Crimping tool recommendations & connection question

[RMB]

I’ve had a quick search on here and looked on eBay and Amazon.
Can anyone please suggest some crimping tools that will work down to the smallest size used on E85s, so will crimp the tiny canbus wires and upwards? Any good?.. https://ebay.us/m/wMYrZn

Also on my new amplifier wiring the extension loom and harness ground and power wires both have female bullet connectors. Not helpful!
I don’t want to simply cut off one end. So what’s the best thing to do?
I’ve looked for male to male connections without any luck.
I may just get 4 male bullet connectors and wire to join it all up, but conscious of introducing too many joins in the chain and potentially messing up the circuit.

 

[smorris_12]

Those aren't bullet connectors, those are butt crimps. The other end takes another wire for crimping. If you've not got one, a ratchet crimper will make a decent job of connecting that to wherever.

I've got one of the crimping tools in your link and it works a treat for pin connectors. I usually nip the two sets of wings in a bit with small pliers before crimping - their often a bit too wide apart for the shapers and it keep the connector on the wire while wangling it into the tool.

 

[RMB]

Thanks very much @smorris_12 !
So I have (presumably female) butt crimps at the end of both the two sets I need to connect.
So I just get some more bare wire of the same gauge and crimp both looms together?
No other plugs etc needed?

I’ll order that tool then. Thank you.

 

[Pondy]

Those 'through crimps' or 'butt crimps' are yellow, which in the UK are for 4-6mm2 cable. Obviously they aren't that big, so I would cut those off and get some red (1-1.5mm) or blue (2.5mm) through crimps, depending on the size of your cables, as you know a crimper will fit them properly.

Ratchet crimpers are OK, but I prefer my cheap open-type one, as it is easier to use in confined spaces (and has wire stripping holes).

Soldering will always be better than crimps, but not always practical and you've got to know what you are doing.

One piece of advice: stripping small multi-strand cables really needs a cable stripper. If you use side cutters, or a knife, it is so easy to cut a few strands of your wire, even if you are super-careful.

 

[Pondy]

So I have (presumably female) butt crimps at the end of both the two sets I need to connect.
So I just get some more bare wire of the same gauge and crimp both looms together?

If you want to join the red to red and black to black in the picture, just cut one connector off each. You don't need extra cable, unless you need to extend it. I would change the crimps, though.

 

[RMB]

Thanks very much @Pondy
Have you got a link for your tool?

 

[Pondy]

Thanks very much @Pondy
Have you got a link for your tool?

I use one of these. They are more 'mains electrical' orientated, but you can use red (1.5mm) crimps on any small cables. Just fold the ends over to make them larger.
These type of crimper also have holes to cut machine screws, or small studs.

Minotaur Crimping Tool

A must-use when working with electrics, Minotaur's 215 mm crimping tool will easily perform a range of wire-related jobs. This handy bit of kit is small enough to work with fiddly electrics but tough enough to deal with whatever big tasks are thrown at it. Whether you're crimping for a terminal...

www.toolstation.com

 

[Pondy]

Have you got a link for your tool?

I have but that is on an adults-only 'specialist' forum!

 

[RMB]

I was careful with my Google searches not to type in “male double ender”!

 

[Spriteracer]

Just to add to the confusion there are at least 2 kinds of ratchet crimper tools. For un-insulated connectors (2001) and for insulated connectors (2003).

Also I agree soldering is often best - particularly where the wire is to be loomed. I know a couple of race engineers though who won't do it as the solder has been known to fracture with vibration. Probably not an issue on a road car and I have done it myself a few times but possibly an issue on track cars.

 

[B21]

If you don't need to disassemble the wires a far better solution is a solder connector

Much more reliable than a crimp connection..doesn't corrode when damp..

Gave up on crimps years ago..of course if you have to use an existing spade terminal then..

Amazon.co.uk : solder shrink tube

 

[SV8Predator]

Get to agree (for a change) with Mr B21: crimp connectors are real bodge-it stuff.

 

[RobbiZ4]

Can anyone please suggest some crimping tools that will work down to the smallest size used on E85s, so will crimp the tiny canbus wires and upwards? Any good?.. https://ebay.us/m/wMYrZn

IMHO these tools are to heavy. On a desk it's ok, but when working in the car to replace a terminal contact it's a mess.

Years ago I discovered a lightweight tool that perfectly crimps MQS pins with its "front teeth":