Thomas & Betts 18RA-8F Fork Terminal, 100 Pack

The 18RA-8F takes 22 to 16 AWG stranded copper wire, and the red insulation is the standard color code for that range. Insulation OD on the conductor can be up to 0.15 inch and still fit inside the PVC sleeve, so it works on typical THHN or appliance wire in that gauge range.

Yes. The 18RA-8F is sized for a #8 stud or screw, so it slides under a #8 terminal screw on a panel, contactor, or terminal strip without removing the screw. Overall the tongue and barrel measure 0.97, 0.31, 0.27, and 0.81 inches across the A, B, C, and M dimensions, with 0.03 inch stock thickness.

Rated 600V, so 480V control and power circuits are within rating. Temperature rating is 105 C, and the vinyl insulation carries a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating. The terminal itself is UL and CSA listed per the product data, and it is RoHS compliant.

The recommended tool is the ERG4001. Other tools listed for these terminals are the WT145C, WT2000, WT112M, and ERG4003. The barrel has a brazed, serrated seam for pull-out strength, so it needs a proper insulated-terminal crimp die rather than pliers to develop that holding value.

A fork (spade) terminal like the 18RA-8F slips under a #8 screw that is only loosened, which is what you want when you are landing or swapping conductors in a crowded control panel or on a terminal block. A ring terminal is more secure against vibration because the screw has to come all the way out to lose the wire, so for vibrating equipment or mobile applications the ring is the better pick. Both land on the same #8 hardware.

The 3M Highland part is a block fork terminal, meaning the fork tines are squared off rather than tapered, which keeps it from backing out from under a captured screw head in a dense terminal block. The Thomas & Betts 18RA-8F is a standard fork terminal with a 0.81 inch fork width across the M dimension and 0.03 inch stock thickness. On crowded control blocks the block style can be the better fit; on general #8 stud work the 18RA-8F covers it.

The 18RA-8F is built for 22-16 AWG conductors on a #8 stud, with insulation accepting up to 0.15 inch outer diameter. If your conductor is heavier than 16 AWG, the stud is larger than #8, or the wire jacket exceeds that 0.15 inch, step to a different size rather than forcing it. For vibration-prone or captured-screw blocks, a block-style fork such as the 3M Highland vinyl-insulated block fork terminal is the design to look at.

Red insulation is the common color code for the 22-16 AWG range, and the 18RA-8F is red, but color alone does not make two terminals interchangeable. Match the stud size as well, which is #8 on the 18RA-8F, plus the 600V and 105 degrees C ratings and UL 94 V-0 flammability if your spec calls them out. The 3M Highland vinyl-insulated fork terminal is the comparable family to check those values against.

Not automatically. The 18RA-8F is qualified for the WT145C, WT2000, WT112M, ERG4001 and ERG4003 crimpers, with ERG4001 the recommended tool. The 3M Highland vinyl-insulated block fork terminal is a separate series with its own tooling, so if you standardize crews on one crimper, staying within one terminal family avoids a second tool in the bag.

They ship 100 to the inner pack with an order multiple of 100, so 100 is the smallest quantity. The outer carton holds 500. Weight runs about 5 lbs per 1000 pieces if you are figuring freight on a large order.

The barrel and tongue are copper with an electro tin-plated finish, which is the standard plating for corrosion resistance and solderability on copper terminals. They are not rated for direct burial or submersion. The extra-long PVC sleeve adds strain relief where the wire flexes coming out of the crimp.

3M's Highland vinyl-insulated block fork terminal is the other insulated fork terminal stocked here. Match it on wire range and stud size before substituting: the Thomas & Betts 18RA-8F is a 22-16 AWG, #8 stud terminal with insulated vinyl sleeving.