Sta-Kon RA2217-170 LOCKING SPADE TERMINAL

The RA2217-170 is sized for 22 to 18 AWG stranded wire. The red insulation is the standard color code for that gauge band, so if you are crimping 16 or 14 AWG you need a blue-insulated terminal instead, not this one.

A locking fork terminal like the Sta-Kon RA2217-170 has turned-up tangs at the open end of the slot, so once it is seated under a screw head it resists being pulled straight off sideways. A plain (flanged or straight) spade slides out if the screw backs off. On panel and control terminal strips that see vibration, the locking style is the one to use; where you want to drop the wire on without removing the screw at all and vibration is not a factor, a plain fork is fine. A ring terminal is still the most secure, but it requires taking the screw all the way out.

It is vinyl insulated. Vinyl is the common general-purpose sleeve for control and low-voltage terminations, but it is softer and less heat tolerant than nylon. If the termination sits in a hot equipment enclosure or anywhere you need the extra abrasion and temperature margin, specify a nylon-insulated locking fork in the same 22-18 AWG range instead.

Order Sta-Kon RA2217-170. That is the single model designation for this red vinyl insulated locking fork terminal in the 22 to 18 AWG range, so there is no finish, stud size, or packaging choice to specify beyond the part number itself.

Sta-Kon insulated terminals are crimped with an insulated-barrel crimp tool matched to the red 22-18 AWG color band. A standard insulated terminal crimper with color-coded nests works; the cheap combination stripper-crimpers often under-form the barrel on 22 AWG. Do not use a non-insulated (open barrel) die on this part, it will split the vinyl sleeve.

Country of origin on the RA2217-170 is the United States, which is what institutional and government buyers need when a job carries a domestic-sourcing requirement on electrical components.