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| Reviews Summary for West Mountain Radio PWRcrimp Powerpole crimp tool |
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Reviews: 24
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Average rating: 4.7/5
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MSRP: $$49.95
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Description: High performance Powerpole crimp tool for a reasonable price. Crimps all three sizes of Powerpole contacts; 15, 30 and 45 amp. Ratcheted mechanism assures proper crimps every time. Contact positioner holds contacts correctly while crimping. Far faster and better than soldering.
The highest strength and the lowest resistance connections possible. Long high leverage handle makes even 45 amp 10 gauge crimps easy.
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More info: http://www.westmountainradio.com/HAMintro.htm
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write your own review of the West Mountain Radio PWRcrimp Powerpole crimp tool.
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NE4EB
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 20, 2007 12:53
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Changed My Mind About Powerpoles
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have written a rather harsh review on Powerpoles in general. I bought a few bags at a hamfest, and despite trying soldering, crimping (with standard tool), and both, I still found it to be a frustrating experience. I'm still not thrilled with the way the connectors sit in the power strips (pull out with heavy wire), but I digress.
I picked up this tool at AES yesterday. After reading the instructions carefully, including the "addendum" instructions, I went to work. What a difference. Perfect poles each time.
I am now of the opinion that this tool is a must, and hams need to re-consider their love of solder.
We have been conditioned since our early days in radio that everything must have a mechanical and electrical bond. For some (and I used to be this way), the thought of a crimp as the only mechanical AND electrical connection just went against the grain.
I did some research on crimps, and I found that even aircraft avionics shops have policies AGAINST solder in most of their DC applications.
A properly done crimp is all you need for the best electrical and mechanical connection on a powerpole... and it's so much easier.
Regarding the difficulty with the 45 amp connectors, I haven't tried one yet, but the "addendum" that is included in the box now covers various tips for dealing with these.
Bottom line: If you're going to do a lot of powerpole work, and you want them done right, invest in this tool. It will save your sanity.
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W6LBV
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 14, 2007 16:29
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The Simplest Solution
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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For assembling Anderson Powerpole connectors there are a number of ways of bonding cable ends to the proprietary metal lugs: soldering, crimping with inexpensive spade lug crimpers, crimping with expensive industrial-grade crimpers, using a small vice and hammer.......and using the West Mountain Radio crimping tool. Each one will give good results.....IF you understand what you are doing and IF you work carefully.
The virtue of the West Mountain tool is that it is the simplest, most direct and most reliable solution for fabricating Powerpoles. Used correctly (you did read the instruction sheet?) it will make an excellent conductor-lug bond in a few seconds, every time. The reliability of the individual bonds against pull-out of the conductor and the repeatability of the bonding process are both very good. And the crimper-bonded lug always slides into the plastic retainer piece without difficulty. Nothing else I've tried works as rapidly and reliably.
With my parts and tools ready on the workbench, and by working slowly and deliberately, I can make a perfect dual cable end in about two minutes—every time. And I have never been an industrial electrical or electronic technician.
Note that much practical advice about using the entire Powerpole SYSTEM has been published on the Web and elsewhere, allowing mistakes to be avoided and a good power connection system to become even better. It's worth becoming familiar with all of it if you are going to use Powerpoles.
The tool is certainly not inexpensive, but it earns its keep by minimizing frustration and ruined parts. A shared purchase of the tool (and, separately, of bulk Powerpole piece parts) by a group of friends or by a radio club can help solve the cost problem.
You don't believe in making power connections without soldering or otherwise heat fusing metallic conductors? Buried "halo ground" rings for commercial radio sites, made from 0000 bare copper cable and used for lightning/RF protective grounding, are now entirely compression bonded (obviously not with this tool!).
If you commit to using the Anderson Powerpole power distribution system, chosen from all the other distribution options available, then this tool is worth having. It's not absolutely essential, but it is very desirable.
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KD4AC
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Rating: 3/5
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Sep 24, 2006 17:54
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Update
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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While I may have been a bit harsh in my review of the PWRcrimp, I can't say it's the best tool like the others say. Since the blade from one of the poles is permanently lodged inside the plastic recess, I simply removed and started having better results putting the connectors on. However, at least with mine, forget about making any connectors with 45 amp poles because the connector gets stuck in the crimper and you pretty much have to stand on the crimper and pull on the wire with both hands to get the damn thing free from the crimper....and yes, that's with the crimper open. With all the trouble I'm having, it's easier to just use a pair of pliers to fold the tabs of the connector over the wire and just solder them, which will make a better connection anyway.
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K3BOY
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 24, 2006 16:30
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Makes perfect crimps.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I second the previous reviewer's (K6IOU) comments. I found that it helps to slightly squeeze the 45 amp contacts befor putting the contact & wire in the crimper will prevent any possibility of a jam. Also a tiny bit of oil on the jaws help. I've done dozens of crimps and have had 100% success.
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K6IOU
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 24, 2006 15:55
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Work Flawlessly
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This crimping tool works flawlessly 'if' you understand the basic mechanics of what 'is' happening and what is supposed to happen.
After doing many powerpole connectors without them and being 'mostly' successful, now each and every one comes out perfectly and quickly.
A 'must have' if you install powerpoles.
DON
K6IOU
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K2WO
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 24, 2006 13:55
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The Best!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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After using the original crimping pliers that were distributed by West Mountain (worked ok, but not great), I thought that I would give the PWRCrimp a shot. They are THE BEST! They work perfectly and flawlessly. If you are going to use Powerpoles, get one of these tools. They are definitely the way to go.
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N9QNZ
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 10, 2006 16:58
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Ok, but could be better
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is a good tool, especially for the money. But, the design of the plastic "registration" block could have been much better. Basically, I found it is too easy for the contacts to slide too far into the registration block. Also, the contacts can rotate in the block. If the block tooling were modified, both of these conditions could be remedied.
I deal with this problem by very lightly crimping down on the empty contact first (when it is in the proper position) and then inserting the wire for a crimp.
Also, it would be nice if the tool released when the proper crimp pressure has been applied. But, again, this is a $50 tool.
Good for the money. Looking forward to version 2 of the plastic registration block.
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AF0D
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 17, 2006 11:52
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sucks for 45A contacts, but great otherwise
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Having used it a few times, I have been having trouble getting the 45A contacts to crimp properly. Sometimes they work, most of the time they get stuck in the crimper, destroying the contact.
For the smaller, closed contacts, it works just fine.
So, for the money -- if you never have 10 guage wire to crimp, it's a good buy.
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N1KDO
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 26, 2006 16:41
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worth every penny
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This tool is worth every penny. I have not tried the genuine Anderson tool, but I cannot imagine it would work any better. Every other way I have attached power poles has been inferior.
If you are planning on attaching more than a few power poles, this is your best bet...
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