3M Scotchlok Fork Vinyl Insulated, 100/bottle

The MV18 series vinyl insulated fork terminals take 22 AWG through 18 AWG stranded or solid copper, which is 0.326 to .0823 mm2 in metric. Anything heavier than 18 AWG will not seat in the barrel, which has a 0.070 inch inside diameter. They also accept wire with an insulation outer diameter up to 0.145 inch, so heavily jacketed or double-insulated lead will not funnel in.

Both are offered: MV18-8FX for a #8 stud and MV18-10FX for a #10 stud. Match the terminal to the screw or stud on the device, not to the wire. A #10 fork slipped over a #8 screw will have slop under the head and can back out; a #8 fork will not go over a #10 stud at all. The fork slot clearance is 0.29 inch and overall width is 0.34 inch.

Yes. The MV18 vinyl insulated fork terminals are rated 600V for building wire and 1000V for signs, fixtures and luminaires. They are UL listed under file number E23438.

A fork (spade) terminal like the MV18-10FX slides in under a loosened screw, so you can land or remove a wire without pulling the screw all the way out. That is why they get used on terminal strips, fixture blocks and control panels where access is tight. A ring terminal has to come off over the end of the screw, but it cannot vibrate free, so it is the better pick on motors, equipment subject to vibration, or anywhere a code inspector wants a captive connection. The MV18 fork uses a wider-tongue design intended for free-standing studs.

The vinyl insulation is rated from -40 to 221 degrees F (-40 to 105 degrees C), which covers unheated mechanical spaces, attics and rooftop enclosures. The sleeve is polyvinyl chloride over an electrolytic copper barrel with a brazed seam, so the barrel will not split open under a proper crimp.

RoHS 2011/65/EU compliant without exemption, and manufactured in the United States. That matters on government, healthcare and education work where domestic origin and substance compliance both get asked for on the submittal.

Overall length is 0.9 inch with a 0.34 inch overall width, and dimension E measures 0.74 inch. In a crowded terminal block or a shallow fixture canopy, budget that 0.9 inch plus the wire bend radius so the crimp is not levered sideways against the stud.

MV18-10FX for the #10 stud is 3M part 7100098431. MV18-8FX for the #8 stud is 7100165248. Both are the standard fork style in vinyl insulation for 22 to 18 AWG.

They ship 100 per bottle, with 500 units per case. The bottle is the practical unit for a van or a shop drawer; order by the case when you are standardizing a panel build or stocking an MRO crib.