Some help with crimp ring terminals

[gareth33]

Hi all

I'm wiring up some GPO jacks with what I think are the tiny M2 screws. The Eyelet is about 2.3mm across. What is the cheapest way to go about this? I have read various threads regarding crimping molex and the such, the pros and cons of a good crimper versus soldering, but with these it's not really possible to solder. I could 'crimp' with a pair of pliers, but is that sub optimal?

The issue is the recommended crimp tool is £200! http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-crimpers/0817325/ for the frame only  :

Here is the terminal

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/731-3189/?origin=PSF_435815|QVBasket%20Summary-LL

I'm trying to sift through the vast amount of information regarding these things, I see a cheaper tool for around £25, but then are the 'crimp dies' universal?

Any thoughts or tips are much appreciated.

Gareth

 

[PRR]

Get this tool. Klein is the fancy brand, no-names sell near $7.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Multi-Purpose-6-in-1-Tool-1000/100352067?N=5yc1vZbofe

It appears to fit the terminal you linked. You crimp the narrowest ID.

It is NOT as reliable as a dedicated die with ratchet full-stroke. You will have to yank-test every crimp. Past dozens/hundreds of crimps, a dedicated tool IS cheaper due to speedy no-brain operation.

 

[Brian Roth]

Hell, with any crimp tool regardless of price, (spades/EDAC/whatever) I tin the wire stands, crimp, then solder.

Kinda like having suspenders AND a belt...

Bri

 

[CJ]

knew a guy who completely rewired a Cessna 172 with that tool that PRR linked,

never crashed,

i bought the fancy AMP type mil spec crimpers off evilbay for a good price,

when i do not have these handy, i use a pair of vice grips and they work great,

vice grips for yellow, big needle nose for red and blue,

 

[gareth33]

Hey guys...

Thanks, that's some good information.. I only have some 30 odd B gauge jacks to wire up otherwise I would be inclined to go for a pricey one.

It appears to fit the terminal you linked. You crimp the narrowest ID.

The narrowest ID? Sorry, I don't get that. You mean use the smallest gauge 'hole' on the Klein tool for the ring terminal?

Thanks again

Gareth

 

[PRR]

Ah... this is the tool I really was thinking of:

http://www.zbtools.co.uk/simpstr.htm

And it's in your land. (I never know when a simple tool is unknown or illegal elsewhere.)

> The narrowest ID?

Hard to say. I'll draw a picture.

 

[PRR]

> tin the wire stands, crimp, then solder.

OK; but don't just tin and crimp. Lead (solder) will relax at room temperature. The crimp-stress eventually relaxes-away, the crimp goes loose.

Soldering wire to terminal is reliable. But needs a little skill to not make a mess of the nylon insulation. (On top of the general skill of making solder-joints 99.999% perfect.)

 

[peters]

In the past I have stuck the terminal in a vice and used a set of dikes to pull off the plastic tube.
Slide the plastic tube over the wire and solder the wire to the terminal.
Then slide the plastic back on.
Its reliable and pretty but not exactly high production.