Crimpkontakte

Crimpkontakte, or crimp contacts, are metal electrical contacts designed to terminate a wire by crimping, creating a reliable, removable electrical interface inside a connector housing. They are widely used in automotive wiring, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, and aerospace applications, where modular and serviceable connections are required.

They are typically made from copper alloys such as brass, phosphor bronze, or beryllium copper, and are tin-, nickel-, or gold-plated to improve conductivity and corrosion resistance. A crimp contact usually consists of a wire crimp region that grips the conductor and a contact region that engages the mating contact within a housing. Some designs also include insulation crimp features to fit different conductor sizes and to support strain relief.

Types of crimp contacts include open-barrel and closed-barrel configurations, as well as male pin contacts and female socket contacts. They are designed to fit specific connector housings from various manufacturers and come in a range of sizes to match different conductor cross-sections (AWG or metric). Each contact is intended to be used with corresponding crimp dies and a compatible housing.

Crimping requires a purpose-built crimping tool and dies. Correct technique and tool selection are essential to achieve a secure, low-resistance connection. Common defects include under- or over-crimp, loose or slipped strands, and mis-seating. Quality control often employs go/no-go gauges and pull tests to verify the integrity of the connection.

Selection considerations include conductor size, insulation presence, housing family, mating style, and environmental requirements such as vibration, temperature, and moisture. Crimpkontakte enable reliable wire-to-wire or wire-to-board connections in modular, field-serviceable assemblies.