Battery Terminals

[vonjet]

What tool are you all using to attach terminal lugs to the battery wires.? I have 2 gauge battery wire.

[shamer]

http://www.epm-avcorp.com/ makes a crimper for you. They're going out of business but still have some inventory according to their website.
I have a crimper in Apple Valley if you get can't find something closer.

Steve Hamer
Apple Valley, Ca
RV-6

[szicree]

A fellow RV'er came up with this gadget. It really looks like the perfect tool for the job.

https://www.theterminaltool.com/

[alpinelakespilot2000]

If you don't want to buy or borrow a very expensive tool, take a look at this thread. I'm very thankful to Ron Leach for showing me how to save a lot of money for about 6 crimps total. Each has more than adequately passed Van's pull test guidelines. You could also follow the Bob Nuckoll's solder route, but unless you are really good at soldering, you can end up with a pretty brittle joint. Hope this helps.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...cable+terminal

[vonjet]

That terminal tool looks sweet. But $150 to crimp 4 cables....I just cant justify that. Anyone have one I can borrow?

[szicree]

I can't remember who on here gave me the idea, but I simply made a crimper out of my squeezer. I'm sure somebody on here can figure out where the thread is, but the idea is to make a little saddle die out of aluminum and then I ground a flat dimple die into a little pyramid. It worked perfectly. If I were to do it again though, I'd just go for that $8.95 whack-it-with-a-hammer deal that was discussed above. It's funny that I bought my battery cables and lugs at a welding supply store near my house, but it never occured to me that they might have such a simple tool to do the crimping. Live and learn.

[pierre smith]

......that you can get at most hardware stores has plenty of flame to solder 2 gauge cable. Solder plus flux the cable first, then flux the inside of the terminal, insert the pre-soldered cable and reheat from the outside and just add solder from near the edges. Watch the solder flow and you have it. No future corrosion that you might get from squeezed joints later, especially you guys near the coastal areas.

Regards,

[Rick6a]

I bought my large wire crimper new on eBay. That type lug crimper is usually available from someone there. Do a search. I see that ATS is now selling a variation of the same relatively inexpensive crimper and the price seems about right.

Note: I install heat shrink over the wire before making the crimp, then shrink it to the lug and wire jacket.

http://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/de....aspx?PageNo=1

[pgroell]

I bought this one, but have not tried it :

https://weldingsupply.securesites.co...16:180:150:150

www.weldingsupplies.com

item 04040, 8,85$

[vonjet]

Thanks Everybody. I bought the hammer type smasher tool. Hopefully this will give good results.