Electrical connector crimping die

An electrical connector hydraulic crimping tool for crimping an electrical connector onto a conductor, the crimping tool comprising:

• a hydraulic drive section generally adapted to provide a hydraulic crimping force to an electrical connector crimping die;
• and
• the connector crimping die comprising:
• a first section for connecting the die to the drive section of the crimping tool for movement by the drive section towards a cooperating crimping die;
• and
• a second section connected to the first section for crimping the connector, the second section comprising a generally concave crimp projection of a given height which defines a primary crimp surface and at least one concave shaped secondary pre-crimp surface, the secondary pre-crimp surface being recessed relative to the primary crimp surface by said given height, and wherein the primary crimp surface and the secondary pre-crimp surface are arranged relative to the first section so that about 90-95 percent of a crimping force applied by the hydraulic drive section to the connector crimping die is applied to the primary crimp surface to crimp a first portion of the connector and so that a about 5-10 percent of the crimping force is applied to the secondary pre-crimp surface to pre-crimp a second portion of the connector.