Which crimper to buy for 25mm pin terminals

[Adrianlle]

As my 2x gel batteries( Exide 85ah) are declining I will soon be installing 2 x Sterling 100ah Lifepo4. In anticipation I want to install a 30a BtB. Space is tight in the James Cook so likely to be a Votronic but if I can squeeze it in then a Victron Orion( as I have other Victron kit and rate it). Two stupid questions please. 1. The existing wiring to/from the split charge relay which I will replace is 25mm. So can someone recommend a good crimper( and good value) for the 25mm cable uninsulated terminals I will need to crimp ( including to additional fuses).
2. The Victron has terminals for pins on 16mm max cable. Is there such a thing as an uninsulated terminal for 25mm cable but with a 16mm pin? Or will I have to buy with a 25 mm pin and cut down to 16mm with , say, a dremel? Thanks.

 

[Two on Tour]

I bought a cheap hydraulic crimper to do all my heavier cable work.

10 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal 701160633199 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 10 Ton 8 Dies Hydraulic Crimper Crimping Tool Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Kannon Fodda]

For crimpers there are many of the hydraulic type. Quite easy to use. As the dies are interchangeable to suit the size of the crimp / wire, make sure when buying that they offer a suitable range.

I ended up with Amazon product ASIN B01FQPDAKUBut the price has jumped a lot since I bought so you should be able to do better, especially if you only need to use once.

At 25mm I would look at the hydraulic types rather than the ratchet ones. Also hydraulic will be smaller so more chance you can just squeeze into the space of a motorhome.

As for the B2B, do look at whether 60A is more practical than 30A. Your alternator may not be able to do the full 60A, but if you have even one lithium that will take everything you can give it. GEL charges a lot slower. If you were to have even emptied half of your 2x Lithiums at 30 A max, you'd need to drive over 3 hours to refill them. My 60A Sterling B2B (fitted by Vanbitz) has 25mm2 cables, saving your trying to reduce cable size that in turn would reduce it's capacity.

 

[Lenny HB]

Another vote for the hydraulic crimper.
The Victron will need a fair bit of space around if in free air they have a tendency to overheat, I would go for the Votronic they are fan cooled.

 

[Landy Andy]

Same crimper as second post. Not great but ok for the cost. I don’t always use the jaws they recommend though. Use your judgment on that.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Two on Tour]

Same crimper as second post. Not great but ok for the cost. I don’t always use the jaws they recommend though. Use your judgment on that.

I find the same, but I find the problem is the lack of there being a standard for tube crimps.
Most have a thin wall that struggles to get the grip required on the cable cross-section they are quoted for and often requires re-crimping with the next cable size down.
I'm never convinced that the tab for bolting on these thinner walled crimps have the mm2 cross-section of the cable that they are crimped onto.

 

[Wissel]

Personally not a fan of the hydraulic crimps (each to their own).

I use these and have for years. Just go one size down on the jaws (so if crimping a 25mm cable, use the 16mm die etc) and it's spot on every time.

Amazon product ASIN B08LVNMD1G
I think I got the original recommendation and tip from Gromett years ago

 

[Gromett]

Personally not a fan of the hydraulic crimps (each to their own).

I use these and have for years. Just go one size down on the jaws (so if crimping a 25mm cable, use the 16mm die etc) and it's spot on every time.

Amazon product ASIN B08LVNMD1G
I think I got the original recommendation and tip from Gromett years ago

Yup those are the ones I use. They have served me extremely well.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Personally not a fan of the hydraulic crimps (each to their own).

I use these and have for years. Just go one size down on the jaws (so if crimping a 25mm cable, use the 16mm die etc) and it's spot on every time.

Amazon product ASIN B08LVNMD1G
I think I got the original recommendation and tip from Gromett years ago

Another for these ...had them recently and used them for our battery cables. Does the job well

 

[Adrianlle]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Crimped sorted. I assume from the silence that nobody knows of a 25mm uninsulated terminal with a 16mm pin? Otherwise it’s the dremel. As for the points about a bigger capacity BtB than 30a - I take the point but just don’t have the room for the Sterling 60A. I suppose I might well get 2 of the 30AVotronic in though. Any Theon using two of those in parallel? Thanks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Some of the Votronic ones are programmable so you can set the output current IMO much better than the Victron.

 

[Adrianlle]

Thanks Lenny.