How-To Cut, Crimp and Heat-Shrink Large Gauge Wire on Your Boat

Today Jake is going to demonstrate how to cut large gauge wire using his favourite cutting tool. He will then show you how to crimp and heat-shrink the connection for installation to an MRBF fuse.
Read our Tech Talk Article from Pacific Yachting Magazine, "DIY Electrical Audit", www.pysystems.ca/resources/te...
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[@mrwiik644]

Genius, I love instructional videos, especially from professionals like you guys 😀

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Michael, appreciate the feedback.

[@davidncw4613]

This Jeff will need to share a bit of gratitude and kudos with Jake on this one. Thankyou Lads!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks David.

[@HarryLevinson]

This is a a great video. Very clear addressing many questions I have had.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hullpros7380]

Very nice video with clear information/instructions. Thank you!!!👍

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Glad it was helpful!

[@erniesanders3724]

Great tips. Thanks from Western Kentucky.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonymarino4260]

this is the gold standard thanks

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks.

[@benjaminwise8614]

thanks!

[@1irlmike]

thank you!!!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

You're welcome!

[@joedunn6038]

Very helpful Thank you! Off topic question: I am currently wiring my solar panels to charge my house bank. Can I just stay with 10 gauge wire to the battery or do I need to increase the wire gauge?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Joe, depends on the size of your solar array, make sure the array doesn't output more then 30 amps (max rating of 10 gauge wire).

[@Traiden_]

What brand crimper do you recommend? That one looks great!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

for big cables the ftz www.fisheriessupply.com/ftz-industries-correct-crimp-heavy-duty-crimp-tool-standard-model/94284

[@borysnijinski331]

Aren’t there proper wire strippers for stripping insulation off of large wires to avoid having to use a knife and risk cutting strands?

[@drheaddamage]

yes there are, but you'll still have to set the cutting depth. For example this one: www.amazon.de/dp/B003A6D27E/

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Borys, good question, with practice you get to know the right pressure to exert on the blade. Different cable manufacturers have different wire jacket insulation which makes preset strippers hard to use on varying wire jacket insulation.

[@HarryLevinson]

Should you ever add dielectric grease before crimping? How do you handle odd angles with heavy gauge wire? That is where there is not room to comfortably lead the wire straight off the terminal. Are there angled lugs?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

We've never done this before, not sure it's required. You might have to slightly bend a lug connector to get to fit a terminal, but we rarely do that.

[@jdy2kgt]

Why is the solar controller going to to fuse block instead of going right to the bus bar with its own MRBF fuse? I would think anything running off that fuse block would be getting its power directly from solar vs. The batteries this way?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Sorry for the confusion, a solar array, like other charging sources, should be connected directly to the battery or a unswitched positive distribution. Effectively, you want your solar array to always be connected to the battery even with the battery switch off.

[@davidwhite2011]

How do you feel about filling first the lug and then under the shrink wrap with di-electric grease to keep out water and later corrosion?

[@thangknowa2567]

Not filling, just a light dab will do.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Never tried this before, anyone else can chime in?

[@scottcromar8242]

I could not help noticing that the wires going to the charge controller have crimped terminal ends. Those are ferrule terminals, correct? What style ferrule ends; rectangular or hexagon are you having the best luck fitting the popular charge controller terminals? Thanks for the great content you post, Scott

[@PacificYachtSystems]

The ferrules we use, when possible, are hexagonal ferrules, But unfortunately sometimes the terminal strip with a device isn't big enough to fit a ferrule terminal.

[@aphrodite3216]

I though you are supposed to fuse at the battery???

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Yep, most circuits are fused near the battery but not necessarily on the battery, for example an ANL fuse holder cannot be mounted on the battery post itself, but as a separate fuse holder located near the battery.

[@drheaddamage]

Looks like compact hydraulic crimpers and cutters would be handier on a boat...

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Could be, always nervous about a tool not controlled by your own motion (albeit difficult). Anybody else use hydraulic or electrical power crimpers?

[@drheaddamage]

@@PacificYachtSystems Ah yes, I wasn't thinking about the battery operated ones, but the ones with the lever compression system like this one: www.mcmaster.com/cable-crimpers/hydraulic-compression-lug-and-splice-crimpers-7/ There you still have the manual control of the crimping process, but in a more manageable package.

[@stormer6364]

This guy sounds Australian and a little American too ✌

[@davidncw4613]

Oz n Yanks are the same cloth, outlaws from the crown! Ozzies got caught, Yanks got away! Rogues and brothers all, Cheers!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Jake is originally from Australia.

[@Nixontheman]

Jeff’s outro: …happy to donate my time….. Also Jeff’s outro: ..buy something from our store or donate money🤔

[@PacificYachtSystems]

No pressure, we post our content regardless of funding, but appreciate any help we get.

[@Nixontheman]

@@PacificYachtSystems I was just messing with ya, good Tube

[@timothysomers2489]

I'm totally confused as to why you didn't just use hand cutters instead of a big 2 handed heavy set. Makes no sense. None.

[@oceanrider68]

To get a clean, square cut. You need the big lug crimper, use the big cutter.

[@larryblanchette3554]

Can you discuss what crimpers (brand/lug range) you use, also lugs (starter vs power)

[@borysnijinski331]

You could try the hand cutters, but on this size you will get a horrible result that will not fit into the lug properly.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Timothy, sounds like you have lots of arm strenght. A 4/0 wire is definitely hard to cut with just hand pliers we found. Which 4/0 wire cutter do you use frequently.