# How to determine number of allowable wires in a crimp wire connector?

I bought a pack of single-ended crimp-style connectors at a standard hardware store. The data sheet specifies allowable wire configurations, but I am having trouble reading it.

The linked data sheet contains a table (see bottom of post for text description):

However, all the cell values have a dash in them. For example, the package says Max 5 22 gauge wires, but I don't see a clear way to derive this from the table. These values exist:

• row = 22 wire size, number of wires = 1, column = size 22, value = 4-14
• row = 22 wire size, number of wires = 4, column = size 22, value = 1-11

What does the first and last numbers mean? Does the type of wire (stranded/solid) factor into the table?

Description of the table, in case the image above (or linked datasheet) is inaccessible:

• On the left is wire size

• there are row headers such as size 22
• each row header has sub headers such as 1, 2, 3, etc.
• On the top , there is "number of additional wires of one wire type"

• there are column headers such as size 22
• remember that if the wires are too small the wire nut can slip off.. – dandavis Aug 20 '17 at 9:37

## 1 Answer

From the table it looks like the MINIMUM number of 22 AWG wires is 5 with a maximum of 15.

I think the '-' is to be interpreted as 'to'. So '4-14' means 4 wires up to 14 wires. (Notice that in the case of 22AWG all the combinations add up to values between 5 (minimum) and 15 which is the maximum allowed for 22AWG).

In the case of wires larger than 12 AWG you can only add one extra wire so there is no hyphen.

• The datasheet confirms that 5 wires 22 awg are the minimum loading. Your information seems correct. – FRob Aug 20 '17 at 3:30
• This does seem right. Odd that the package says, verbatim: "Maximum wire configuration: 5 #22 AWG wires." – LotsOfParts Aug 20 '17 at 14:39