2-19
beneath the insulation for extra supporting strength of the wire insulation. Some preinsulated terminals fit
more than one size of wire. The insulation is color coded, and the range of wire sizes is marked on the
tongue. This identifies the wire sizes that can be terminated with each of the terminal lug sizes. (See table
2-2.)
Figure 2-19.—Preinsulated straight copper terminal lug.
Table 2-2.—Color Coding of Copper Terminal Lug or Splice Insulation
Color of Terminal Lug or Splice Insulation
To Be Used on Wire Sizes
Yellow (Bright)
#26 - #24
Red
#22 - #20, #18
Blue
#16 - #14
Yellow (Dull)
#12 - #10
For crimping small copper terminal lugs, several hand-crimping tools can be used for wire sizes
AWG 26 through 10 (figure 2-20). These hand-crimping tools have a self-locking ratchet, which prevents
the tool from opening until the crimp is completed. Some of these tools have a color-coded selector knob
to match the color-coded terminal lug or splice being used. Other tools have a replaceable set of dies for
several wire sizes. The hand-crimping procedure for preinsulated copper terminal lugs in wire sizes No.
26 through No. 10 with the standard hand-crimp tool is as follows:
