First time using FTZ crimper

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JDCAVE

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Apr 3, 2011
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Phoenix Hunter
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Kadey Krogen 42 (1985)
I have just purchased a new FTZ crimper. I have 2/0 cable and Vertex 5/16 heavy duty lugs for 5/16 stud. The crimper shows two possible settings. One is for battery terminal power lug, and specifies “left A” and the other is for flared/starter lug, and “left E” and “right A”. There is a slight flare on the lug, so should it be “left E” and “right A”? Cheaper to confirm first rather than recrimp.

Edit: can’t edit the title! “First time USING!”

Jim
 
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Thanks, Don. Yes, I've gone through that particular essay by CMS quite carefully.

Note: CMS's technique for cable cutter to the cable is the bomb! I always fiddle-fugged with a construction knife for this and his technique is way better. Mind you, I also have a brand new pair of cable cutters which makes things easier.

Jim
 
The FTZ is said to be a quality crimper. It will be designed to naturally use the FTZ lugs. But you have Vertex lugs, which is probably not the end of the world.

The left A setting is likely for FTZ's Power lugs which have a thicker wall thickness, no flare and are color coded, in your stated size it would be with a couple of black bands on the barrel of the lug.

The left E & right A setting is likely for FZT's Starter lugs which have a thinner wall thickness and a flare to make conductor insertion easier.

Vertex's lugs are likely more akin to the latter.

I would do this. Try a crimp using the power lug setting and your Vertex lug and cable as it will result in a larger diameter finished crimp. Then on the same crimp try the starter lug setting which should reduce the diameter slightly. If the crimp itself has not bent the barrel of the lug significantly but just squeezed it smaller, you should be good to go with the starter lug setting for the Vertex flared lug. Some experimentation/judgement is to be expected as FTZ has no clue as to the size of the Vertex lugs.

Additionally it's not uncommon that 2 crimps per barrel are called for, read the instructions to see if that is required.

If you are at all concerned as to the quality of the final connection you could pull test the lug to the load as defined by ABYC, which by the way is relatively low compared to all other authorities or you could buy the FTZ lugs which should result in a quality connection.

I have confidence that you will make the Vertex lugs perform quite well.

If in the end you are still not confident with the crimp, PM me and I will do what I can with my T & B hydraulic crimper to make things right, I'm local in Pt. Moody.
 
Thanks for the offer. I did a test crimp with the “Left E, Right A”setting for Starter/Flared lugs. This is a first attempt. It seems decent, although a bit rough. Heat shrink to follow. This short cable for series connection, to T-105 bank.

69879572781__B5E468AC-5E80-4771-BB52-85413F38F0C2.jpg
 
Good choice on using the inter-battery series connection to do the test with as those connections typically carry the lowest current. The crimps look just fine, from my vantage point here in the bowels of Whalley.

You might want to consider a pull test to prove your work. ABYC's E11 says that 2/0 is to withstand 150 lbs, while UL 486 wants double that at 300 lbs and the military guys need 750 lbs. to pass. No wonder toilet seats cost $1,000.00

Good luck with the remaining crimps.
 
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