Wagos or crimp?

[1Justin]

Hi, I'm pretty new to this but a first job (and remember the nice man from NICEIC etc needs to be impressed), requires me to extend cables which will be left maintenance free beneath floorboards. - It not being possible to take them back to source.

I've read many of the posts on crimps vs Wagos and boxes. Ignoring the Wagos right now, I have just bought a ratchet tool and some (cable clamp type) choc boxes, idea being to crimp the cables with insulated butt-crimps, enclose all in box (screw cable clamp type). I also have got some self amalgamating tape on the way with the intention of perhaps (or not) going round the whole thing.

Is perhaps the S-A tape an overkill? Maybe I should embrace modernity and begin with Wagos as I mean to continue?

If I do heatshrink instead of the boxes (I have no coloured heatshrink right now -only black), I was supposing it best to offset the three joints, over shrink L&N individually then overshrink the lot (or use self amalgamating?).

What grade/dia of heatshrink is recommended for red (1.5mm), blue (2.5mm) or yellow(6mm) size crimps? And also since I need to crimp 4mm cable, is there a crimp size missing here?

 

[Geordie Spark]

Basically that yes mate, make sure there's no wire showing outside the crimp. Use the right size crimp for the wire & use a good ratchet crimper.

Wot's rong wi' a hammer n bolster like ???? :cowboy:

 

[Specialist]

Ah a Geordie Crimper:tounge_smile: . Every time i try to do that I cut the crimp in half

 

[Geordie Spark]

Ah a Geordie Crimper:tounge_smile: . Every time i try to do that I cut the crimp in half

That's cos it takes a delicate touch.

 

[Specialist]

That's cos it takes a delicate touch.

Oi i've got a Delicate touch, just like a baby Elephants:lol:

 

[1Justin]

OK, getting this thing back on track.

I don't generally go in for cheap tools, but now and then succumb for a moment for a cheap reality check, before I realize I was right all along.

I was passing Toolstation I bought a cheapo crimp tool ("expert" ratchet crimper ahem :lol and some insulated butt connectors (blue). A load of test joints later, and I don't even need to test these. - They wobble, even with the tool wound up to max. I have my table covered in little test pieces and I just can't get a tight joint.

Maybe the bolster really would have been more effective! (So just for fun Geordie, I clouted one with a blunt bolster and guess what - it really did make a better joint!!)

Please don't say "I told you so"..Like I said, I test myself now and then with cheap stuff. Sometimes there is a pleasant surprise (but not often).

I'm going to buy a better one tomorrow, and this will go back. (But would that make me criminally negligent because someone else might just try and use it?)