In article ,
Fred wrote:
Hi,

I just wanted to thank whoever wrote the crimping faq:
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...Cable_crimping

I bought a ratchet crimp and some crimps but neither came with
instructions so I was not quite sure how to use them.

I didn't know whether you had to crimp each end of the butt crimp
(which the wiki tells me I should do) or whether I needed just one
crimp in the middle (wrong).

That's why the article is there. ;-)

When I did some practice crimps, the plastic got "chewed up" and I
wasn't sure whether that was supposed to happen, but I see from the
photos on the wiki that that is right.

Chewed up? It should just take on the profile of the crimp tool without
perforating. It's insulated for a purpose.

So thanks very much, that page has really helped a complete crimp
beginner.

By the way, are all crimps equal or are some better than others? I
bought a selection box from CPC but find the central metal insert can
slide when positioning the cable. Do all of them do this or is it just
that mine were cheap and nasty?

Cheap and nasty. The central stop is pressed etc from the metal part of
the crimp. Or should be. Many of these crimps are of as poor quality as
the crimping pliers supplied with cheap sets, so I only now buy mine from
a decent electrical wholesaler.

I have encountered non-insulated crimps in repairs in the past. Could
the page be updated in the future to give an introduction to these?

The principle is the same. Use good quality terminals and the correct good
quality tool. The problems with crimps is there are so many - and each one
*must* have the correct, often expensive, tool.

--
*Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.