Several different wire & cable accessories are available to help assist in connecting wire to various applications. This includes crimping lugs, wire terminals, end sleeves, and closed-end connectors. Each version performs a different type of function to best meet the needs of the job. Other wire accessories include heat shrink and cable ties. Heat shrink can not only provide insulation, but can also be used like a cable tie to store and organize loose wire and cable.

What are the different types of wire connectors?

Common types of wire connectors include crimping lugs, end sleeves, and wire terminals. They are shaped and bent around the wire to hold it in place. They are used to connect wires to electrical devices, battery terminals, appliances, or even other wires. End sleeves, as the name suggests, are open on both ends so wire can be inserted through either side. They are used to fasten together loose wire strands. Wire terminals, which can also sometimes be referred to as crimping lugs, come in a variety of types, including ring, pin, blade, or fork/spade. Ring terminals can be found in bolt-on connections or on round, flat surfaces. Pin or blade are press-on types, while fork/spade are ideal for screw termination. Closed-end connectors allow multiple wires to be crimped together.

Lugs & terminals are ideal for temporary connections and can also be used to attach larger cables to a smaller connector. They can be insulated or not, with the insulation being used to shield any part of exposed wire. Keep in mind, that while they offer easy installation and detachment, once a crimping lug or wire terminal has been crimped, they are not reusable. When choosing a wire connector, it is important to keep in mind several factors such as compatible size, insulation material, voltage & current rating, and the environment it will be in.

Crimping lugs come in a wide range of sizes, accommodating 22 AWG all the way to 1/0 AWG. End sleeves range from 26 AWG to 1 AWG, with twin end sleeves available to crimp together multiple wires. There are also end sleeve assortment cases that come with several different sizes. The wire terminals come in three main sizes: 20-16 AWG, 16-14 AWG, and 12-10 AWG. These sizes can vary between different manufacturers. The smallest sizes have red insulators, the middle sizes are blue, and the larger sizes are yellow. Insulators can be PVC, vinyl, or nylon material. All these types are made from copper, with many of them being tin-plated. Copper being a conductive material, and the tin plating preventing corrosion.

Wire and cable accessories are currently available from manufacturers such as Hoffman Products (TPC Wire & Cable), Cembre, Mueller, and Z+F. Aside from the case assortments, they are all sold individually.