Buy ratchet crimpers from home hardware stores or online suppliers.
As with ratchet crimpers, you can purchase manual crimpers from home hardware stores or online suppliers.
Red wire insulation is 22- to 16-gauge. Blue wire insulation is 16- to 14-gauge. Yellow wire insulation is 12- to 10-gauge. If your wire doesn’t have colored insulation, check the packaging for its gauge.
Most crimping dies have color-coded holes that designate where to put specific colored wires.
If you’re using a manual crimper, hold the jaws of the crimper perpendicular to the wire and continue holding the crimper steadily in this position as you apply pressure to the crimper handles. Place the stripped wire beside the barrel of the connector—it should be approximately the same size or up to 1⁄4 inch (0. 64 cm) longer.
Always twist the tip of the wire, even if it feels compact—this allows for a more positive connection for the connector.
Make sure the wire is not extending past the barrel more than 1⁄4 inch (0. 64 cm).
Never crimp your wire with a slot that doesn’t match your wire’s gauge or insulation color.
For ratchet crimpers, the crimper slot will align the crimper over the barrel automatically—simply apply pressure to the crimper handles and you’re good to go! Make sure that the wire and connector are held firmly together following the crimp by tugging them apart.
Clean the tip of the soldering iron if it gets messy to ensure the connection is as clean as possible. Use a 30-W to 60-W soldering iron that can solder at 500 to 600 °F (260 to 316 °C) for the best results.
Always seal the terminal when your connection is going to be exposed to heat, snow, wind, or rain.
