Do you guys think I'll be able to crimp a 4 ga wire with a swage tool made for crimping ferrules on steel cable? I need to do one ring terminal for my alternator upgrade and don't want to drop $80 on a tool I'll use once.

 

Hammer it down. Ive done it and it works just fine

 

I use a mapp gas torch like this:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-TS4000KC-Trigger-Start-Torch-Kit-336634/203368730

I always like soldering my connectors.

 

I'm going to solder too, but it's the crimp part I'm concerned with. Can I still solder a terminal that's open on the end? Probably the better plan since it will seal it up and keep oxidation out of my fancy copper wire.

 

I say crimp using a vise and an 1/8" bolt in the middle of the connector.

 

hammers are universal crimpers. crimp everything from 22awg to 4/0, including your fingers. tack weld the tip for extra fun (just the tip).

 

The way I do it is:

1. Cut only enough wire to barely breach the cylinder part of the terminal end.

2. Dip terminal end in flux paste (makes a huge difference).

3. Place wire into terminal cylinder (I use a vice to hold the wire).

4. Use mapp gas torch to heat up the ring portion of the terminal(this keeps you from melting your wire casing by heating too low on the terminal) for about 5-7 seconds .

5. Have a long strand of solder ready to just push it into the back of the terminal where the wires are just breaching until you have a good coating of solder.

Optional - You may have to repeat the heating if the solder doesn't just melt in anymore and you don't have it coated well enough for your liking.


Oh and lastly, I usually dip the end is water after it's soldered so it doesn't stay super hot. Again this helps save the plastic wire casing from warping and such.


End result should look like this:



Not smashed or distorted by a hammer.

 

My hammer will be useless now

 

I do the same as mikerocosms, but I use a propane torch since that's what I have.

 

I ended up soldering it on. Swage tool hole was same diameter as terminal and next size was too small.

Now that my wires are ready I ran into an issue with my new alternator bracket. So is life...

 

I need to find those terminals i can solder to. They seem like theyll conduct better

 

Napa or a good auto supply will have them!!And use shrink wrap!!

 

Yeah I get them from amazon like most of where I get things. Here is a link to 4 awg.

http://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-T...=1455423246&sr=8-4&keywords=4+gauge+terminals

 

The terminal I got came with a rubber(?) sleeve not a shrink tube. Maybe it still shrinks? I was just gonna paint on a little liquid electrical tape, then slide the cover over to hide it. I use liquid electrical tape to seal up all my RC car electronics and it works fantastic and dries pretty fast.

Got my ring terminal with my wire, distribution block and battery terminal - all from KnuKonceptz. Pretty good pricing for everything I think.

 

I usually just use the cheapy crimp on ones, but pull off the little plastic deal and they seem to work good.

And like Truck Action says, definitely use heat shrink.