how to attach terminals on power/ground wire

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

ok im gonna go ahead and wire up my power/ground , but how do i attach the little red / black terminal thingys on the ends of the wire? there the kind with a metal piece sticking out of a little rubber piece (so you can attach it to battery or screw it down for the ground) and the rubber piece is either colored red / black and it extends out to cover the wire...

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[Vestax 10+ year member]

Do it the inexpensive way: a hammer

 

[Vestax 10+ year member]

Now if the wire is already in the car, then you need to get a crimper, like a Channel Lock crimp/cutter at Home Depot.

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

Depending on the size of the wire I would just use a crimper/cutter (like from Klein Tools or Channel Lock) If it is larger then 4 guage though I would just bust out the hammer... I hate crimping ends on 1/0

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

And then solder it to ensure that it does not come off. If you have access to a small butane torch, this is the best way to go to ensure a solid connection in the engine bay.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

All of the above; Whack it with a hammer, crunch it in a vise or some pliers, solder it, and slap some heatshrink over it.

 

[Blunt 10+ year member]

i have this nifty little tool you stick the wire in and the ring terminal let the thing down and hit it with a hammer it crimps em nice and they never come apart now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

A hammer, LMAO you guys are ghetto.A hammer will not give you a good crimp.

Vice ftw!

 

[THUNDERBIRD 10+ year member]

i normal use a hammer or plyers and crimp one side down first the the other side so it lays ontop of the first.

 

[Blunt 10+ year member]

A hammer, LMAO you guys are ghetto.A hammer will not give you a good crimp.
Vice ftw!

well depends on what tool goes with the hammer

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

A nice heavy duty vice is how it should be done.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Large standard screwdriver + mini sledgehammer followed by vise followed by solder.

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

While we are kind of on the subject. how do YOU guys bare large wire, like 4awg and larger? I always use a pocket knife, but I dont know how other people do it. I don't know if they even make a wire stripper for that big of wire, but as I said, I dont have use, I just use my pocket knife. Curious to see how you guys strip them?

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

we got it all thanks for the input

also for stripping large wire i just use normal scissors , i cut the wire so as not to go through the metal then just spin the scissors around the wire so it cuts it all easy

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I've found that using a coaxial cable stripper, like what you see the satellite/DSS install guys using, works better than just a utility knife or scissors alone...

You can set the tool to full open, and twirl it twice around the jacket - instantly cut.