Cable Ferrules Selection Guide
Cable ferrules come in insulated single-entry, double-entry and non-insulated types; collar color shows the cross-section; none on solid conductors.
This guide covers the points to look at when choosing products in the Cable Ferrules category.
Ferrule types and where they are used
- Insulated single-entry ferrules: The plastic collar guides the strands into the barrel and covers the end of the conductor insulation. In the Gwest and Konsan product data, the collar material is given as nylon and the operating temperature as up to 105 °C.
- Double-entry ferrules: Gathers two conductors in a single barrel; 2 x 1,5 mm² in the product name means two conductors of 1,5 mm² each. Used on jumper wires running from terminal block to terminal block and wherever two conductors will enter a single clamping point.
- Non-insulated ferrules: A plain barrel without a collar; preferred at narrow, dense connection points where a collar does not fit.
Ferrules are not used on solid single-core conductors, since there are no strands to spread out.
How the collar color shows the cross-section
The names of insulated products state the French standard or the German standard. Within the same brand, the barrel and length dimensions of a given cross-section are the same in the two series; what changes is the collar color:
- 0,5 mm²: French standard white, German standard orange
- 0,75 mm²: French standard blue, German standard white
- 1 mm²: French standard red, German standard yellow
- 1,5 mm²: French standard black, German standard red
- 2,5 mm²: French standard gray, German standard blue
- 4 mm²: French standard orange, German standard gray
- 6 mm²: French standard green, German standard black
- 10 mm²: French standard brown, German standard beige
- 16 mm²: French standard beige, German standard green
The same colors are used for double-entry ferrules. DIN 46228-4 defines a third color series; in this series, for example, 0,75 mm² is gray and 6 mm² is yellow. When buying replacements, look not only at the color but at the standard and cross-section in the product name.
Barrel length and overall length
In the product data, F shows the length of the metal barrel and L the overall length including the collar. For a 1,5 mm² insulated single-entry ferrule the barrel is 8 mm and the overall length 14 mm; for a 6 mm² ferrule the barrel is 12 mm and the overall length 20 mm. Compare the barrel length with the stripping length given by the terminal block or device manufacturer: a short barrel does not fill the clamping point, and a long barrel protrudes from it.
At the same cross-section the barrel length can vary. The Konsan 2,5 mm² non-insulated ferrule is listed in 8 mm and 12 mm lengths; for the double-entry 2 x 2,5 mm² ferrule the barrel length is 10 mm in the Gwest and Isıso data and 8 mm in the Konsan data.
Crimping and installation points to watch
- Strip the conductor to the barrel length; the strands must reach all the way to the end of the barrel, and no bare strands should be left outside the collar. Suitable tools are in the cable stripping tools category.
- Crimp the ferrule with pliers whose cross-section range matches. Among the ferrule crimping pliers there are models that press square and hexagonal profiles; the shape of the terminal block entry determines which is suitable.
- Soldering the wire end does not replace a ferrule: solder has low compressive strength, changes shape under screw pressure and the connection may loosen.
- In spring-type push-in DIN rail terminal blocks, a flexible conductor with a ferrule is inserted by pushing, without a tool.
Order notes
- The ferrules in this category are sold by the pack (box): enter the number of packs in the quantity field. The box contents are given in Konsan product names (such as 1000 pcs/Kutu); for other brands, check the product page.
- In Gwest codes, IYA and IYF indicate insulated, CYA and CYF double-entry and KY non-insulated ferrules; the last letter A is the German standard and F the French standard. In Isıso codes, VEA and VEF are insulated, TEA and TEF double-entry and IY non-insulated types. In Konsan product names the standard is written out.
- Sets that bring different cross-sections together in one box are in the cable terminal and ferrule sets category.
Comparison and selection table
| Selection Criterion | Single Insulated Wire Ferrule | Twin (Double-Entry) Insulated Ferrule | Uninsulated Copper Wire Ferrule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Terminates a single fine-stranded (Class 5) wire | Bridges two conductors cleanly into one terminal clamp | Terminates stranded wire in compact or high-temp terminals |
| Cross-Section Range | 0.50 mm² – 50+ mm² (DIN/French color-coded collar) | 2×0.50 mm² – 2×16 mm² (oval flared insulation sleeve) | 0.50 mm² – 70+ mm² (tin-plated electrolytic copper) |
| Barrel Length (L2) | 8 mm (standard), 10 mm, 12 mm or 18 mm (spring cages) | 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm or 14 mm | 6 mm – 25 mm matched to terminal stripping length |
| Key Check | Match conductor mm² to ferrule collar & crimping die | Use twin ferrule instead of twisting two single ferrules | Ideal where plastic collar will not fit terminal entry |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between German standard and French standard ferrules?
The difference is in the collar color; within the same brand, the barrel and length dimensions of a given cross-section are the same in the two series. For example, a 1,5 mm² ferrule is black in the French standard and red in the German standard; a 2,5 mm² ferrule is gray in the French standard and blue in the German standard. Since the color is used to tell the cross-section apart at a glance, mixing the two series in the same panel can lead to misreading.
Which color ferrule is used for a 2,5 mm² cable?
The color depends on the series chosen. In the French standard the collar of a 2,5 mm² ferrule is gray, in the German standard it is blue; in the DIN 46228-4 series, 2,5 mm² is also blue. The same colors apply to double-entry 2 x 2,5 mm² ferrules. When buying, look not only at the color but at the cross-section value in the product name, because the same color shows a different cross-section in another series.
When is a double-entry ferrule used?
It is used where two flexible conductors will be connected to the same clamping point, for example when making a jumper from terminal block to terminal block. Because the two conductors are crimped together in a single barrel, the strands do not spread out. A value such as 2 x 1,5 mm² in the product name means two conductors, each of that cross-section. Whether two conductors can be connected to one clamping point is checked from the data of the terminal block or device manufacturer.
Which pliers are used to crimp a ferrule?
A ferrule is crimped with ferrule crimping pliers whose cross-section range matches the ferrule. The store has models that press square and hexagonal profiles; the shape of the terminal block entry determines which profile is suitable. Flat pliers or side cutters do not squeeze the barrel all the way around and the conductor may pull out of the barrel. After crimping, the conductor is pulled lightly to check that it holds.
Can a ferrule be fitted to a single-strand cable?
A ferrule is used to keep the strands at the stripped end of a multi-strand (flexible) conductor from spreading out and breaking under the screw. A single-strand conductor has no strands to spread out, so a ferrule is not needed; the conductor is connected directly to the terminal block. Since the cross-section ranges a terminal block accepts for solid and for stranded conductors may differ, the manufacturer's data should be checked.
Can the wire end be soldered instead of using a ferrule?
Soldering the end of a multi-strand conductor and connecting it to a screw terminal block does not replace a ferrule. Solder has low compressive strength; under screw pressure the soldered end changes shape over time, the connection loosens and contact resistance may increase. A flexible conductor is prepared with a ferrule for a screw terminal block and with a cable lug for a bolted connection; if the terminal block accepts a flexible conductor without a ferrule, this is stated in the manufacturer's data.