Cracking the Codes for Insulated Wire Ferrules

Insulated Wire Ferrules have so many different colors available, sometimes it’s confusing to navigate.  There are three color codes that have been developed since the early 1970’s.  The three codes available today are:  DIN, W and T.  In some cases, they have the same colors for the same wire sizes but in others, they are vastly different.  Wire Ferrules are specified by the wire size being used, the color code and the barrel length.  We all normally know what wire size to specify as well as the barrel length but when it comes to the color code, sometimes we wonder … What color code should I use?

3 codes defined:

DIN - Deutsche Industrie Normen - German color codes that conform to this norm and act as the Standard for European usage.

W - Weidmuller - Weidmuller developed their own color codes.  They differ slightly from the DIN codes.  Weidmuller does not manufacture wire ferrules.

T - Telemecanique - Telemecanique also derived their own color codes, often called the French codes and they also do not manufacture wire ferrules.

So, at the end of the day, it really does not matter what color code you use, unless you have customer or regional specifications that dictate it. Adherence to one code for best practices, as to not confuse your customers or technicians about wire sizes, is prudent.  The most widely used code is DIN - followed by W and T, respectively.

See the easy reference guide here, as well as the entire product offering:

https://www.americanelectrical.com/viewitems/wire-ferrules/insulated-wire-ferrules/

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