Cable Shoes
About Cable Shoes
Have you ever looked at that sparkling silver metal at the end of your cables and wondered what it might be? Well, those are cable shoes. So, what do they do? Are all cable shoes the same? How can you choose the best one online? If you’re an electronic fanatic, seeking answers to these questions, then you’re in the right place. This guide highlights everything you need to know about cable shoes to buy them online. So, read on!
First things first, let’s define cable shoes. But before that, remember, we also refer to the cable shoes as cable lugs. The word’ cable shoes’ coined as a result of the shoe shape design of the component. The name aside, we use the cable lugs in different types of electrical cables that require a strong connection between wires and equipment. The use of cable lugs allows easy installation, maintenance, and repair of several electrical devices and cables. And fortunately, you can find different types of cable shoes for various purposes. That said, let’s take a look at the significant types of cable lugs that you can utilise for your diverse electrical connecting needs.
The four major cable lug types to buy
As mentioned above, today you can find several types of cable lugs out there on the market. Most of them are based on function, shape, size, and material. But, regardless of their physical structure, we mostly use the lugs to connect one cable to another or to connect more than one cable. People also use them to connect fuse sockets, electrical appliances, load switches, and other power lines. Similarly, there’s a special type of cable shoe for combining high voltage cables known as the compression lug. Regardless of what lugs you choose, the primary function of the cable shoes is to ensure the safe handling of electrical cables and devices. Let’s take a detailed look at the four primary cable lugs below.
The ring-type lugs
Shaped like a ring, these types of cable shoes are one of the most commonly used lugs for various electrical need, like in the blot and nut plotted area. Apart from that, we also use them in MCB, MCCB, ACB, OCB, and the other electrical panel areas where the use of connectors is imperative. Furthermore, you’ll find these types in various sizes too. The common sizes of the ring include 1, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 90, and 120. Remember, the diameter of the hole depends on the bolt size such as 8 or 10. Above all, it also comes with colour coded insulation for easy recognition. The commonly used colour include yellow, blue, black, and red.
The pin type lugs
Unlike the ring, this lug comes with a pin. And thus, the name pin lugs have been coined from its pin shape. Their unique structure makes them the best choice for connection in the terminal blocks. Just like the ring types, you’ll find these pins in various sizes. Some of the standard sizes that you can find in the market include 1, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 90, 120. Each of these sizes fit different connections. And thus, it’s vital to get the dimensions right for maximum performance. Moreover, the right measures also ensure the prevention of any possible electrical hazard. Additionally, this too has insulations in different colours like the red, black, yellow, and blue.
The U type copper lugs
U type lugs are best for connections in between relays, timers, contractor, and MCB areas. Just like the other type cable shoes, these too derived their name from their U structure. This U structure allows you to efficiently secure your connections between various electrical appliances and cables. Moreover, it has better quality when compared to the other models. Apart from that, their versatile cable lugs size options make it easy for you to choose the right one for your needs. The size include 1, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 90, up to 120. And yes, these too have colour coded insulations. Some of the common colours for insulation include Red, yellow, blue, black and white.
The lug crimping tool
Lug crimping tools are one of the most critical tools in connecting various wires and cables. The crimpers usually help you make cold weld joints between two wires or wire connectors, such as the cable shoes. Crimping your wires with the right tools ensures secure connections between wires or any other electrical devices. That said, you’ll find two different types of crimping tools in construction areas. These include the hand crimper and the hydraulic crimper. Each of them has different designs and versions. But, perform a similar function – and that’s crimping the connections correctly. And remember, there’s no way to crimp your wires without the right crimpers.
Tips on how to buy Cable Shoes online
Indeed, you now know that there are several choices of cable shoes available for all kinds of electrical projects. But, making the right pick can be much more challenging than you think. However, choosing the right one is imperative to ensure a clean and secure crimping result. The below tips provides you with an insight on how to effortlessly buy the best cable lugs online in UAE.
- Check the rating of the connectors – The cable shoes usually have rated in the amp. This is one of the crucial elements to consider for choosing the right lug. Any mismatch between the cables and the terminals can ruin a repair and also damage your equipment. In many cases, it might also put your customers or employees in danger. So look carefully at the ratings. As these would help, you pick the right product online.
- Do not get tied up in the electrical jargon – Suppliers and manufacturers hype up their electrical products in plenty of ways. They might label a common design with fancy marketing-department approved name and make claims about its efficiency. Indeed, this matters less to you than the price. However, the problem is that most of us get tied up amid all that jargon and miss out on the real information. Hence, flip past the marketing ideas and check out the essential specs of the models.
- Do look carefully at your options – Most of us think that aside from brand names and housing colours, there isn’t much difference in the various cable lugs and terminals. But, that’s far from the truth. Sure, they may similarly do some job. But, they might not come in the same quality standards. Therefore, it’s essential to check out the various electrical lug types and dig deep into their specifications like the cable lug sizes, and other details for a better purchase.
- Work with a smart distributor – It’s quite normal to leave the right cable lugs manufacturer or cable lugs supplier in UAE out of the equation. But, remember it can be an enormous mistake. It’s not just because a good supplier finds you good deals. But the right distributor will know what cable shoes you need to use and why. Thus, they’ll be able to guide you on the right path in terms of shopping the lugs online.
- Do not leave the best shop out of the process – Indeed, you wouldn’t want to talk brand names. But nobody knows the products better than the guys who frequently use them. Besides, the team at the shop have valuable feedback about which cable lugs work best and which you’d instead not use. Indeed, this is a piece of information that you’ll not find in any sort of catalogue. True, you might have to compromise on the brands to save a few bucks. But make sure you keep the shops in loops.
- Pick an affordable model – Indeed, you can easily buy cheap cable shoes online in UAE and also expensive ones. But, know that the rates of lugs depend on several factors like design, size, and material. Hence, make sure that you set aside a budget for yourself and then go ahead with your shopping. You could also secure some excellent cable shoes on sale. Purchasing them on deals and offers allows you to buy a perfect lug without shedding much money.
- Keep an eye on the quality – Of course, you shouldn’t spend lavishly. But, you should also not compromise on the quality because you want to save some bucks. Make sure you never overlook the quality of the cable lugs. That’s primarily because purchasing a substandard quality of any electrics product increases the dangers of electrical hazards. Therefore, make sure that go with the best quality connectors.
- Read reviews online – A lot of professionals and DIY enthusiasts who love to create their electrical projects take time to review these connectors. Try and read through the product reviews online. The genuine feedback of the buyers will help you put yourself in their shoes and learn from their experiences. Moreover, the reviews also help you get a fair idea about the performance of the cable lugs.
Surely, the quality of the lugs is evident from their visual characteristics. But, this is true only if you’re purchasing them from an electronics store. Unfortunately, you cannot afford to do that when it comes to buying them online. Nevertheless, the above tips will help you assess your product easily. Try and follow the above tips, and make sure you carefully evaluate your lug before you make the final call.
Question & Answer
What is a lug connector?
A lug connector or commonly known as the cable lugs are devices used for the various cables to the electrical appliances. You can also use them to connect to other cables, surfaces, or mechanisms. In short, the clamps that connect the wire to an automotive battery are a common example of cable shoes. Cable lugs offer safety covering to avoid shocks or protective covering to avoid damage to the cable lugs and connectors and prevent short-circuit.
How do I choose cable lugs?
Choosing a cable shoe isn’t as simple as you think, considering the various electric jargons that you might come across during their purchase. Which is why it’s best to keep a few quick tips handy. You can check out the tips given in our ‘tips’ section to get a fair idea about how to buy the cable shoes online. As highlighted there, you’d require to consider the size, materials, price, quality, and brands of the lugs you intend to buy.
How do you use terminal lugs?
Terminal lugs are those devices that you attach to a conductor to permit connection to a terminal. The devices come with provisions that enable you to connect wires or similar electrical conductors to establish an electrical connection. Besides, they’re one of the most important tools to hold the stranded cable wires in most electrical connections. You either use the soldered or crimped type terminals when it comes to electrical wiring.
What are the best cable shoes?
The best cable shoes are those that stay within your budget, have the highest quality, and the ones that protect up from any potential electrical hazards. One of the easiest ways to make sure that you have the best quality lugs in hand is to choose from the well-known brands. Some of the brands like Temco, Burndy, Bicc, Cembre, Din, Klauke, Lincoln Electric, M6, Nissad, and Raychem offer you some of the best cable lugs online.
Where to buy cable shoes online?
With several manufacturers and suppliers taking initiatives to produce the best cable shoes, you can undoubtedly find one that fits you right. But, the challenging part is when you have to frisk through the numerous sites and brands to pick just that one model that sits right with your liking. Well, at Shops.ae we have a quick and simple solution for it. Our superfast product search engine allows you to browse through some of the versatile collection of cable lugs from popular brands. Besides, it also enables you to compare prices and buy from your favourite online stores, all on one single platform.
We hope this guide has provided you with the required insight into the most common cable connectors. Besides, we wish that this piece will allow you to understand what you need to look for to make the right choice when buying the cable lugs online. After all, we all want to secure a perfect product that’ll ensure your electrical connections in the best possible way.