Crimp connector ratings

[netdudeuk]

I have a set of low cost (red, yellow, blue) crimp connectors and I was hoping to put some of the fork ones onto the 240 VAC mains cable supplying a 5 volt 10 amp modular SMPS.  However, they look pretty thin and I’m not sure that I would trust them with AC mains.

I had a look at RS (who didn’t supply these particular ones) but didn’t find electrical ratings as such.  Wire sizes seemed to be the thing there.

Any advice please ?

Thanks

[Kirkhaan]

You could cover them with some heat shrink tube.

[T3sl4co1l]

They are good for as many amps as the wire that crimps into them.

Tim

[Ian.M]

Its not the voltage that matters, its the current.   If they can carry 5A at  12V, they are OK for 5A at any other voltage.  As you are suspicious about their thickness, test them at 10A and low voltage on a similar terminal strip, and if they don't run hot, they'll be fine at 5A.

[Twoflower]

Make sure that you use the right tool to crimp them. Wrong or cheap crimp tools too often fail to do the job reliable. Do a pull test to see if the connection is done acceptable.

[Ian.M]

The pressed steel crimp 'tools' that also strip wire and allegedly cut bolts are generally worthless.  Any tool for diameter colour coded wire terminals must have properly shaped dies that are wide enough to make the crimp in one shot, and enough leverage to fully close the dies on a top quality max wall thickness welded barrel seam terminal, with maximum CSA wire in it.  Most hardware store ratchet crimpers are usable.  Some are better than others.

[netdudeuk]

Thanks for all the replies.

The terminals are all insulated and I have a new ratchet type tool so I'll give it a go.

I've also got a new crimp tool for ferrules as well.  I gave that a go and got a really solid connection.

Did I also say that I've bought a load of those (non-genuine) Wago sprung connectors ?    I've done some tests with those and they hold the cable very tightly.