Panduit EV18-10FB-Q StrongHold Fork Terminal

The Panduit EV18-10FB-Q StrongHold fork terminal delivers reliable wire termination for 22-18 AWG conductors in commercial security, fire alarm, and access control installations. The open-ended fork design allows installers to connect and disconnect wires without removing the fastener, cutting service time and simplifying maintenance on live panels. Red vinyl insulation provides quick wire-gauge identification and 600V rated protection. Each terminal features a tin-plated copper barrel and tongue for corrosion resistance and long-term conductivity in equipment rooms, battery banks, and outdoor-rated enclosures. Sold in 25-piece installer packs with compatibility across Panduit's CT-series crimp tool family.

Key Features

Fork (spade) tongue design for tool-free connection without screw removal

Accepts 22-18 AWG stranded or solid copper wire

#10 screw stud size (M5 metric equivalent) fits standard terminal blocks and bus bars

Red vinyl insulation for 600V rating and at-a-glance wire gauge identification

Tin-plated copper construction resists corrosion in humid or outdoor environments

Funnel-entry crimp barrel ensures consistent wire insertion and full conductor contact

UL 587H listed and CSA LR31212 certified for commercial and industrial installations

Compatible with Panduit CT-100A, CT-160, CT-260, CT-400, CT-600-A, CT-1550, CT-1551, CT-2500 crimp tools

25-piece package supplies typical panel or rack build; 250-piece cartons available for volume projects

The EV18-10FB-Q uses a seamless tin-plated electrolytic copper barrel and tongue. The tin plating provides a low-resistance contact surface that resists oxidation in unconditioned equipment rooms, telecom closets, and outdoor-rated NEMA enclosures. The red vinyl insulation sleeve is rated UL 587H flammability class and extends over the crimp barrel to provide 600-volt dielectric protection and strain relief. The funnel-entry barrel design guides 22-18 AWG conductors into the crimp zone without splaying strands, ensuring full compression across the wire cross-section when crimped with a ratcheting tool. The fork opening measures 0.35 inches (8.9mm) to accommodate #10 screws and studs commonly found on terminal blocks, contactors, power supplies, and grounding bus bars in commercial security and fire systems.

Fork terminals streamline service and troubleshooting by eliminating the need to fully remove terminal screws during wire changes or panel moves. Installers loosen the screw one turn, slide the fork out, and swap the wire without disturbing adjacent connections or dropping hardware into live enclosures. This design is standard on UPS battery strings, access control power distribution boards, fire alarm NAC circuits, and intrusion panel auxiliary outputs where installers frequently upgrade or reconfigure wiring. The EV18-10FB-Q fits 22-18 AWG conductors - the range used for most low-voltage control wiring, 12-24VDC power distribution, and alarm initiating circuits. Pair with Panduit's CT-series ratcheting crimp tools for consistent, code-compliant terminations that pass pull-test inspection and maintain contact integrity over decades of thermal cycling.

UL 587H listing and CSA LR31212 certification confirm the EV18-10FB-Q meets NFPA 70 (NEC) and NFPA 72 requirements for electrical terminations in commercial fire, security, and life-safety systems. These certifications are required for AHJ approval on jobs under 2017 NEC 110.14 and 2022 NEC 110.3(B), and they're mandatory for UL 294, UL 864, and UL 2050 system-level listings on access control panels, fire alarm control units, and intrusion detection equipment.