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  • Author Author: dubbie
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My First Ever Crimping Experience

dubbie

For my Sand Based Cat Detector (Cat Detector Using Sand #2 : The Implementation ) I used a lead acid battery with spade connections. I have never properly used spade connections before (I usually use crocodile clips or solder directly) so I thought this would be a good time to start as I am working my way towards an outdoor mobile robot and robust and reliable connections are essential. Not really knowing much about making spade or crimping connections I decide that the best approach would be to buy some and just try it out. I have wanted to crimp for some time so rather than find out about it I just blundered in and bought something. I do not expect to do much crimping in the future so just looked online and bought the cheapest set I could find that seemed to do what I wanted.

 

 

I used deep learning to update my natural neural networks in my head, basically I just stuck some wire inside the crimpets (or connectors) and tried to make good connections with the wire using the crimping tool. Initially there was little success as the tool I obtained did not come with any instructions what-so-ever. The crimpets would not stay on the wire while I attempted to use the crimping tool and several crimpets were harmed in this process.

 

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It took me several attempts to work out that the tool I had purchased did not do any folding of the little tabs on the crimpets. Once I had worked this out and folded over the ;little tabs using some pin nosed pliers I was able to make some good crimped connections. I'm not sure if it uses cold-welding or just mechanical interference to make a good physical and electrical connection, but they seem to work, so all is good.

 

Dubbie

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  • I can't get over how expensive the crimping tools are!  I've tried a cheaper Multicomp HT which seems to work well for a variety of pin connectors and even a Faston connector.  I also have a fairly cheap knipex ferrule crimper which again works well.  I've noticed a very expensive crimper in a cabinet in the museum which I'd borrow if I needed to make specific ring connectors if the Multicomp couldn't do it.  It seems like these things could become collectors' items like old relay-maintenance tools!

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  • I can't get over how expensive the crimping tools are!  I've tried a cheaper Multicomp HT which seems to work well for a variety of pin connectors and even a Faston connector.  I also have a fairly cheap knipex ferrule crimper which again works well.  I've noticed a very expensive crimper in a cabinet in the museum which I'd borrow if I needed to make specific ring connectors if the Multicomp couldn't do it.  It seems like these things could become collectors' items like old relay-maintenance tools!

Children
  • in reply to Andrew J

    After you have used a "good" crimper, bad crimp tools only conjure frustration and memories of a more joyous crimp.

  • in reply to colporteur

    I've not tried many tools for comparison but I'm inclined to agree that it's likely to be the case!  The Multicomp crimper and Knipex crimper seem to produce good crimps based on my limited experience.  These are both less than £30 which seems like a bargain compared to the £250 RS-Pro crimper in the museum cabinet which can do one thing.  I've used it to crimp ring terminals onto wires for the Bombe and its no easier to use than the Multicomp one.  I mean, really, £250...@£$^!!

  • in reply to Andrew J

    as long as somebody makes a new connector, and currently more or less than  1000 pin shell combos. Look in an aircraft. just in the cockpit, now count instruments, radios, etc. Every one has at least one connector, and most of the time they are ALL different.

    and BTW relay maintenance tools are quit nice to have in your shop. Ever work with springs and small crap like that? You will be glad you still have your spring tool. image

  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    Funny enough, we made our spring tools 'to measure' - trying to attach them in-situ can be the devil's own job.  I do have a relay adjuster that my father's neighbour was given 'on the off-chance' but I don't have a photo - it's being cleaned and adjusted so we can use it.  I'm still trying to build up a toolkit of useful tools for working on 1940's punch card machines but it's difficult as people don't like to give them up.  Occasionally, and sadly, we get a widow visit who will ask us if "any of this stuff, which is probably useless junk, is any good" as she opens Aladdin's box of goodies that her late husband kept in the garage 'on the off-chance'.  But if anyone feels like donating.... image

  • in reply to Andrew J

      yes I know my first pc hand-built running ms-dos in the late 70 's I pickup up a TTY 35 paper tape and that jazz but before that, I had an IBM 129 that I got for free. But it spoke EBCDIC to the card when you typed, but In verify / read mode I ran I through an 8080  to generate ASCII. LOL

    ~~Cris