Panduit EV18-6FB-L Vinyl Insulated Fork Terminal, 22–18 AWG, #6 Screw

Overview

The Panduit EV18-6FB-L is a StrongHold™ vinyl-insulated fork (spade) terminal rated for 22–18 AWG conductors with a #6 screw size — a standard-duty, production-volume connector for control panels, security system wiring, and low-voltage field terminations where you need a reliable, inspectable connection without fully removing the screw. The tin-plated copper barrel and vinyl insulation sleeve give you corrosion resistance and dielectric protection in a compact 0.86-inch overall length. Sold in 50-piece packages (500-piece cartons for volume procurement), the EV18-6FB-L fits directly into high-cycle production workflows using Panduit's CT-series hand and bench crimping tools.

Part of Panduit's StrongHold terminal line, this fork terminal carries UL listing (587H E52164) and CSA certification (LR31212), meeting the compliance bar required for most commercial electrical and low-voltage installations in North America. For any project where the inspector wants listed components at every termination point, these credentials matter.

Key Features

• 22–18 AWG Wire Range: Covers the most common low-voltage control wire gauges — 18 AWG is standard for alarm, access control, and relay wiring; 22 AWG handles sensor loops and signal runs. One SKU covers both without stocking two part numbers.
• Tin-Plated (Verzinkt) Barrel: Tin plating resists oxidation at the crimp interface, which matters in panels that sit idle for months between service calls. An oxidized crimp junction raises resistance and causes intermittent faults that are hard to trace — tin plating reduces that risk.
• Vinyl Insulation, UL587-H Flammability Rating: The vinyl sleeve meets UL587-H flammability requirements, so the insulation won't propagate flame in the event of a wiring fault. Required on most listed panel assemblies and fire alarm installations.
• Fork (Spade) Geometry, #6 Screw: Fork terminals let you loosen — not remove — the screw for fast field changes or troubleshooting without the wire falling free. At #6 screw size, these seat properly on standard terminal block studs and barrier strips common in security and building automation panels.
• 0.86 in Overall Length: The compact barrel keeps terminations tidy inside crowded enclosures. When you're dressing 30+ conductors into a sub-panel, smaller terminals mean cleaner bundles and easier re-inspection later.
• UL Listed (587H E52164) + CSA Certified (LR31212): Dual-listed for both U.S. and Canadian installations, eliminating the need to source a separate SKU when a job crosses the border or when a Canadian-registered inspector is on site.
• Pack of 50 / Carton of 500: The 50-piece pack is sized for single-panel jobs; the 500-piece carton works for volume integrators terminating racks of panels or running a production line. No repackaging or counting from bulk reels.

Integration & Compatibility

The EV18-6FB-L is engineered for use with Panduit's CT-series wire termination tools, including the CT-100A, CT-160, CT-260, CT-400, CT-600-A (CT-500CH and CT-550CH chuck variants), CT-1550, CT-1551, and CT-2500 (CT-2550CH). Using the correct die set in a listed Panduit crimper is the straightforward way to achieve a consistent, inspectable crimp — hand tools that aren't matched to the terminal geometry can produce cold or under-crimped joints that pass initial continuity but fail under vibration or thermal cycling.

Cross-reference part numbers BFV18-6Q and TV18-6F-XV are documented as equivalent alternatives from competing vendors — useful to know when quoting a bill of materials or substituting on a job site where both brands are stocked. For larger panel terminal and connector procurement, these cross-references let purchasing verify true equivalency before substitution.

What's in the Box

• 50x Panduit EV18-6FB-L StrongHold™ vinyl insulated fork terminals (22–18 AWG, #6 screw, tin-plated)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What wire gauge does the EV18-6FB-L accept?

A: The EV18-6FB-L is rated for 22–18 AWG conductors. It is not suitable for 16 AWG or larger wire — use a terminal rated for that range to ensure a proper crimp.

Q: What screw size does the EV18-6FB-L fit?

A: The fork tongue is sized for a #6 screw. Verify your terminal block or barrier strip uses #6 studs before ordering — #8 studs require a wider fork terminal.

Q: Which Panduit crimping tools are compatible with the EV18-6FB-L?

A: Panduit lists the following CT-series tools as compatible: CT-100A, CT-160, CT-260, CT-400, CT-600-A (CT-500CH and CT-550CH), CT-1550, CT-1551, and CT-2500 (CT-2550CH). Always match the die set to the terminal series for a listed crimp.

Q: Is the EV18-6FB-L UL listed?

A: Yes. The EV18-6FB-L carries UL listing 587H (file E52164) and CSA certification (LR31212), covering commercial and industrial installations in both the U.S. and Canada.

Q: What is the flammability rating of the vinyl insulation?

A: The insulation meets UL587-H flammability requirements, which limits flame propagation — a standard requirement for listed panel assemblies and fire alarm wiring.

Q: How many terminals come per package, and is a larger quantity available?

A: Standard retail packaging is 50 pieces. Full cartons contain 500 pieces, suitable for volume panel production or high-quantity field runs.

Jerry Tildsen

The EV18-6FB-L is one of those components that rarely gets questioned on a BOM, but choosing the wrong terminal — wrong gauge range, wrong screw size, or worse, an unlisted part — creates headaches at inspection or a callback six months later when a cold crimp works loose. This specific part covers 22–18 AWG on a #6 screw with both UL 587H and CSA dual listing, which is the combination I want when I'm terminating control wiring in a mixed U.S./Canada project or any panel that an AHJ is going to look at.

Technical Highlights:

• Tin-Plated Barrel: Oxidation at the crimp interface is a slow-burn failure mode in security panels — tin plating on the EV18-6FB-L barrel keeps contact resistance stable over years of thermal cycling.
• UL587-H Vinyl Insulation: Flame-retardant vinyl meets the listing requirement for panel wiring; you won't get a rejection on a fire alarm or listed control panel installation for using an unlisted insulation material.
• CT-Series Tool Compatibility: The documented crimp tool list (CT-100A through CT-2500) means there's no guesswork about die selection — if you're already running Panduit CT tools on the bench, EV18-6FB-L drops straight into your workflow at the correct crimp geometry.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify your terminal block stud is genuinely #6 before pulling 500-piece cartons — a #6 fork will not seat cleanly on a #8 stud, and the contact area loss creates a high-resistance joint under load.
• The 0.86-inch overall length is compact, but account for the vinyl sleeve when dressing wires into tight enclosures; the sleeve adds bulk compared to non-insulated terminals and can make routing in 1U panels tight if conductor fill is already high.

This terminal is the right call for security integrators terminating 18 AWG alarm or access control wiring into barrier-strip panels on projects where the inspection authority requires UL-listed components at every connection point — dual UL/CSA listing means one SKU covers the full North American job site without a sourcing exception.