How to cut 50mm2 battery cable?

[Adrianlle]

Evening. About to replace my inverter with a beefier one. So some rewriting involved with 50mm2 cable. I can use my hydraulic crimper( recc on here and which has been ace so far) for the ring terminals etc. But how/ what do people use for a neat cut of such thick cable? Obv it’s not something I propose doing every week ( though you never know!) so don’t want to spend the earth on another tool. But do want to do a proper job. Thanks

 

[pappajohn]

If you have some way of clamping the cable a junior hacksaw will make an acceptably clean cut and a stanley knife to trim the outer for the crimps..just cut a ring at the correct place and pull off the outer insulation
That's all I use when in the trade.

 

[XxAnthxX]

A ratchet cable cutter……available for under 30 quid

Cable cutter

Dont mess about….use the proper tool for the job.

 

[xsparks]

If its stranded cable place a wire binder either side of the point you wish to cut then use a junior hacksaw.

 

[Raul]

Tin snips, shears, or cable cutters, definitely not hacksaw for stranded wire to go in a lug.

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[rod_vw]

Something like these off eBay

or

an hacksaw carefully.

 

[pappajohn]

Tin snips, shears, or cable cutters, definitely not hacksaw for stranded wire to go in a lug.

A junior hacksaw will make a far cleaner cut than tinsnips
Tinsnips are designed for sheet steel.....they will never make a clean cut in heavy cable.

 

[Jays2]

If its stranded cable place a wire binder either side of the point you wish to cut then use a junior hacksaw.

Could you use a cable ties?

 

[Richard n Ann]

I use cable shears, was only about £16 on ebay, great for skinning smaller cables too.

CABLE SHEARS heavy duty cutters thick mains power cable coax rope Engineer PK-51 4989833035501 | eBay

Short demo video here. >> ENGINEER PK-51 cable shears demo video <<. TheENGINEER PK-51 is high quality hand tool from Japan, specifically designed for cleanly & neatly cutting through thick cable, cord & rope etc.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[pappajohn]

The op says

it’s not something I propose doing every week ( though you never know!) so don’t want to spend the earth on another tool

Junior hacksaw from Morrison, B&M etc......less than a fiver and has many uses

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[Lenny HB]

Up to 16mm I have some small cable cutters above that I use my bolt cutters.

 

[xsparks]

We would always use something like wire armouring but a small jubilee clip either side of the cut should suffice. A cable tie would not be tight enough.

 

[Bailey58]

The op says



Junior hacksaw from Morrison, B&M etc......less than a fiver and has many uses

"so don’t want to spend the earth on another tool"

That's what I read and he promptly gets lots of costly suggestions.

 

[xsparks]

The aim is to keep the cable as firm and rigid as possible.

 

[pappajohn]

Something like these off eBay

or

an hacksaw carefully.

Cuts a max of 30mm².....the op has 50mm²

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[xsparks]

To be fair I was doing this long before the perfect tools were even available.

 

[Rollingwheels]

The ones I bought especially for heavy cable look like longer handled bypass secateurs so if you have any of those or long handled loppers might be worth a go

 

[pappajohn]

You won't find a cutter cheap enough to cut 200mm² steel wire armoured cable .......a hacksaw will.

 

[Jays2]

Some of the suggestions could use tools already owned, ie junior hacksaw and the small jubilee clips each side of the cut, if you had them? must be the most cost effective ?

 

[dunnah01]

Angle grinder with 1.0mm cutting disc worked for me, and then a cold chisel and hammer to crimp the terminal. Old skool rocks

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[XxAnthxX]

Yup the old ways are always the best

 

[Raul]

This puppy cuts 70mm2 like butter. It’s the 6” CK cable cutter, you can get unbranded for less than a fiver on eBay. Also very handy for striping to.

 

[Raul]

Cuts a max of 30mm².....the op has 50mm²

It will cut 70mm2 I’ve done it many times.

 

[xsparks]

I think your confusing 70mm2 with 7 mm. Those cutters wouldn't open enough for 70mm2.

 

[xsparks]

70mm2 cable is about 15mm diameter.

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[pappajohn]

It will cut 70mm2 I’ve done it many times.

Apologies......I misread the description.

30mm diameter, not 30mm²

 

[pappajohn]

70mm2 cable is about 15mm diameter.

It depends what it's designed for.
I've seen 9.5mm to 13.5mm listed depending on the sheath thickness.

 

[Sasbo]

This puppy cuts 70mm2 like butter. It’s the 6” CK cable cutter, you can get unbranded for less than a fiver on eBay. Also very handy for striping to.View attachment 635729

Similar to the above, I use these and the cut battery cable really well for an inexpensive bit of kit.

US PRO Tools Heavy Duty Large Head 10" 250mm Cable Cutters 7016 5060599860664 | eBay

250mm (10") Heavy Duty Large Head Cable Cutter Pliers. Length : 250mm ( 10" ). The blades slice through cable rather than crushing. Suitable for cutting & stripping aluminum, copper and plastic sheathed cables & wire.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Raul]

I think your confusing 70mm2 with 7 mm. Those cutters wouldn't open enough for 70mm2.

Of course they would, it will take 30mm diameter, that’s well past the 200mm2.

 

[rod_vw]

Cuts a max of 30mm².....the op has 50mm²

No it says 30mm diameter which is very different to 50mm²

The size 50mm refers to the cross-sectional diameter of the core, the overall diameter of the cable is 17.2mm.

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