4 Types of 2 AWG Compression Lugs
There are four kinds of compression lugs. There is the one hole, two hole, short barrel and long barrel options. Most of the compression lugs are rated to be able to handle between 600 and 35,000 volts of electricity. They also generally have a temperature rating of about 90°C.
One Hole
This is the basic kind of compression lug. A one hole compression lug is simply just that. There is one hole in the lug so that there is one bolt that can attach the lug to the welding machine. This does not however give the most secure connection. This lug is the least expensive out of all the options.
Short Barrel
These compression lugs are also pretty basic. Again it’s just what it sounds like a short barrel lug. The barrel on the lug is short so there is only room for one crimp onto the welding cable. This gives a good connection between the two but it does not however provide the best connection. The short barrel compression lug is the more basic option when comparing it to the long barrel lug.
Two Hole
The two hole compression lugs give a better hold onto the welding machine. That’s because there is room for two bolts. The two bolts obviously give a better connection than just the one bolt does. If you have a welding machine that vibrates a lot you may want to consider buying a two holed compression lug. The two bolts give the connection more strength and a better hold compared to when there is only one bolt.
Long Barrel
The long barrel lugs offer a better grip onto the welding cable than the short barrel lugs do. This is because there is room for two crimps onto the welding cable rather than just the one. This will also offer a longer connection not only between the compression lug and the welding cable, but also between the compression lug and the welding machine as well.
Depending on the manufacturer the lugs can have both UL and CSA approvals. The compression lugs are all made of copper. They all have a beveled entry and are electro tin plated. Depending on the size of the barrel of the lug it can be crimped either once or twice the higher number of crimps there are the stronger the hold the lug has on the welding cable itself. The number of holes the compression lug has also dictates the number of bolts that can be used to secure the lug to the welding machine.
Written by: WesBell Wire and Cable