Page 42 - IEC Insights Jul-Aug19

FEATURE

The proper installation of terminals, splices and connectors is very important to the In 2016, after Thomas & Betts became
efficient performance of an electrical system. The properly installed connector will part of ABB Group, it introduced the
allow good conductivity through the termination; a poor termination results in a high Sta-Kon® BAT22-6NV2 electromechanical
resistance connection. A poor connector installation may also cause damage or failure micro-crimping tool, which features one-
of an entire system. leveler operation to control all tooling
functions. An electronic control with a
lock function monitors the complete
Certain basic requirements must be met to make a good termination: closing of the dies. The BAT22-6NV2
tool also offers automatic retraction
1. The proper size and type terminal must be selected to match the wire/cable when the crimp is complete, with
being terminated. manual retraction when needed. Its drive
technology enables it to crimp with
much less effort from the operator.
2. The proper type terminal (e.g., non-insulated vs. insulated) for the conditions
specified must be selected. These innovations were developed to
ensure safety and efficient production.
Errors in crimping include failure to

3. The wire/cable must be properly stripped and prepared.
match the correct connector to the wire,
poor crimp quality and improper crimp

4. The terminal must be properly installed. ABB recommends installing tools equipment. While the BAT22-6NV2 tool
that have Shure-Stake® compression control mechanisms to assist in making applies electronic technology to control
proper installations. and monitor die crimping, this technology
is also being incorporated to minimize
the chances of error in die-less crimping.
5. The terminal must pass a secureness and tensile test to demonstrate its

mechanical strength. Designated ABB terminations are designed to meet
applicable UL, CSA and military requirements. APPLYING TECHNOLOGY
TO DIE-LESS CRIMPING
6. The termination should remain stable during current cycling tests. ABB Group offers an example of this with
last year’s release of the Smart® Tool+
die-less crimper, which can scan Color-
7. The conductivity of a terminal joint should be equal to or greater than that of an Keyed® Smart lug characteristics, verify
equal length of conductor, so that it can safely and properly carry the maximum crimp quality and store data that can
current load likely to be imposed. be uploaded into the cloud for storage
and retrieval. It uses the Microsoft Azure
cloud computing service. The Smart Tool+
crimper offers a variety of functions that
For example, Thomas & Betts, which ABB TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES apply current electronic technology to
acquired in 2012 and integrated as its FOR CRIMPING TOOLS assist with not only crimping itself, but
Installation Products business line last In 2010, Thomas & Betts introduced with recording crimp information for
year, introduced several new tools in the quality control and standards compliance.
last decade that applied technological the Color-Keyed® HEX-FLEX™ crimping
die series, which combined the best
advancements to crimping. Among The Smart Tool+ crimper, which is used
these tools was a 6-ton battery-powered attributes from indent-style and hex-style with Color-Keyed Smart lugs from 3/0
crimping. The HEX-FLEX™ die system
crimping tool that was released in 2007 AWG to 750 kcmil for copper and 1/0
and enabled one-handed operation combines the pullout resistance of AWG to 600 kcmil for aluminum, connects
indent-style crimping with the embossing
with lighter weight and ergonomic with an indent-style crimp that is precisely
design. In addition, the jaws were of the die code onto the connector that calibrated to the lug and wire through
hex-style crimping offers to facilitate
designed to rotate to facilitate crimping pressure sensing and preset indentation
in tighter, more confined spaces. inspection. Its higher pullout values levels. The configurations are more
also enables it to reduce the number of predictable than those produced with
crimps required for most connectors. most die-less crimpers. Connections are

40 Insights Magazine | July/August 2019 | www.ieci.org