Battery Crimping

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The main power source of an FRC robot is a 12V 20Ah battery. Each team must terminate the battery, ensuring safe and durable connections.

TOOLS NEEDED:

• 2 Battery Leads – copper 6 AWG, 12′ red/pink and black insulation.

• 1 Anderson SB Connector (Housing and Powerpole connectors)

• Battery Lugs (2)

• #10 or M5 nut and Bolt

• Heatshrink (1/2 inch diameter, black and red)

• Heat gun

• Hydraulic Crimping tool

• Wire strippers

• Wrench

• Copper Epoxy

STEPS: 

1. With copper wire cutters, cut at most a foot length of both the red and black 6 AWG battery cables.

2. Using a Anderson Powerpole connector, measure how far bar to strip the insulation of the wire on one side. The copper wire, when placed into the lug, should be fully covered. 

3. Using a hydraulic crimping tool, crimp the Anderson Powerpole connector onto the end of the wire, give a firm tug to test the crimp. 

4. Moving onto the other side of the wire, measure how far back to strip the insulation using a 1/4 inch ring terminal. Once stripped, place heatshrink onto the wire, and crimp the ring terminal into place using the hydraulic press. 

5. After both ends are terminated, place the heatshrink over the end of the wire insulation and beginning of the terminal, using a heatgun, shrink the wrap into place, protecting and securing the lead.

6. Place another piece of shrink wrap onto the wire. Place the ring terminal aligned with the metal terminals on the battery. Lightly coat the area with Copper Epoxy, increasing conduction, and then screw the leads into place with bolts. To do this you’ll need one wrench to hold the nut, while another wrench cranks it tightly. 

7. Once the lead in connected, and tightened into a vertical alignment, pull shrink wrap over connection, and heat into place with the heatgun. 

8. Once process is done to both the positive and negative side, push the Anderson Powerpole connectors into the correct sides of the Anderson SB Connector. Give a tug test.

9. You’re done!