Not interested in the hammer style crimpers. The crimpers being discussed here either use leverage or hydraulics.I have a TemCo hammer crimper, use a 3-pound hammer on a concrete floor, and get what seem to be mechanically good crimps. But if a crimp could be "overdone" with this method then I'm willing to use something that gauges the crimp depth, like the tools above. (My impression is that you can't reasonably over-whack a properly-sized lug and wire, assuming you're not splitting the lug, but just checking.)
I'm planning to buy the TEMCo hydraulic crimper (model TH0005-11, that also does MCM sizes, just in case). I need to buy lugs no matter where they come from. What's the chance that the lugs from TEMCo will work better with their crimper than other brands of lugs?
Do you ever find yourself wishing you had the 11 ton one? Or is the one you have good? I'm deciding between the TH0006 like yours, and the TH0005 Version 2.0 which they just introduced. The TH0005 does not include a 12ga die, which would be nice if it did but not sure how necessary that is because I'm a newb and I'm learning.I got this one because 12awg to 2/0 fit my needs. If you need 4/0 there are others that handle that (but start at ~8awg).
Seems high quality from at 2 dozen crimps i have done.
TEMCo Hydraulic Cable Lug Crimper TH0006-5 US TON 12 AWG to 00 (2/0) Electrical Terminal Cable Wire Tool Kit 5 YEAR WARRANTY https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJXHX1K/
No, this seems able to smash anything pretty easily.Do you ever find yourself wishing you had the 11 ton one?
@HRTKD and @MisterSandals they do look like really good quality. Better than what's on Will's site. I just need to decide if I want the TH0005 or 6. The 5 has more compression power and more dies, but goes to 10awg (Includes 32 Die Sets (10 AWG - 600 MCM) vs 12awg (12 AWG to 00 MCM (2/0). Not sure how much either of those specs matter. I think the large end is plenty, but might be nice to have 12.No, this seems able to smash anything pretty easily.
So you're saying your other wires are larger than 12?The only 12 gauge wire in my entire system is coming directly off my solar panels and has MC4 connectors on the end.
I do plan on doing this. I want to make a couple of panel extension cables to go from foldable solar panels to a portable power station. I don't have a crimper yet but maybe will get this one. Which one do you have?If you're going to make MC4 connections, be sure you have an MC4 crimper
We never got really good crimps with the hammer type tool. 1500A discharge on a electric go-cart sorts out the bad crimps really fast.I have a TemCo hammer crimper, use a 3-pound hammer on a concrete floor, and get what seem to be mechanically good crimps. But if a crimp could be "overdone" with this method then I'm willing to use something that gauges the crimp depth, like the tools above. (My impression is that you can't reasonably over-whack a properly-sized lug and wire, assuming you're not splitting the lug, but just checking.)
You speak of hydraulic ones, but the ones you linked are lever action. As for me, I’d prefer whichever ones are least hard on my hands when using them but that also perform excellent crimps.Everybody has the Chinese hydraulic crimp tools with changable dies for around $60. Color me skeptical, but I wonder how well these actually work.
I was reseaching crimpers and found this Temco crimp tool. No dies, you dial in the desired amount of crimp to suit your particular crimp lug and wire diameter. I love the video about Tempco's return/repair policy too. Has anyone used one of these? Do they work and hold up?
They have a couple of other heavier duty models if you need to deal with bigger lugs than 0000.
TEMCo TH0020 Lug Crimper Tool for 10 AWG - 400 MCM wire lugs- DIELESS Indent Electrical Battery Terminal Cable Wire - - Amazon.com
TEMCo TH0020 Lug Crimper Tool for 10 AWG - 400 MCM wire lugs- DIELESS Indent Electrical Battery Terminal Cable Wire - - Amazon.comwww.amazon.com
The crimp quality looks excellent.
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You speak of hydraulic ones, but the ones you linked are lever action. As for me, I’d prefer whichever ones are least hard on my hands when using them but that also perform excellent crimps.