Does your next project require you to crimp battery cables?
If so, you need the right tool for the job. There are many types of battery cable crimpers and a huge range of products to choose from, so you may have trouble comparing your options.
This article will clarify the best battery cable crimpers types, some of the best products, and how to use them.
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Styles of Lug Crimpers
Hammer Crimpers
Hammer crimpers are one of the more traditional tools, meaning most beginners can operate them effectively with little practice. They use a hammer to crimp the cable, hence their name.
Manual Lever Crimpers
Manual lever crimpers generate their force entirely from the operator rather than using an electrical or hydraulic source.
They’re relatively straightforward and provide a simple yet practical crimping system. They often feature long handles to maximize power with as little input as possible.
Hydraulic Crimpers
Hydraulic crimpers are more sophisticated pieces of equipment that are capable of crimping extremely thick, heavy-duty cables.
They can generate huge amounts of force due to their use of hydraulics, but this also means they cost a lot more than alternative options.
They require fairly strong mechanical skills from those operating because they’re complex machines.
Best Battery Cables Crimper
1. Best Battery Cable Crimper: Mofeez Hammer Lug Crimper Tool
Features & Benefits
- Firstly, it is compatible with many different wire gauges, including 8, 7, 4, 2, 1, 0, 00, 000, and 0000.
- Additionally, the hammer and slide block is durable, high-strength iron.
- Thirdly, the hammer lug crimper is suitable for both beginners and experienced users due to its basic operating requirements.
Downsides
- It doesn’t have any mounting points, so the tool may slide around and cause operational challenges.
Customer Reviews
This crimper worked extremely well on my project, which involved making lawn mower batteries.
How to Use
Using this hammer crimping tool is relatively straightforward. However, you must perform the steps correctly to ensure everything can run as smoothly as possible. Start by opening up the tool’s barrel to expose the slide block. Then, position the cable you intend to crimp inside the terminal (the area underneath the ram).
Once the cable is in the desired position, you can pick up an appropriately sized hammer and perform one hard, firm strike on the ram. Following this, lift the ram of the cable and remove the crimped wire from the terminal. If the cable is not properly crimped, you may repeat this process.
2. Best Battery Cable Crimper: IWISS Cable Lug Crimping Tool
Features & Benefits
- Firstly, the crimper is extremely accurate due to the six-sided rotating dies.
- Secondly, this tool is user-friendly thanks to its ergonomic grip and slip-resistant materials.
- Thirdly, the entire crimper is durable carbon steel, which will last a long time and is unlikely to become damaged easily.
Downsides
- You may find it hard to achieve the desired force in some cases.
Customer Reviews
The quality is outstanding, considering the affordable price that this tool comes at. It’s very strong, durable, and has great usability.
How to Use
There are a few different operations you’ll need to perform as an operator of manual battery crimpers. For a start, you need to be able to adjust the crimpers for different-sized cables. To do this on the IWISS cable crimping tool, you’ll need to locate the position adjuster and set it for the correct cable size.
From there, you lift the locking lever and insert your cable in an appropriate position. Close the handles with moderate force until you see the compulsory lock release. The cable has probably been crimped, so you can open the tool and lift the locking lever. Then, remove the cable.
3. Best Battery Cable Crimper: AMZCNC Hydraulic Crimping Tool
Features & Benefits
- Firstly, this package includes nine unique crimping dies for different-sized wires to help improve accuracy and usability.
- Also, it works with almost any cable, making it suitable for future projects.
- Finally, the tool’s structure is strong and durable.
Downsides
- The cutter that comes as a part of this tool is not very good. It struggles to create a clean cut on some cables.
Customer Reviews
This hydraulic crimper worked perfectly for a recent project involving numerous battery cables. The crimps were clean and professional, so I highly recommend this product.
How to Use
Hydraulic crimping tools generate their power by driving a piston down a cylinder to compress a liquid die against the cable to crimp it. Pressurized fluid (controlled by the operator) forces the piston down the cylinder.
First, you need to select and attach the appropriate dies. Pull out the crimper’s rod to its full extent, place the dies into the crimper, and then close the rod back up.
Place the cable and terminal between the two dies you just inserted. Check that the handle is in the closed position and rotate the turn screw until it is fairly tight.
To crimp the wire, pump the handle enough times so that the bottom die barely makes contact with the top die. Check that the cable and terminal are aligned correctly, and continue pumping.
Once the terminal is securely crimped, loosen the turn screw and separate the dies. You can then remove the crimped wire.
Conclusion
There are three main types of battery cable crimpers – manual, hydraulic, and hammer. Each serves different purposes and has unique benefits.
Manual and hammer are easy to use but don’t work well with heavy-duty cables. Hydraulic is better for larger commercial cables.
