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Amp capacity of spade connectors
Irony - 28/6/11 at 01:25 PM

I have quite a selection of pre-insulated spade connections. They are all 6.3mm and I have the Red, Blue and Yellow varieties. I have been very careful with wiring and made double sure I use the correct thick wire in the correct location. However I need to connect stuff together etc. I haven't checked what current the 6.3mm connectors can handle. I assumed that if the cable fitted the connector then the connector could handle the current.

Does anyone have any idea what the capacity is of this type connector?

speedyxjs - 28/6/11 at 01:40 PM

The spade connectors i have, have the amperage stamped on them

big-vee-twin - 28/6/11 at 02:27 PM

RED CRIMP

Area, wire size min:0.25mm²
Area, wire size max:1.65mm²
Current rating:19A
Material, contact:Copper
Material, insulator:Coloured Vinyl
Plating, contact:Electro-tinned
Temp, op. max:85°C
Temp, op. min:-20°C
Voltage rating, AC:415V

BLUE CRIMP

Area, wire size min:1.04mm²
Area, wire size max:2.63mm²
Current rating:27A
Material, contact:Copper
Material, insulator:Coloured Vinyl
Plating, contact:Electro-tinned
Temp, op. max:85°C
Temp, op. min:-20°C
Voltage rating, AC:415V

YELLOW CRIMP

Area, wire size min:2.63mm²
Area, wire size max:6.64mm²
Current rating:48A
Material, contact:Copper
Material, insulator:Coloured Vinyl
Plating, contact:Electro-tinned
Temp, op. max:85°C
Temp, op. min:-20°C
Voltage rating, AC:415V

britishtrident - 28/6/11 at 02:45 PM

Nothing to do with cable size but a standard 6.3mm (1/4" Lucar spade connector is rated at 15 amps max. The next size up is 35 amps.

r1_pete - 28/6/11 at 03:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Nothing to do with cable size but a standard 6.3mm (1/4" Lucar spade connector is rated at 15 amps max. The next size up is 35 amps.


True, and its always amazed me how much more vehicle manufacturers demand of them, the ignition switch connectors on my E Type can be called to handle 22-25 amps, i.e. lights on and then hit the starter button, as its a button not a second click on the switch, so the lights dont disconnect during cranking. I'm working on a relay to kill the light circuit when the starter is pressed.

Irony - 28/6/11 at 03:18 PM

Maybe me being fick but Big Vee Twin said that the yellow connectors can carry up to 48A and British Trident says 15amps. Who is correct?

britishtrident - 28/6/11 at 03:57 PM

Yes it is pretty common to see them push way beyond the nominal rating, but I always keep in mind 35 amp spade connectors always gave on alternator plugs because they were operating at too high a current.

[Edited on 28/6/11 by britishtrident]

Staple balls - 28/6/11 at 04:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Irony
Maybe me being fick but Big Vee Twin said that the yellow connectors can carry up to 48A and British Trident says 15amps. Who is correct?


Both?

Looks like Big Vee Twin's numbers are from the crimps, rather than the spades.

02GF74 - 28/6/11 at 04:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Yes it is pretty common to see them push way beyond the nominal rating, but I always keep in mind 35 amp spade connectors always gave on alternator plugs because they were operating at too high a current.



yes, 6.3 mm are used on alternators, higher output alternators have two of them in parallel, not sure what the crossover is from 1 to 2 but it is around 40 A region

daviep - 28/6/11 at 05:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Yes it is pretty common to see them push way beyond the nominal rating, but I always keep in mind 35 amp spade connectors always gave on alternator plugs because they were operating at too high a current.



yes, 6.3 mm are used on alternators, higher output alternators have two of them in parallel, not sure what the crossover is from 1 to 2 but it is around 40 A region


Normally the output spades are 9.5mm the spade for for the warning lamp is 6.3mm.

Davie

02GF74 - 29/6/11 at 01:49 PM

^^^ you may well be right, I was thinking the common size is 4.7 mm so the next size up is 6.3 mm, as used on alternator..... just abot to check now ....

daviep - 29/6/11 at 07:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
^^^ you may well be right, I was thinking the common size is 4.7 mm so the next size up is 6.3 mm, as used on alternator..... just abot to check now ....


4.8mm are used for audio connections and the like.

Davie