Don’t Make a Mistake: How to Choose the Right Battery Cable Crimper

Regardless of whether you’re a DIY handyman hobbyist or a professional, you’ll need a good crimping tool for a plethora of reasons. These all-around beauties can seal, cut, bend, strip, and shape most types of materials depending on their design, and if you’re looking for the best battery cable crimper, you’ve come to the right place.

Hydraulic crimpers are usually shortly called ‘heavy-duty crimpers’, as they’re specifically designed to handle the thickest and most unwieldy of wires. Obviously, you can use them for simpler chores as well; the point of using a battery-crimping tool is to make your job as easy as possible.

Aside from talking about the best hydraulic wire crimping tool models, we’ll also touch on the features you should consider when buying one, as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding their performance. Without any further ado, let’s dig straight into the reviews.

Types of Battery Cable Crimpers

When it comes to the intricate world of battery cable crimpers, one must navigate through the complexities of the market to find the perfect fit for their needs. The market presents three distinct types of crimpers, each with its own unique advantages and drawbacks. These types include:

1. Manual crimpers,
2. Hydraulic crimpers, and
3. Battery-powered crimpers.

Manual Crimpers

The manual crimpers, while basic in nature, are no less valuable for their simplicity. These crimpers require the operator to exert a physical force to achieve the desired result, making them an ideal choice for those who only require intermittent use. Manual crimpers are also the most economical option when compared to their hydraulic and battery-powered counterparts.

Hydraulic Crimpers

Moving up in complexity, we have the hydraulic crimpers, which utilize a hydraulic pump to apply pressure to the cable. These crimpers are more powerful than manual crimpers and excel in heavy-duty applications. Hydraulic crimpers can accommodate larger cables and provide a level of accuracy that cannot be matched by manual crimpers.

Battery-Powered Crimpers

Finally, we have the battery-powered crimpers, which operate using a rechargeable battery, making them incredibly convenient and versatile. These crimpers are an excellent option for remote locations or situations where access to a power outlet is limited. While they may be the most convenient option, battery-powered crimpers can be more expensive than manual or hydraulic crimpers.

Top Rated 6 Battery Cable Crimper Reviews

Here’s a little sneak peek over the top choice of 2021 and most probably coming years as well – the six best battery terminal crimpers for the money! So, to find out which are the best, keep reading and we’ll help you to make the best buying decision:

1IWISS Battery Cable Lug Crimping Tool/Cable Cutter

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Highlight Features

• Features six dies (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 per AWG)
• Built from SCM 40 steel
• Anti-slip rubber grips
• Complimentary cable cutter.

Let’s open up the shop with IWSS’s battery cable lug crimping tool. It’s a versatile all-rounder that packs six dies, a sturdy comfort-grip set of handles, a remarkably durable construction, and a highly accurate jaw design.

First and foremost, the main reason why IWSS’s model is worthy of the ‘best battery cable crimping tool’ title is the fact that it’s outstandingly easy to use. The rotating heads that allow you to shift between the dies are highly responsive, and its jaw is engineered with state-of-the-art technologies, allowing you to achieve surgically precise crimps every time.

Convenience-wise, the anti-slip rubber handles offer comfort and dependability while the SCM-40 steel construction of this crimping tool ensures its longevity.

You’ll also get a complimentary cable cutter, which is made of the same materials and designed in a similar fashion. It doesn’t however, feature anti-slip handles, but it offers the same level of reliability and sturdiness.

Overall, IWSS’s crimper is arguably the best crimper for battery cables as it brings both raw strength and compact, easy-to-use operation to the table. It may not be the most suitable crimping tool for heavy-duty industrial tasks and chores, but it’s among the finest available in its price range.

How To Make Your Own Battery Terminals – The Ultimate Guide

2HYCLAT 10 Tons Hydraulic Wire Battery Cable Lug Crimping Tool

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Highlight features:

• Vinyl grip
• Hydraulic release method of operation
• C-style heads
• Eleven dies (ranging from 2/0 to 12)
• Onboard power controls
• Hardened steel construction
• Chromed finish
• Compact carry case.

Next up we have Hyclat’s 10-ton hydraulic crimper. In comparison to IWSS’s crimping tool, Hyclat’s model is quite a bit stronger and more versatile. Frankly, there aren’t too many similarities between the two aside from the fact that they’re intended for the same purposes.

First of all, hydraulic crimpers are much stronger than manual ones, which means that Hyclat’s crimping tool is ideal for most heavy-duty tasks. It packs eleven sets of crimping dies and rotating heads that can adapt to pretty much any scenario. More specifically speaking, it can handle crimps in the span of 2 to 12 (AWG).

It comes in a sturdy yellow box that offers space and safe storage for all the dies and the crimping tool itself.

The construction of Hyclat’s crimper is rugged, and it can easily endure decades of use and abuse if given proper maintenance. It’s remarkably easy to use as it sports onboard powering controls and a highly ergonomic handle.

Furthermore, it’s even quite inexpensive. Due to its astonishing strength (of 10 tons), eleven dies as far as versatility is concerned, and construction tough as nails, it’s more than safe to say that this may be one of the best hydraulic crimper tool models on the market.

3Sanuke HX 50B Crimping Tool with LK-10A Wire Cutter

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Highlight features:

• 6 dies (8, 6, 4, 2, 1/0)
• Soft rubber grip
• 12 terminal connectors
• Highly precise
• Economic.

This is our best budget battery terminal crimper budget option, which can be used for all kinds of crimping for DIY and household projects. It can also cut cables of up to 50mm2. The jaw is precise enough to apply strong crimping pressure where it’s needed the most. Though it’s on the budget side, the crimping pressure is on par with the strongest wire cutters of this kind.

The crimp head rotates for changing the die and the process is very simple. Just press the springs on the sides of the jaw and you can rotate the dies 360 degrees. This makes an easy and fast switch between cramping cables and wires of different sizes. The handle is great and ergonomic which allows for a strong grip when crimping improving the force transferred onto the cable. It is about 10 in and is coated with soft rubber that adheres to the palm and the fingers well, and it’s soft enough to protect you from blisters.

The connector also comes with additional cable cutter clamps so you can easily cut the cables to the desired length. They are sharp and should be easily sharpened on a grinder. The set also contains up to 12 lug-ring connectors for you to jump-start your DIY projects.

How to Use Sanuke Battery Cable wire Lug Crimping Tool

4TEMCo TH0006 Hydraulic Cable Lug Crimper with 18 Die Sets

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Highlight features:

• High-power hydraulic crimp
• 9 standard dies
• 9 additional non-standard plus-size dies
• Comes with a convenient tool-box
• Suitable for soft wiring and cables as well as heavy-cast lugs, cables, and wires, like thin wall terminals.

We believe that TEMCO TH0006 may be the best hydraulic battery cable crimper for professionals and enthusiasts to have in their tool arsenal. It comes with a very handy tool case that stores all the necessary accessories this crimper comes with.

But first about the crimper. The hydraulic press works very well and reliably applies tremendous pressure evenly around cables and wires. This product easily lugs crimps battery cables, but also welding cables and building wiring. For those that want heavy cast terminal lug crimping this is a product for them. At the same time, it is gentle enough to cramp softer wires and cables (a special technique may be required).

It supports 9 dies for AWG 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1, 1/0 (0), and 2/0 (00). Additionally, TH0006 is packed with 9 more non-standard plus-sized dies, making it suitable for all kinds of cables in the manufacturing industry, service craft, as well as various DIY projects. The die-heads are stored in the convenient toolbox we’ve already imagined, which helps keep the workspace neat and the process smooth.

The dies are as long-lasting as the crimp itself. All of the die-heads are coated with black oxide. This gives them an advantage over chrome-coated die-heads which can chip and flake after prolonged use.

Given all that’s said, we can conclude that this American-made product is an invaluable asset in any lug cramping business and it’s a good long-term investment.

5Goplus 16 Ton Hydraulic Wire Crimper Battery Cable Lug Terminal Crimping Tool

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Highlight Features

• High-pressure hydraulics ensure up to 16 ton-worth pressures
• Widely applicable
• Ergonomic and comfortable handle
• Very precise with 11 dies (AWS 16 and higher)
• Convenient tool-box.

What makes a crimp the best heavy-duty crimping tool? It’s power. Yes, the Goplus hydraulic wire crimper goes far and beyond with pressure gauges, all the way to 16 ton-worth of pressure. This can crimp almost any material that’s not as hard as the tool’s dies.

Speaking of dies, the tool comes in a convenient tool-box with 11 sizes that cover the following sizes:

• 35, 25, 16
• 150, 120, 95, 75, 50
• 300mm2, 240mm2, 185mm2

Noting this crimp tool comes with a larger die pack, it can’t accommodate crimping smaller cables and wires, but it can do more than a great job in a heavy-duty line of work.

The rotating head conveniently spins 180 degrees to adjust to the tight corners and hard-to-reach places in the fieldwork and with heavy machinery. The product is sturdy enough to endure long-term wear and tear from frequent use. The dies are made from hard galvanized steel and can take a punch for quite some time.

There is a safety feature as well on the tool, which triggers if the pressure limit is reached. A safety valve opens any time when pressure threatens to cross the threshold, keeping the tool and the operator safe from damage. The hydraulic crimping mechanism ensures precision and ease of use during lug crimping.

6KOTTO Battery Cable Lug Crimper Tool with Storage Bag

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Highlight Features

• Non-expensive and convenient for the road
• Comes with a wire cutter
• Easy-to-switch die system
• Comes with a complimentary supply bag.

This is in our opinion an easy purchase. It may be the best battery terminal crimper because of its size and convenience since it comes with a handy tool bag. It can sit in the back of the car and wait for the action, ready to crimp those lugs even on the road.

A wire cutter is also included in the package and they are easily recognizable by color, so they are easy to work with even in the dark. The cutter can cut through tougher wires and cables, and it can come in handy for other types of work.

Regardless of its price, the product has proven very durable by many of its users. The material of choice to make it was hardened steel and is coated with a simple anti-slip rubber handle.

Dies come in millimeter gauges, each of it similar to a corresponding AWG:

• 6mm²,10mm², 16mm², 25mm², 35mm², 50mm² (or 8, 6, 4, 2, 1, 1/0)

Despite its size, the crimp tool can create great gauges of pressure in strong and skillful hands. It tightly holds lugs so precision is ensured with the design of the handles, the head, and the dies. The dies are included in the product, so you are practically unable to lose track of them (except if for some reason you decide to take them off). They rotate 360 degrees around and you can set them simply by pressing the mechanism and rotating the heads.

Buying Guide – What to Look for in a Battery Cable Crimper

When looking for the best crimper for the battery bank, what you want are basically three things – enough power, enough precision, and longevity. You never know when you might need it, so it’s best if it’s made of anti-corrosive materials, like steel or chrome.

The tool’s components should be harder than the material used for lugs, but this is standard and you have to be unlucky to stumble upon something that bad. It can be kept in mind though and recalled upon if you get tempted by crimping something made of iron or hardened steel – these can damage the tool and the die if they are not made of material that’s hard enough.

Though you can be happy with the simplest lug crimper for battery cables, the best battery lug crimper for you should be the one that won’t just collect dust when you need to crimp something else, especially if you are into crimp-related DIY.

If you need a simple battery terminal crimper, we believe that the best battery terminal crimper is IWISS Battery Cable Lug Crimper. It has the durability and precision needed for the job, and the ergonomic handle should help you achieve the needed pressure.

When it comes to heavy-duty crimpers, we’d go for the Temco TH0006 crimper because it is a product proven to be good by many experts and amateurs.

Should you be looking for a budget-friendly option, we’d always recommend Sanuke HX 50B Crimper since it has the best balance of durability, size, and pressure quality among the budget options.

Material

Battery Cable Crimpers are made of either aluminum or steel. The difference is that steel crimpers have a harder, more durable finish that is easier to clean. They also generally have a larger crimping range.

Crimping range

The crimping range refers to how many crimps you can get out of a piece of wire before it breaks. For example, a 30-inch crimping range means you’ll be able to get 30 full crimps out of a piece of wire before it breaks.

You may be wondering about the difference between a short-range and a long-range cable crimper.

Short-range crimpers are usually just what the name suggests – they only have a short reach. They’ll do their job, but you’ll need to move around a lot to get a full length of wire crimped.

Long-range crimpers are generally a bit longer, which means you can crimp a whole length of wire at once. They can also be used to crimp multiple lengths of wires at once. This makes them much easier to use.

Setting levels

Setting levels refers to how you’re going to crimp the wire. This will help determine how much tension you need to hold when crimping. The level set on a cable crimper is a tool’s way of making sure that all of the crimped wires have the same amount of tension when the crimp is complete.

Setting levels can make a big difference when it comes to the quality of your cable crimp and is something that you’ll want to pay attention to before you buy a cable crimper.

Dies

A die is what you use to make the crimp on the battery cable. They come in all different sizes and shapes to accommodate the size of wire that you’re crimping.

Cable crimping requires a die of some sort to create the crimp. It’s part of the crimper that actually puts pressure on the wire and creates the crimp. Most cable crimpers will offer a selection of dies, with each having its own unique shape, size, and number of prongs.

For example, if you’re looking to crimp two wires together, the crimper may have a die that has two prongs, and another that has four. If you’re working with three or more wires, you’ll need a different crimping die.

Setting the proper die for your crimping task is important, as it can make or break your project. If you choose a crimping die with fewer prongs than your wire needs, you may have difficulty pulling it apart. On the other hand, a die with too many prongs can be difficult to remove once it’s done crimping.

How to Use a Battery Cable Crimper: A Step-by-Step Guide

A battery cable crimper is an indispensable piece of equipment for crimping battery cables. It’s intimidating to first-time users. With some instruction, though, you’ll soon be crimping cables with the skill of a pro. In this article, you will find detailed instructions for working with a battery cable crimper.

Step 1: Gather the necessary materials
Check that you have everything you need to complete the task on hand before you start. A crimper, cable, and connectors for a battery pack are included. Connectors and cables might cause problems, so make sure you have the proper size.

Step 2: Strip the cable
Using a wire stripper, remove the cable’s insulation at one end. Leave enough slack in the wire so it can be inserted into the connector.

Step 3: Insert the connector
Put the connector onto the naked wire. Make that the connector is fully seated on the wire and that the wires are aligned properly.

Step 4: Insert the cable into the crimper
Insert the connection and wire into their designated slots on the crimper. Make sure the connector is oriented properly and facing the right direction.

Step 5: Crimp the cable
Squeezing the crimper’s handles will crimp the connector onto the cable. Check that all of the wire strands are squeezed and the crimp is secure.

Step 6: Inspect the crimp
Look over the crimp to make sure there are no holes or other imperfections. The weak connection that results from a malfunctioning crimp poses safety risks.

Step 7: Do It Again
Transfer the procedure to the remaining plugs and wires.

FAQs

What can I use to crimp battery cables?

The best thing you can use to crimp battery cables is a cable crimping tool. It is designed in such a way that it applies even pressure to the lug sealing it tightly in place. If you happen to be out of a crimping tool and you need to crimp battery cables, try doing them with regular pliers. It would take a little longer, and the crimp won’t be as even, but it should do the job at least temporarily.

How do you crimp a large battery cable?

In order to crimp a large battery cable, you need to cut the protective coating to the length of your lug. The naked wires should be straight and end at the same length, and their length should be shorter than the lug. If they are longer, try not to keep them exposed to the air because they will eventually corrode. Use heat-shrink tubing. This way you can protect the wires from corrosion and by using different colors, you can easily tell the cable’s polarity. The best crimper for making battery cables is TEMCo TH0006.

What can I use if I don’t have a crimping tool?

To crimp 2 AWG lugs the best hydraulic crimping tool for the job is the IWISS battery lug crimping tool. If happen to need to crimp lugs on battery cables without a crimping tool near you, you can use any type of pliers.

Should you crimp or solder battery cables?

Soldering is not good for connecting battery cables. The wirings in the battery cables are made of thicker copper wires through which electricity flows more easily. The electricity that runs through the wires can create high temperatures at the point of contact, even for a brief moment. Soldering materials are usually not made for enduring these kinds of temperatures in the long run, so metal crimps increase the durability of battery cables.

What is EZ RJ45?

RJ45 is a network interface jack used for the modem interface. EX RJ45 is a connector terminal that easily connects the twisted pair terminations by making the insertion of the wires easy and convenient. The connector is then locked with an RJ45 crimping tool which enables the wires to touch the plates through which the signal goes in and out of the connector and keeps the wires in place.

How to crimp battery cable without a crimper?

Final Works

To sum it up, a cable crimping tool can save you a lot of time and effort when you need to crimp battery cables. We think that the best battery cable lug crimping tool is IWISS Battery Cable Lug Crimper and the best battery wire crimper with a hydraulic mechanism is TEMCo TH0006. They have the best balance of elegance, longevity, precision, and power needed for the job. If you happen to look for a budget-friendly option, we warmly recommend Sanuke HX 50B.

For heavy-duty crimpers, we believe there is nothing better than the HYCLAT cable crimping tool as a hands-on option, which exerts 10-ton pressure on the lugs. The 16-ton hydraulic option we’ve found to be most up for heavy-duty jobs is none other than Goplus 16-ton hydraulic wire crimping tool.