I'm trying to go through the process of installing the windlass foot switch that I've asked about before. One issue will be this: I haven't seen it yet, but I'm told there is a heavy duty, battery-cable size wire that goes from the power source. I'll have to be connecting this to the new solenoid. If this wire doesn't have a lug on the end, then I'll have to put one on. The last time I crimped a lug onto a wire, I took it out to my dock, rested it on the concrete, and hit the crimper with a hammer. However, if the wire is up inside the boat, I can't do this. Can I crimp it by simply tightening a c-clamp on the lug, squeezing it down?
crimping a lug
- Thread starter John
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I don't believe so, but a nicropress tool works pretty well if you don't have a standard crimping tool.
Have fun
Joe S
Have fun
Joe S
Why not try the c-clamp and see if it works instead of settling on our opinion. The size of the clamp would make a difference. Can you pull the wires back enough that you can reach the dock? I did many lugs on my projects and found if you get a stout piece of lumber on your lap you can smack that crimper sufficiently. Just done miss.
If I miss...
and end up speaking in a high, squeeky voice, then my wife is going to be really mad at you!
I can't recall who but someone recently posed an ingenious suggestion to simply cut the proper sized nut in half and use it on the connector while compressing the combination with whatever you can use. Works as well as a $100 crimper you may never use again.
Split nut, put around lug, squeeze in a vise. Check previous posts for other ideas.
John
John,
At a bare minimum you'll want one of the cheap hammer lug crimpers like the one on this page. Crimper (link) They range in price & quality from about $20.00 to $35.00.
You're BEST DEAL is going to be to measure the stud sizes needed, gauge of wire and length and have Genuine Dealz.com make the cables for you. They only charge $1.00 per crimp and their wire prices are very hard to beat!!!
I have personally cut open crimps made in a vice and they are not properly cold formed and still showing individual wire strands. High amperage cable is no place to cut corners and possibly create unwanted resistance.
This is what a properly cold formed lug looks like when cut open then polished to expose any pin holes or visual voids. As you can see the lug and wire visually become one large solid mass of copper.
John,
At a bare minimum you'll want one of the cheap hammer lug crimpers like the one on this page. Crimper (link) They range in price & quality from about $20.00 to $35.00.
You're BEST DEAL is going to be to measure the stud sizes needed, gauge of wire and length and have Genuine Dealz.com make the cables for you. They only charge $1.00 per crimp and their wire prices are very hard to beat!!!
I have personally cut open crimps made in a vice and they are not properly cold formed and still showing individual wire strands. High amperage cable is no place to cut corners and possibly create unwanted resistance.
This is what a properly cold formed lug looks like when cut open then polished to expose any pin holes or visual voids. As you can see the lug and wire visually become one large solid mass of copper.
I just rented a big pair of crimpers from a rental place for about $5/day. I like these innovative DIY approaches though!
Rental is GREAT idea that we non-contractors so often forget.
I have to be reminded of that option at work all of the time.
The local Waste Marine in Alameda has a crimper that they let customers use. There is also another place that seems to have pretty good prices that says they'll crimp the lugs for free. That's the Outboard Motor Shop in Oakland, right near Alameda. I mention this for local sailors. The circuit breaker I was looking for was about $10 at WM and $6 at the Outboard Motor store. Also, WM informs me that their price match policy no longer applies to on-line only dealers such as Defender. Just some info that might be useful to others.
John
I have found the price-match policy to be one specific to the store manager and his/her relationship with the customer. We have a few local WM stores, one of which has a less-than-popular manager who's opinion is they only match other brick-and-mortar store prices. For the most part, I've found they tend to treat regular customers right.
Also, be careful about their crimpers - I've only been in a couple of their stores which have actual compression crimpers. For the most part, they are the rigging-type nico-press crimper not suitable for electrical connections. Not sure which crimper you refer to above.
I have found the price-match policy to be one specific to the store manager and his/her relationship with the customer. We have a few local WM stores, one of which has a less-than-popular manager who's opinion is they only match other brick-and-mortar store prices. For the most part, I've found they tend to treat regular customers right.
Also, be careful about their crimpers - I've only been in a couple of their stores which have actual compression crimpers. For the most part, they are the rigging-type nico-press crimper not suitable for electrical connections. Not sure which crimper you refer to above.
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