Crimping tool

[Nine Elms]

Good morning, All.

Does anyone use the "Bootlace" ferrules and crimping tool and are they worth the money? As I understand it, when they used in conjunction with screwed terminal blocks there is a better connection, or do you just apply solder to the bare ends of the wire?

Seasonal greetings.

John

[Walkingthedog]

I have always thought bare wires are best in a terminal block, just twist them together, more surface area when squashed down by the screw.

[Brian]

Hi
Firstly, never solder wire ends that are going to be held by screw down grub screw terminals. The solder will over time flatten and cause the wire to become loose in the terminal.
You can do as suggested and twist the bare wire end to form a semi solid wire end (assuming you are using flexible stranded wire) and fix that in place in the terminal block.
But Boot Lace Ferrules offer a far better connection as the wire is crimped inside the tube of the ferrule and the twisting action of the terminals grub screw then doesn't cause any fracturing of the wires as the grub screw is tightened.
The only downside is the cost of the Ferrels and of course the crimping tool. But these are frequently sold as "Kits" with an assortment of various size ferrules and the crimper. There are two crimpers sold a four-jaw crimper and a six-jaw version. The six jaw is somewhat harder to obtain than the four jaw and its usually more expensive, but it offers a superior crimp if its obtained. Typical crimper set https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eventronic-Ins ... r=8-5&th=1
I now only ever use Ferrels on all wires going into terminal block connectors. Their use can be seen here,, https://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/High-Ho ... Baseboards

[Rog (RJ)]

I've got a 4 jaw crimping kit which I have used a few times. Works well and is easy to use. It makes it easy to get a good connection in terminal blocks and most mains plugs.

[Nine Elms]

How does it work on a mains plug? The bootlace ferrules end up square!!

John

[Rog (RJ)]

It doesn't matter that it's square, the screws in the plugtops still clamp down on the crimps. Just depends what type of terminals are in the plug.

If you have the type of terminals that need the wire wrapping around them the crimps are obviously not suitable

[Steve M]

I did not know such a tool existed. I clearly have a crime sized hole in my tool bag and now have one on order.
I struggled to wire in a light on the layout the othe day and realise that this would have made the job easier.

[Hound Dog]

You can all thank Uncas Whittaker, who was the man who developed crimp technology - apparently there was a desperate need during WWII as the use of soldering irons around wooden aircraft was not a good combination.

Dear old Uncas went on to found Aircraft Marine Products, latterly shortened to AMP, who were the worlds largest interconnect company and the oracle of everything surrounding crimp technology. The company was subsequently acquired by Tyco International before changing the name to Tyco Electronics and then to the current name of TE Connectivity…….. I worked for them ( AMP thru to TE) for 25 year before my number was called just over 2 years ago.

……don’t get me started about crimping, but suffice to say it primarily boils down to correct crimp selection for the wire gauge, appropriate preparation of the wire and insulation, and most critically the correct crimp tooling…… the best hand tools will not allow the anvils to open ( to release the crimp) until the ratchet has travelled the full required distance, thus ensuring that the correct compression has been achieved.

…….. for what it is worth, I have only bare twisted wires into terminal blocks on my layout, in protest at being made redundant by the @@@@@@@‘s - LOL

[jed10]

For dcc it is far better never to use screw terminals. If you are happy to solder then use solder tag strips instead or simply solder wires together and cover. Solder joints are always best for dcc. For dc it's not so much an issue and bare twisted wires into terminal blocks will be fine, just go around and tighten them up periodically.

[Steve M]

Having filled the crimper-sized hole in my toolbox I thought it was time to try it out on some ugly wiring in an awkward spot under the engine shed. It’s fair to say that it was a revelation! If nothing else it made manoeuvring the crimped wires into the terminals an absolute doddle.
My life is now complete.