Heat shrink terminals - crimping help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2021, 12:14:37 pm
content: Got a kit of heat shrink terminals and a die for that specific kind of terminal. I have used the crimper on non-heat shrink terminals and it works OK using that specific die.The problem is that the wire pulls out easily after crimping with the heat shrink die (see pic). The die is supposed to be made for heat shrink terminals, and I've looked at numerous tutorials to see if there is something I'm not doing right, but haven't found anything. The die looks OK but maybe it's got tolerance issues? I've adjusted the tension of the crimper to no avail. The die fully closes together when the crimper is clamped. I've tried different wire sizes and sizes of terminals, and on all the wire can be pulled out easily after crimping.I see people using the die that is supposed to be for terminals with the nylon insulator on these types of terminals. If I use that die that it crimps great ... but it destroys the integrity of the heat shrink material. Which is why they designed this die for heat shrink terminals ...Anyone have any suggestions on these heat shrink terminals and/or used them? What's wrong?

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 02:07:36 am
content: I have never seen that type of crimper EVER consistently make good crimps. I suggest the dimple type and if it tends to cut into the heat shrink, use a Dremel and round off the sharp edges of the dimple part.I remember a long time ago a co-worker and I were crimping hundreds of the plastic non-shrink type of terminals. My co-worker insisted we must use the"approved" crimper similar to the one OP pictured. The first crimp I made didn't pass the tug test.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 03:09:34 am
content: Quote from: Gregg on March 14, 2021, 02:07:36 amThanks for the info Gregg. Yea I have tried this die and wasted too many terminals trying to figure out what is going on. It's not a very good design. I'll take your advice and try a different die. Why they sell this design is a mystery!

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 05:03:01 am
content: I don't have any problem with that type of crimper, I used it alot.Mine is the S&G tool aid one with variable jaws.out of curiosity are you using random crimp or ones from digikey?I pay a premium for crimps because the ones from home depot some how suck, I never figured out why. I think they are optimized for the ghetto tools some how.There is also 2 kinds, like a oval/round barrel and some weird thing thats more like a trapazoid, I don't like this. I like traditional industrial fast ons.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 11:24:44 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on March 14, 2021, 05:03:01 amI don't understand what you mean by "are you using random crimp". Are you referring to the crimping mechanism or the die in the jaws?The die is the one that is supposed to be used for terminals with heat shrink material already on them. Like these - type A5 here -https://wirefyshop.com/products/wirefy-individual-crimping-dies?variant=32414163828815However, the die I have is not Wirefy or "name brand" if there is such a thing in the die crimping world. If a "name brand" die type A5 for heat shrink terminals will work I'd try it.If you look at the die for "heat shrink butt connector" here, Type A1 -https://wirefyshop.com/products/wirefy-individual-crimping-dies?variant=32414293885007It has oval openings. To me that's strange because where you are crimping the terminal (the heat shrink material over the metal opening) is not basically different than the crimp needed for the other kind of terminals. So why the difference in the die?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 08:44:30 pm
content: when I say crimp I mean the terminal, are you using the really cheap terminals from home depot or something. crimp tool or crimper would be what I would say for the tool and crimp jaw for the insert. but anyway..The crimper I have works great with any industrial connector, i.e. TE, etc.. but if I get specifically whats stocked in the hardware store my results are awful. I think they must modify it so it ends up working when you use linemans pliers on it or something. I want to say the problem is specifically with the stockedtycobrands. They require more pressure to deform IIRC.So this leads me to believe you can get 2 fast-on crimps and one of them will work great and one of them will totally not work and piss you off, depending on brand.I would order a few diff brands on digikey and see if there is any difference.