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Thread: Coax crimping problem?

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    Default Coax crimping problem?

    Hi all,

    My RG6 crimping tool finally arrived so I can get my sat cables connected up. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong though, or maybe the tool is not the right size?

    It's supposed to be an rg6 crimper, but when crimped my first f-connector, I had some issues. It took a lot of pressure to get the first one squashed, although the second one was easier. I may hav been too close to the connector and on the non-crimp part of the first one maybe.

    Anyway, both the first and the second one, when they did crimp, split the connector metal where the jaws of the crimp tool meet, instead of just all folding into a hex shape with no breaks. I assume the metal isn't supposed to break. I looked at some YouTube videos, but the never show a clear picture of the final crimped connector at the back, only the front.

    Given the split, I just turned the tool and crimped again to squash the split down so it wasn't a jagged edge pointing up. Is this OK as a solution? Everything is tight and secure, although this last measure did push the edge of the connector into the cable a bit more.

    The other thing I was wondering was, do I need to compress the crimp tool all the way until the jaws meet, or is it OK to just squash it enough that it's secured to the cable properly. This may solve the issue of the splitting connector, as it wouldn't be squash down as much.

    Any suggestions appreciated.

    Thanks. Russell.



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    My crimper (from Bunnings) has two hexagonal holes in the jaws...one for RG6 and one for RG59 (the smaller hole)
    The connectors should not be splitting...this must be due to incorrect ends or incorrect crimper and the jaws should meet
    Mine looks like this:

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    Mine has 2 holes as well, but the larger on fits completely over the connector without even touching it.

    Not sure if this links till works, but here's the item I bought


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    I guess the follow up question is :-

    1. If it is the wrong size, will it be good enough if I

    a) Do a partial crimp and work around the connector a few times carefully so it doesn't split

    or

    b) do a full crimp and just squash the split down when done.

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    "The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from"

    Different manufacturers have minor size differences with their connectors.
    That's why the crimping tool has a size adjustment on the side



    The ones you have already done should still be OK as long as the signal cable & it's shielding are not touching & shorting each other together.
    The biggest problem will be when you go to undo it in the future and slice your fingertip open on the sharp metal tear of the busted connector
    Reality is an invention of my imagination.
    ಠ_ಠ

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    Quote Originally Posted by Fernbay View Post
    "The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from"

    Different manufacturers have minor size differences with their connectors.
    That's why the crimping tool has a size adjustment on the side
    DOH!

    Would you recommend going the complete opposite side of the adjuster?

    Thanks for showing me the error of my ways

    Russell.

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    Ok back to square #1.

    I took that bit apart and tried to fiddle around with it, but it doesn't seem to make any difference??

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    Try harder. It's the size adjustment and it has about 8 different positions it can be set in.
    Reality is an invention of my imagination.
    ಠ_ಠ

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    Quote Originally Posted by 8DashP View Post
    Mine has 2 holes as well, but the larger on fits completely over the connector without even touching it.
    I'm thinking you may have RG59 connectors if they don't even touch the sides of the larger hex hole of the crimper and if you try to crimp them onto the larger diameter RG6 cable the split occurs....just a thought

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    Quote Originally Posted by mandc View Post
    I'm thinking you may have RG59 connectors if they don't even touch the sides of the larger hex hole of the crimper and if you try to crimp them onto the larger diameter RG6 cable the split occurs....just a thought
    These are the connectors I have :-


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    I've uploaded a close-up of my crimp tool to flickr, link below, showing a piece of RG6 sitting int he small hole (it's a close fit) and an F-Connector sitting the the large hole. It slides all the way through, without about 1/2mm clearance around the connection end.

    I'm looking at the adjustment plate, but still not sure how it adjusts anything. As I rotate the toothed disk around, it doesn't seem to be adjusting the size of anyway. The small screw comes in & out in the same place regardless. I could take the split link off and pull the whole piece out to see if it adjusts, but from the outside, it seems to be just a single solid axle from one side to the other?



    *EDIT* AHA! If I hold the jaws apart and turn the toothed disk, I see the jaws do move back & forth. I'll fiddle a bit more now.

    Thanks.
    Last edited by 8DashP; 06-05-11 at 10:00 AM.

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    And here I thought I'd cracked it, but I'm still confused.

    The adjustment changes the travel of the handles only. At both the minimum and maximum settings, the jaws still close completely, so how does that adjust the crimp size? I guess less travel makes it harder to put pressure on, but is that it, or am I still missing something??

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    It changes the pressure required for it to 'go over the cam' when it closes up tightly, which controls how much crimping happens

    You do know that the coax goes in side the crimp connector, right?
    Reality is an invention of my imagination.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fernbay View Post
    You do know that the coax goes in side the crimp connector, right?
    LOL, am I making myself look that bad?? Yes, I do know that

    Pressure change hey? Right, got it. OK well, hopefully that'll be the end of this issue then....

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    Your crimping tool doesn't look right for the size of connector and cable.

    It looks more like the smaller hole is for RG59 and the larger hole is RG11.

    I may be wrong, but to me, it just doesn't look like it should for RG6.

    Also, as I have advised in other threads, there are several different sizes of F connectors for various cable types.

    Some variations of RG6 cable thickness are dualshield, trishield & quadshield and there are even variations of cable thickness of the same type from different manuafacturers.

    There are similar variations for RG59 cables/connectors.

    You need to ensure you match the right connector to the specific cable you are using.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mtv View Post
    You need to ensure you match the right connector to the specific cable you are using.
    Well I've posted pictures or links to all the stuff I've bought, and they all say they are for RG-6, so without asking for manufacturer specifications or something, I'm not sure how else I'm supposed to decide when I buy something whether it's the right size or not.

    I'll just make the best of what I have I guess.

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    There should be a Letter 'M' on the crimper near the bigger hole, found a similar looking crimper with an 'L' had the same affect you have, M worked properly for RG6 Crimps, L didn't

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    Quote Originally Posted by 8DashP View Post
    Well I've posted pictures or links to all the stuff I've bought, and they all say they are for RG-6, so without asking for manufacturer specifications or something, I'm not sure how else I'm supposed to decide when I buy something whether it's the right size or not.

    I'll just make the best of what I have I guess.
    That's my point, there are lots of variations of "RG6".

    eg: If you are using RG6 Quadshield, make sure you buy connectors for RG6 Quadshield.

    Mind you, there are sellers who don't know the difference.... especially on eBay.

    Buying on line can be a real gamble, with any product, unless you know exactly what you are buying.... regardless of the description.

    This is where experienced, knowledgable sales people, who are in the 'trade' are your best source.

    Better still, an installer, as they will know exactly what works with what.

    I'm not saying it's your fault, just that there are instances where you can purchase the wrong item, when you don't know exactly what you are looking for.

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    OK.

    Things have worked better after making the adjustments Fernbay recommended, so I have all my cables done up now, but now I have other issues (surprise surprise) which I'll make a new post about.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mtv View Post
    Your crimping tool doesn't look right for the size of connector and cable.

    It looks more like the smaller hole is for RG59 and the larger hole is RG11.

    I may be wrong, but to me, it just doesn't look like it should for RG6.

    Also, as I have advised in other threads, there are several different sizes of F connectors for various cable types.

    Some variations of RG6 cable thickness are dualshield, trishield & quadshield and there are even variations of cable thickness of the same type from different manuafacturers.

    There are similar variations for RG59 cables/connectors.

    You need to ensure you match the right connector to the specific cable you are using.
    Iv'e had the same problem and like you it's the cable and the correct size F connectors. this is what i've found if the cable is hard to push into the F connector your in trouble the connector will crack, then on the other hand if the cable slips into the F connector easily you'll finish up with the perfect job.
    That's my findings anyway.

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