The less expensive 8 awg to 4/0 crimper works very well. As of July 2023, the less expensive one is $108. Only issue is that it tips over more easily, it seems, than the more expensive one ($160).

Yeah putting that uninsulated bootlace ferrule on really cleans up the wire ends and makes for a good connection . Enjoying your videos , kind of different , good content for DYI solar , for those wanting to learn , you are a good teacher and you have picked up some good habits. Your a smart guy and it shows ! I went to college electrical and mechanical engineer and I don't have anything on you , hey people you want to learn about solar.....watch this guy .... keep up the good work Bud !

Good clear information. I would add that on the thicker cables, take into account the way the wire wants to curve. It will make it easy to connect on a terminal if you are not fighting the way a wire wants to go. Have a great day!

@mallorymcguire833

2 жыл бұрын

If you're using welding wire, it only goes where you want it to go, because it's flexible wire, not stiff.

Excellent video straight to the point and informative. I should have watched this video about 20 years ago before fighting with nylon insulators.....Thank you!

Thanks for posting this, love your videos, ya'll are great presenters. We were just planning on working on this next week, perfect timing. Hope ya'll are staying safe, take care.

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

Nice! Glad it's helped. Yep, staying safe here. Staying inside and once grocery store run per week. Taking it super cautiously.

Before applying glue-lined heat shrink, I clean the lug and cable sleeve with Isopropyl alcohol or acetone to remove any films/residues left over from the manufacturing process. Clean surfaces make for better bonds imho.

love this series!! thanks so much for sharing all these juicy facts, Nathan!

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful. Cheers!

Precise, concise, and effective. Thanks!

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful. Cheers!

as it seems -- everyone knows how to do it, yet very few realize how to do it the best way and to avoid little mistakes that spoil the whole job. thanks alot for the showing the said best way! the only thing i wish is to see the kind of the heat gun you use.

Thanks for the links, just bought the 22-10AWG crimper

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful. Cheers!

Nice one; the shorter, specific videos are nice

At first I was going to just skip as this is basic for me but I am glad I watched to see how others work. Nice explanation. Looking forward to the next video!

A good crimp tool is a must

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

So vital. I'm not even going to tell you how I *tried* to crimp my very first 4/0 wire lug. lol

@buzzsah

4 жыл бұрын

anything but teeth. :)

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

I'll never tell... lol

Glue lined heat shrink.. thanks man!

Getting close to doing the electrical panel on my van build. Thanks for this vid an all your other build vids. Very helpful!

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad they've helped!

I love your content! How can I support your efforts? I feel so guilty soaking up all your knowledge for free.

Your the man I'm greatfull for your videos

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

I've been trying to crimp lugs onto 6 AWG wire and 10AWG wire. If I use the jaws with the same rating as the lugs, they don't crimp enough. If I use the next size down in jaws I get a sqiushed barrel with parts flatten out each side. The later is good enough for the job, but I wish I'd bought a better crimper.

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've had that problem too with other crimpers. The crimper I show in this video solves that issue.

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen! 👍 Thanks for uploading!

Awesome video - thanks for posting!

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

No problem. Happy to help!

Hi I hope you can help, I am doing a Small 24 volt Solar installation and my problem is crimping. I bought some welding cable 50sqmm I bought the 50 sqmm Lugs which are too big. The cable diameter is 11 mm so what Size lug is required and is this ok.

@EXPLORISTlife

Ай бұрын

All of the wire and lugs in our kits at shop.explorist.life are guaranteed to work together.

So I followed the instruction and cut and stripped wire. To 1/2inch then applied the 4 awg lug. When applying pressure it seemed a bit easy after a point. Then realized on one it went through the Lug itself to expose the wire. Wonder if 5/8ths or 3/4ths is better. Also wonder if I need to reorder lugs. It’s solid and I heat shrinks above so nothing is exposed but just wondering. Nothing looked terribly weird but I wonder about the metal.

Love this series, it's exactly what I need as I'm learning my way through setting up our system in our travel trailer. Wondering if there are any alternatives to that big honkin' crimper for 4/0 cables. That price is hefty for a one-time project!

@EXPLORISTlife

10 ай бұрын

It'd be even more expensive to skimp on your crimper and then have something melt! I've recommended the best bang for the buck crimper I know of.

Thank you very much.

thanks, keep up the good work. cheers

Hi, thanks for the video. Is there best side to install the lug into the crimper? The extruded part inside (like this video) or back-side like one of your other videos (Multiplus install on the Transit I think). Thanks!

I have a ratcheting crimper from China. I don't know what I am doing wrong it will not crimp hard enough. I am using 18 awg wire with a 18 awg ferrel. Is there something I should know? I know you said you just started using them but I thought someone could help. Thanks for the video.

Hi Nate. I have a question about the terminals. I have a Lynx Distributor but the Selterm Cable Lugs for 4/0 AWG, stud size 5/16" are interfering with or by the plastic insulators that separate positive from negative wire connections. This interference is on both the pos stud and neg stud. I checked the spec on the part at Amazon and it is the correct width. I could force it down by tightening it, but that just seems wrong. Should I shim it with washers to get the clearance?

@Rmoore08

2 жыл бұрын

In my research I was planning on using the same Selterm lugs with the Lynx. The measurements for the lugs on Amazon so seem like they will not fit nicely. What did you end up doing? I have not bought the lugs yet

Hi Nate, in this video you show us how to use the Temco crimper for larger wire lugs like 4/0 awg all the way down to 8 awg. Specifically, in this video you say to insert the lugs with the top of the lug facing the indenting spike, but in your newer videos you are crimping the bottom of the lug instead. In my experience with the Temco crimper, it's very hard to get the smaller lugs, like 6 awg, into the crimper and crimp the top without deforming and bending the lug. They are just too small for the size of the crimper. I find that I get much better results when I crimp the back of the lugs, which I am assuming that is why you started crimping the backs as well. Is there a right/wrong way to do this or is it just a matter of preference?

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've recently found that crimping from the back is cleaner. I have seen no documentation that says it matters one way or the other.

@chasehelmick6025

2 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife Awesome, thanks for the prompt response! Your videos have been very helpful.

DO A VIDEO ON HOW TO CRIMP WITH THOSE IRWIN AUTOMATIC WIRE STRIPPERS

Excellent! Thank you. Any thoughts on the hex crimpers for lugs up to 1/0? I like the neatness of the crimp and the fact that it stamps the wire gauge number into the lug which provides a final "sanity check" on my work before applying the adhesive heat shrink. They work best on well made "heavy" lugs like those from Ancor. Your crimper looks like the right solution for the large gauge wires though. Interested in your thoughts! Thanks again.

@EXPLORISTlife

Ай бұрын

I've had pretty bad luck with hex crimpers for large lugs. With cheap hex crimpers, I've had a very high failure rate w/ pull-out. With expensive hex crimpers & brand matched lugs, it works much better, but it kept leaving a sharp edge. With the big crimper I show in this video, it's more adjustable; so if you need it to crimp a little tighter, or looser (for whatever reason), it's an option.

@cbdane

Ай бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife, great input. Thank you!

A really solid yank! From a Canadian?😂😂😂🍻🍻

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

🤣😂

What tools to use to crimp insulated butt connectors 6 gauge also what's best to strip 6 gauge strand wire?

thank you so much

Do you prefer the hexagon or square crimpers or does it just depend on what the crimp is going into? If i dont wanna buy 2 of them, is one better at all ports than the other?

@EXPLORISTlife

Ай бұрын

Round terminals get hex crimped ferrules. Square terminals get square crimped ferrules. Going to have to buy two tools. Just part of doing it yourself. If you don't want to buy the tools, you can have us install your system for you.

Excellent Thank you

My three stage crimper is polarised the colored dots go cable side not terminal, maybe I'm wrong?

How did the Wirefy Crimpers hold up over time? I saw one review where they were out of alignment after their first heavy duty use day. But hoping that was technique not tool. Would you still recommend the Wirefy Crimp Tool?

@EXPLORISTlife

5 ай бұрын

They are still in my toolbelt to this day. If you've watched any of our full installation tutorials any time in the last couple of years, you'll likely see them in use.

Are the crimp lugs a special type or are they the same as the solder type? Can you crimp a solder lug is what I'm trying to say!?

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

You would have to check with the manufacturer of the lug you are trying to use for that info. All of the lugs I have on the parts lists at EXPLORIST.life are crimp lugs. Example: www.explorist.life/3000w-inverter-400-600ah-400-to-1200w-solar-camper-solar-kit

Hi, I need to buy ring terminals for 24 AWG (40 strands) wires to fit 4mm washer and 4mm nut on one device, and to fit #8 washer and 8-32 nuts on another device. Could you recommend me some brands which do not have the nylon coat?

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

No clue. That'd just be me googling for a solution. 🤣🤷

Thanks god bless

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

Hey John R, No problem! Glad it helped! :)

Wiring my lynx distributer and MT2. 4/0 lugs I bought don't fit. Too wide. Been grinding them down Have a link to ones that fit?

What about joining two thicker wires? I need to connect stranded 6awg together... in the rest of my DC wiring I used the heat-shrink butt connectors but that was always 10+ awg. I see some non-insulated 6awg butt connectors on amz, I guess I could use those with the hammer crimp and then apply heat shrink over it?

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

I crimp 6awg wire with the same tool as 4/0 👍

Any European available brand tool for the 8 gauge to 4/0 recommandations ? I am tired of the cheap Chinese tools that are all over Amazon Thanks 👍👍👍

Great!

Hey Nathan Thanks A Lot

Nate, great videos and blog posts. Do you have an opinion or any references about indent vs hexagonal crimping of larger wires? I notice you used indent while I have a hexagonal tool. I’m willing to make a change.

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Either way is fine given they are good quality crimps. I had a cheap harbor freight hex crimper that I just threw away because I discovered that the crimps I made with it on our OWN van build, over 50% of them failed over time. 0.0 When you crimp the lug, give it a REALLY good tug to see if it's tight. A 4/0 lug should be able to withstand a few hundred pounds of pulling on it.

Hi Nate! If I did a longer run of AWG 12 to the location where I am installing a 12V Power Outlet Receptacle (cigarette lighter socket) and it came with an 18 AWG spades on the back, and 18 AWG wire kit with an inline 10A fuse would you use the wire that came with it (or just put a 10 A fuse in the panel? If so what is the right way to reduce to the 18 AWG size socket? If not, what is the right way to connect an AWG 12 wire to a 18 AWG Spade? On a related note the the LED lights for in the ceiling came with hubs, that don't seem as reliable (bouncing in van) as joints with adhesive shrink wrap. Would you recommend using the hubs or wiring directly to lights? Again, what is the right way to reduce from a 10 AWG run to an AWG 20 or 22 or so? These little things I did not see in your videos. If I missed it or a blog entry I am sorry but please refer me!

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

Lever Nuts are the perfect thing to use for that and is what is shown in my 12V branch circuit guidebook. Lever Nuts: amzn.to/38WCjn7 12V Branch Circuit Guidebook: www.explorist.life/shop/solar-wiring-diagrams/12v-branch-circuits/

First off. Thanks for all of these videos! These are super helpful. Question on tinned wire lugs vs bare copper lugs? I know the bare copper could oxide, but I'm planning to build a bus bar like you make. Which has that huge bar of copper, so should I be considered about oxidation on bare copper lugs?

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

If you are in a marine environment, you should attempt to get some tin plated copper bar. If you aren't, it'll probably be fine without.

@STMel03

4 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife Thank you for your reply! As always...super helpful!

Is that smaller crimper different than the one you used for MC4 connectors?

Do we use that huge wire crimper for 6 AWG, neither that one or the one for size 10 or smaller seems right because the 6 Awg lug is almost the same size as the indenting post on that big crimper.

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

I use the big crimper for 6 AWG, yes.

If you're not crimping daily...you can find a good crimper at Hobo Freight

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Not for the big 1/0 and larger wires. I've seen too many of those crimps fail with the Harbor Freight crimpers. Do it right so you don't have to do it again. A good crimper is significantly cheaper than having an issue later down the road and having to re-do it.

Hey Nate. I’m just rounding up all the parts I need for my DIY solar install. I found Lawrence Marine Supply for heat shrink with adhesive, but they offer heavy, medium/heavy, and flexible. What’s your recommendation?

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

I make heat shrink recommendations in the parts list section of each of my wiring diagrams: www.explorist.life/3000w-inverter-400-600ah-400-to-1200w-solar-camper-solar-kit

I've recently heard that it's best to polish large tinned lugs with fine steel wool down to the copper where it will be touching the battery or bus bars. The reason stated is to reduce resistance which causes voltage drops and heat at high current levels. Do you agree or do something different?

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

If the lugs have any kind of burrs on the bottom, they should be filed off and the lugs should be cleaned with alcohol to remove any kind of dirt grime before making the connection but sanding the tin coating off of the lug is not required nor advised. That would pretty much negate the whole premise of spending the extra money on tinned lugs. The tin coating is there to reduce corrosion due to salty environments like marine/boat electrical installs.

@closetcleaner

Жыл бұрын

the tin layer is there to protect copper from corrosion (which will happen faster in copper and degrade the material).

Is indent really better than hex-compression for very large lugs? The latter seems more commonly used for commercially-distributed cables.

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

They are both fine. 👍👍

Thanks Nate.. Great educational vid! Is it ok to use a step down connector for multi wire connection or is there something better? Also, on the crimper for smaller heat shrink connectors, is there a right or wrong way to insert the connector into the crimper? The right side jaw has a different shape than the left jaw. Thanks!

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

For wires 10 AWG and smaller, you should use lever nuts to connect bigger wires to smaller wires. For wires larger than that, 'different' approaches would need to be taken, but It's tough for me to say what those would be without knowing the full context of the situation. For heat shrink connectors... I don't think it matters. My crimpers are pretty much just flat across. Most crimpers have a little instruction sheet that will tell you the proper orientation if there is one.

@hannahranga

3 жыл бұрын

Should have the connector so that the wire is coming in the side with the bigger opening. If you've got decent crimps there's metal that get's crimped around both the wire like with all crimps and also some around the insulation to make a stronger assembly.

Hey Nate! I'm currently working on my electrical system and i have a question... I got the wrong hydraulic crimp for my larger lugs, it's a hex crimp instead of the crimp you're using here. It works, but is it the right kind of connection for a solar van build?

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

That's fine. :)

Odd choice for a “super” crimper. Probably won’t crimp to 300lbs. Better (and cheaper!) options are definitely the hydraulic crimpers. Even the Harbor Freight one hasn’t let me down in 12 years. Hydraulic crimps literally combine wire, connector to one solid piece. No air gaps whatsoever. Safer, no hand pressure effort and gives you the best possible crimp.

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

We've had poor results with that Harbor Freight. No only us, but also with all of the people we've dealt with through this channel. Glad it worked for you, though. Please don't talk shit on our crimpers when you've never used them, thanks. 👍🙂

Hi Nate, love all your great videos! I have a question for you (or anyone else out there)...why do you only show 4/0 cabling on your diagrams? In my 5th wheel, I am going to install 4 100ah Battleborns and a Multiplus II, and at 12V / 3000 watt that's 250 amps. Most cable size charts show I don't need 4/0 for this setup and 2/0 would be plenty for my very short runs (9in between batteries &

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Sure! Victron recommends 4/0 wire (or 120mm^2 worth of wire) for all of their 12V 3k Inverter Chargers; so we go with that.

@niall8or69

2 жыл бұрын

Gotcha, thanks!

Holy cow. As of September 2021, the $$ 4/0 crimper is $150 on amazon, and the "inexpensive" one is $108.

@coreyscysen1705

2 жыл бұрын

There's also a "anvil" crimper for larger wires, it's alot cheaper.

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Although a hammer crimper is indeed cheaper; it's also less consistent and historically, people have had a hard time getting good, consistant crimps because they may not hit it hard enough. If a crimp is bad, heats up, and melts the terminal on a $800 battery, was it worth saving the $50?

@ironwooddesigns9532

2 жыл бұрын

Yea, I cannot believe how cheap these are.

Will your tool crimp 6 awg wire lug ?

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

Yep!

Can you use your wire lug crimped on a 2/0 wire lug?

@EXPLORISTlife

4 жыл бұрын

Yep!

trying to understand how the Dewalt electric wire crimper is 3k.

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

🤣😂🤣 No kidding.

What's the best thing to run your solar power system through the night

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure I understand your question. Solar won't charge overnight when the sun isn't out. A properly sized battery bank will run the components overnight. If charging is needed overnight, you'll need a fuel burning generator (or run your engine for DC DC Charging)

@vulvo4763

2 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife oh okay

@vulvo4763

2 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife have you ever heard of the anti-solar that works at night

@EXPLORISTlife

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've heard of them. Pretty cool! More of a concept at this point though and not available to the consumer market.

@vulvo4763

2 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife okay

I've been recommended to not crimp on my own big cables and to have do it by professionals Their is an insurance argument But otherwise, do you think it's still a bit risky to crimp them yourself ?

@EXPLORISTlife

3 жыл бұрын

I mean, if your insurance agent has a problem with it, you should listen to them. The only difference in pro vs DIY wire crimping is the amount of $$$ the person squeezing the crimper is getting paid. It's not a particularly difficult job when using the proper tools. If I thought it was risky, I wouldn't have made the video.

@maximedefooz1268

3 жыл бұрын

@@EXPLORISTlife Thanks !!

Spend the small extra cash and get the Temco crimper. American made and very robust. The other is a chi-comm knock off. Copy right violation as they are known to do. Support American made products!

In 2022, price spiked to 149.00 and 107.00. I'll stick with hammer and flattened round chisel.

@EXPLORISTlife

Жыл бұрын

Obviously, do what you want in your own build; but I feel obligated to respond here with a rhetorical question (which means I don't expect a response and instead am asking the question to spur deeper thinking): What would cost more? 1: The proper crimper. 2: A 'hammer and chisel' which could lead to a poor crimp which could heat up and melt the terminal on, say, a $850 LiFePO4 Battery. My mentality is 'do it right so you only have to do it once'.