Wire Ferrules - BEST Amp Connection - WHEN TO CRIMP!?

Wire ferrules are a thin copper tube that is tin plated and they really help to clean up our car audio installs and make them more robust. With a wire ferrule we can prevent wires from fraying, we can easily un-install and re-install the wire multiple times without issue, and the wire ferrule securely attaches to the wire in our amplifier or processor. But when do we crimp ferrules and when can we use the amp terminal to crimp them with the set screw? Let's find out!

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[CarAudioFabrication]

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[kevingalv]

WOW! I just installed an amp in my boat and then saw this video. I really hated the way the amps set screws damaged the wires. I had a defective amp and ended up removing and reinstalling many times and the wire kept getting damaged. I pulled the amp one more time and installed ferrules on all power and speaker wires. I never knew ferrules existed before this. Such a clean and professional look.. Thank you!!

[AcreWoodDesigns]

This video single handedly upped my game. My install looks so clean it's scary! Beautiful connections! Thank you so much. 2 DB55s, 2 USS 8", 6 6.5" DS18 Pros, 4 DS18 Tweeters, 2 3.6" Kenwood, 2 Infiniti 6x9s, 2 JBL 6x9s, 2 8" K9s in a sealed box. Thanks again!

[mitsibeaver]

Just ordered my 4 gauge ferrules, gotta do things properly now we know how to. 👍🏼

[CrazyCranker]

Even six years later this video is valuable! I never even knew about wire ferrules. Learn something new every day. :)

[CragonThe]

Great video! Some folks in the comments recommended tinning the wires. DON'T DO THIS! That would be unnecessary and indeed a bad thing. A good crimp connection is gas tight (sometimes referred to as a "cold weld"). There's nothing to gain in using solder. Tinning the cable instead of crimping would also be bad practice. "the reason this is so is that the differing thermal expansion rates of copper and solder cause a problem. The solder in the tinned wire end expands more than the copper (brass) terminal and a big peg in small hole causes the softer metal to yield (it gets softer with increasing heat as well). When the temperature drops later the parts contract again but now the tinned wire end is smaller than it was and causes a bad connection." (Wire termination for screw terminals. (2014, December 29). RepRap)

[bravomike]

Outstanding work! I've been an electrician for 40 years in many different forms. I'm an FAA A&P mechanic and hold an FCC GROL to service avionics. I've designing and installed home and automotive security systems. I've worked commercial and residential electrical work. Both high and low voltage systems. I've repaired autopilots inflight. Several times.

And I'm happy to say I've learned several new techniques here. Really cool.... Thank you!

[chrisrichards]

Well done for spreading the word about ferrules/boot lace crimps! I have been using them for years for electrical / electronic work . The one thing I will say is it didn't look like you had stripped the wire quite enough, the wire needs to reach the end of the ferrule as demonstrated on the first power cable otherwise when you screw down the terminal it only catches the ferrule and not the wire, after a couple of wiggle the end off the ferrule will break off!

[jagtech]

You posted this video right after I ordered a set of ferules for my 5 channel amp, validating my decision. After finishing the install yesterday, I must say, I’m never going back! Ferules for the win!!!

[WindOfTheWisp_Janine]

Thanks for the excellent video! Love ferrules & am surprised that more folks in the US don't know about their uses & how essential they are. Have been using them recently on some projects including my outside AC condenser unit. In other countries, but not in the US, in 120V/220V applications, it is against code to connect stranded wire to screw lug terminals, as it will result in splaying of the strands resulting in a poor connection (wires mashed down & not all strands making a good connection). I installed a SureSwitch contactor to replace my standard contactor in my AC unit. It has screw lug terminals & I used ferrules to make the connections. Even though the connections were round, I still believe that there is better contact than using bare strands. As others have pointed out, there are crimpers that make a hex crimp instead of a square crimp to better fit in round terminals.

[Eebling]

I have been recently watching a lot of videos on car audio, upgrading the factory sound in my 22' Telluride from the pretty unimpressive system it came with. This video was probably the best one to just make the install look cleaner. I ended up ordering the kit through the link and it is so much nicer having those little metal end caps crimped onto the wires than constantly re twisting the bare copper ends anytime I remove a wire to check something and have to get it back into the LOC or amp.!

[xxjcxxxx]

I actually just did my first install and I used ferrules on all my wires 1/0, 4, 14, 16, and 18 awg. I had all insulated ferrules and I would slide on a heat shrink wrap then the ferrule then crimp the ferrule on the side closest to the insulation with pliers (either needle nose or a fatter grip for the big wires) then slide the heat shrink back up just over the insulation and heat it up for a tight fit. This gave a clean result for me and the wires didn't have any issues going into any of the holes.

[PANTYEATR]

this is a real car Audio education. Mark you have come a long way bro 💪

[phxedcwo]

Ordered and used a crimper set after watching this video, works great. I think of all the years of not having this, what a waste.
Thanks for your videos.

[cmart]

You are quickly becoming one of my favorite audo installers. You and steve meade are so informational, it's great. I still don't understand the concept of setting gains/EQ and finding distortion/clipping, but I'm just gonna have to sit down with some SMD tools and read the manuals I guess before starting my next build.

[dfhjgddhh]

My favorite thing is the plebs on Reddit suggesting ferrules cause bad connections. It's incredible the information people are willing to spread without knowing much.

[vermili]

Mark, I have to say, these ferrules are great! I tried them recently to install an extra battery for a friend and the cables look neat, coupled with a heat shield under the hood they look fantastic! Also, they hold on the strands so well it's hard to pull the strands out once they are crimped.

[Laborchet]

And here I was looking for a crimp tool that would do 1/0 and 4awg wires… little did I know, I could just “crimp” them in the very terminal of the amp for a clean and round result!! Here we go let’s install!

[noahzempel]

Did this for my current build because of your videos....ssssoooo glad I did. It has made dealing with wire so much better. Thanks for the videos.

[markust.]

Thank you for all your videos! This one helped me a lot to make decent connections to my amps. As you know, we all are not professionals and your videos gives us just the info we need. So, thanks again and keep doing the good job there!!