Ring terminals offer a simple and effective way to terminate the ends of wires. Also known as eyelet terminals, they feature an insulated sleeve with a conductive interior and a conductive ring-shaped tip. You can place the exposed end of a wire inside of the sleeve. After crimping, you can then attach the ring-shaped tip to electrical equipment.
Common Colors for Ring Terminals
While they all feature a similar design consisting of a sleeve and a ring-shaped tip, however, ring terminals are available in different colors. Some of them have yellow insulation, whereas others have blue or red insulation. What do these colors mean exactly?
Size Designation
Ring terminals are typically color-coded based on the size of the wire they support. In North America, as well as some other countries, the American Wire Gauge (AWG) specification is used for wire sizes. It represents the diameter or thickness of a given wire. The larger the AWG, the smaller or thinner the wire.
Many ring terminals are color-coded based on their AWG size. Red, for instance, is often used with AWG 22 to 16; blue is often used with AWG 16 to 14; and yellow is often used with AWG 12 to 10.
Easier Installation
With colors representing their AWG sizes, ring terminals are easy to install. Color-coded ring terminals are typically crimped during installation. They require the use of a crimping tool, which collapses the conductive inner sleeve around the exposed wire, thereby securing the wire in place. Most crimping tools, however, are designed for wires within a specific size range.
Color-coded ring terminals show you the wire size. If you’re using a crimping tool that supports AWG 22 to 16 sizes, you can crimp blue-colored ring terminals. If you’re using a crimping tool that supports AWG 12 to 10, you can crimp yellow-colored ring terminals.
Of course, this is just an example. The exact sizes represented by ring terminal colors and crimping tools may vary. Regardless, color-coded ring terminals make crimping and installation a little easier.
Are All Ring Terminals Color-Coded?
Not all ring terminals are color-coded. Some ring terminals, especially non-insulated ones, are bare metal with no color at all. They are typically used in high-heat areas or tight spaces where insulation isn’t practical. But without color cues, you need to be extra careful about matching wire sizes. Using a crimping tool with the wrong ring terminal/wire size may result in loose or improper installation.
