42 Draft Designs


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Tech Corner

Crimp Terminals

Crimp terminals are frequently used to connect wire to the gauges and senders that we sell. Often we come across customers who are unfamiliar with crimp terminals and how they work. The following guide is intended to help those unfamiliar with crimp terminals learn how to properly use them. A solid crimp is necessary to ensure a good electrical connection.

From left to right - ring terminals, butt connectors, 1/4" female spade terminals. Red insulation designates 18-22 gauge wire. Blue insulation designates 14-16 gauge wire.

This is a common pair of wire crimpers. Similar crimpers can be had for around $10 at any local hardware store. The first notch is used for red insulated terminals. The second notch is used for blue or larger terminals. The third notch is used for uninsulated terminals.

To crimp a terminal, first strip back 1/4" - 3/8" of insulation from the wire.

Next, insert the stripped wire into the terminal to the stop. Place the assembled terminal and wire into the first notch of the crimpers and squeeze firmly. The terminal will crush around the wire creating a solid connection.

properly crimped terminal - notice the terminal's insulation has not been cut and the wire has been inserted to the stop.

Properly crimping your wire connections is very important. 99% of problems encountered with erratic gauge readings are the result of poor wire connections. Simply squeezing the terminals with pliers doesn't work well enough. All of our wiring kits include the crimp terminals necessary for each gauge purchased.