Crimper Force

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GPX

.
Mar 28, 2012
1
Coronado 15 Our Driveway
I recently read the Crimper shoot-out (great article) and it seems to me the two critical specs on a crimper are the crimping force and the crimp die quality (Machined & hardened or mild stamped steel). This seems so basic, but few if any manufacturers list their crimp force (unbelievable considering your buying a tool to apply force).

Has any one come across any info or listings for crimpers that list their crimp force? (I did find one for an AMP ratchet model that was listed at 1.5 tons).
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
GPX said:
I recently read the Crimper shoot-out (great article) and it seems to me the two critical specs on a crimper are the crimping force and the crimp die quality (Machined & hardened or mild stamped steel). This seems so basic, but few if any manufacturers list their crimp force (unbelievable considering your buying a tool to apply force).

Has any one come across any info or listings for crimpers that list their crimp force? (I did find one for an AMP ratchet model that was listed at 1.5 tons).
Click to expand
It is impossible to supply a crimp force to the terminal since terminals vary in quality & dimensions as does wire. SAE wire, AWG wire, X-brand terminals Y brand terminals etc.. The best bet is to buy a quality tool and then buy quality terminals. I generally buy only FTZ or AMP terminals and use AMP crimp tools.. I know they work because I have tested them..

For example my crimp tools only produce an aerospace certified crimp if used with AMP PIDG terminals. I know from testing that they exceed both Mil-Spec and Aerospace requirements when used with FTZ as well but they would never get a "certificate" for use in a plane if FTZ terminals were used.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,969
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Maine Sail said:
It is impossible to supply a crimp force to the terminal since terminals vary in quality & dimensions as does wire. SAE wire, AWG wire, X-brand terminals Y brand terminals etc.. The best bet is to buy a quality tool and then buy quality terminals. I generally buy only FTZ or AMP terminals and use AMP crimp tools.. I know they work because I have tested them..

For example my crimp tools only produce an aerospace certified crimp if used with AMP PIDG terminals. I know from testing that they exceed both Mil-Spec and Aerospace requirements when used with FTZ as well but they would never get a "certificate" for use in a plane if FTZ terminals were used.
Click to expand
To add a bit more....

For non-ratchet crimpers this is meaningless; depends on the hands. Mine are arthritic.

For ratchet crimpers, in addition to MS's comments above, they must be adjusted to match the wire and terminals; this procedure is specified, for example, in NASA conection procedures. However, I can testify a given crimper gives differing results with differing terminals, as MS noted. I can also come down to hand strength, if the setting goes beyond what the worker can muster.

For most of us, the practical test is to crimp a ring terminal, clamp it in a vice and pull. If the wire breaks away from the crimp, good. If it breaks at the terminal, it should be a break, not a pull-out. Fast and easily done with every new batch of wire or terminals. Conections that pass this simple test do not fail.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
thinwater said:
To add a bit more....

For non-ratchet crimpers this is meaningless; depends on the hands. Mine are arthritic.

For ratchet crimpers, in addition to MS's comments above, they must be adjusted to match the wire and terminals; this procedure is specified, for example, in NASA conection procedures. However, I can testify a given crimper gives differing results with differing terminals, as MS noted. I can also come down to hand strength, if the setting goes beyond what the worker can muster.

For most of us, the practical test is to crimp a ring terminal, clamp it in a vice and pull. If the wire breaks away from the crimp, good. If it breaks at the terminal, it should be a break, not a pull-out. Fast and easily done with every new batch of wire or terminals. Conections that pass this simple test do not fail.
Click to expand
Actually in larger sizes the wires will often pull out, not break, but should do so at above the minimum ABYC load standards. Personally I consider the ABYC strain ratings HORRIBLE & rather PATHETIC. You could not pay me to use a tool on a daily basis that only hit the ABYC minimum.:doh:

I shoot for Mil-Spec. The difference between the Ancor Ratchet crimper and my AMP crimper is well over 60 pounds difference in pull-out force and the price is also reflective..... :eek: The AMP repeatably hits right around 192-193 pounds, over and over and over, while the Ancor is not as "repeatable" and is under 130 pounds on the same wire, same terminal. Some of my non ratcheting crimp tools pull out at under 3 - 29 pounds...

For reference:

Crimper Shoot Out (LINK)
 
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