Reddit reviews Gardner Bender GS-388 Electrical Pliers, Crimper & Cutter, Comfort Grip, Aluminum & Copper Wire, Hand Tool, 8 in.
We found 4 Reddit comments about Gardner Bender GS-388 Electrical Pliers, Crimper & Cutter, Comfort Grip, Aluminum & Copper Wire, Hand Tool, 8 in.. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
CRIMPS 22-10 AWG non-insulated terminals8 in. high leverage design and a NON-SLIP COMFORT GRIP HANDLEEASILY CUT copper and aluminum wireTAPERED NOSE for cutting in tight locationsMade with DROP FORGED STEEL for longevity and durability
Powerpole crimpers, $9 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00079LN1Y/
Those are what the local ARES group swear by. Can buy them at home depot/lowes, too, but they might want $12 for them.
Yellow is color coded for 10-12 awg, it would be best to use an insulated crimper then. I would recommend the Titan Tools Crimper under $20, i have had it for over a year and use it nearly every week. It is ratcheting so it makes it easier to crimp and always crimps the proper amount. For a less expensive option you could buy the Gardner Bender Crimper under $10 or something similar. I haven't used that specific tool, but i have used hand crimpers and they get the job done, but you need to make sure you crimp the proper amount. Gardner Bender is a good brand, not top quality, but will last a long time and will work properly when taken care of.
I've never used those types butt connectors, they look like a pain in the ass to be honest. Do the conductors have to be overlapped to crimp together correctly? That's how it looks.
This style connector with this tool is pretty much foolproof, cheap, easy. Be sure to hit them with a heat gun (or lighter, if you're a masochist) to get the heat shrink and adhesive going.
I just used a wire crimp tool similar to this and some wire butt connectors, like these.