? i heard of recommendations to stay with high qualify ferrules. @robbob2112 posted a guide

Post in thread 'Robbob2112 Answer thread'

May 24, 2024

#6 - Ferrule usage

When to use ferrules and when not to use them. This is sometimes hotly debated depending on the type of terminal block

Use them when -
The screw terminal just has the screw directly contacting the wire and the wire is fine stranded.
When the mfg calls for them

When not to use them -
On stranded THHN when the screw pushes on the wires directly unless the mfg calls for it
when the mfg says NO - like the victron MPPT
In any sort of spring push connection like wego unless they are called for
on any sort of solid wire.

Optional -
When the screw pushes down a plate that...

• robbob2112

 

[chamilun]

I bought this kit. there are multiple listings of essentially the same one. but it also comes with ferrules in a variety of gauges

Amazon.com

 

[A.Justice]

Wirefy crimping tool for insulated connectors.

That same listing also has the additional crimping heads. There's better ones available, but not for the price.

Amazon.com

 

[42OhmsPA]

Here's the kit I've been using.
Had to purchase more 10AWG ferrules because I used all of the ones in the kit up.

 

[HRTKD]

All my ferrule supplies and the high end ferrule crimper come from FerrulesDirect.com.

The first crimper die I got for 6 awg was a trapezoidal crimper. It worked but the crimps weren't always well formed. Operator error? I don't know. I'm now working with this die for 8+ awg. Trapezoidal isn't ideal in my opinion.

For 10 awg and smaller I use this square crimper from Pro'sKit. I am very happy with it. When I need a round crimp I use this. The form is actually hexagonal but it's close enough to round. There aren't many terminals that need a round crimp. The terminals in my Victron Cerbo GX do use round crimps and this crimper has come in handy for that. But geez it's expensive.

 

[LakeHouse]

@A.Justice @chamilun @LakeHouse
can you post the link to your crimper please ?
and amazon ferrules are working good for you ? i heard of recommendations to stay with high qualify ferrules. @robbob2112 posted a guide

Post in thread 'Robbob2112 Answer thread'

May 24, 2024

#6 - Ferrule usage

When to use ferrules and when not to use them. This is sometimes hotly debated depending on the type of terminal block

Use them when -
The screw terminal just has the screw directly contacting the wire and the wire is fine stranded.
When the mfg calls for them

When not to use them -
On stranded THHN when the screw pushes on the wires directly unless the mfg calls for it
when the mfg says NO - like the victron MPPT
In any sort of spring push connection like wego unless they are called for
on any sort of solid wire.

Optional -
When the screw pushes down a plate that...

• robbob2112

It's no longer available (in Canada, at least), but this is the one I've been using:




I'm guessing that any of the nonsense-word brands currently available on Amazon will be more or less the same.

I'm normally all for the high-end tools, but for 8ga and smaller, this thing has been fantastic.

 

[AnarchyJet]

Do you have a soldering iron? Could always tin the ends.