Short answer: bimetallic cable lugs are selected when aluminum conductors need to connect to copper busbars or copper equipment terminals.
| Aluminum barrel | Matches aluminum cable and should be crimped with the correct die and joint compound if required. |
|---|---|
| Copper palm | Connects to copper equipment terminal and reduces galvanic corrosion risk. |
| Friction welded joint | The aluminum-to-copper transition should be controlled and visually checked for stable bonding. |
| Application | Used in distribution panels, transformer terminals, switchgear and power cable connections. |
Do not use a pure aluminum lug to connect directly to a copper busbar unless the project design specifically allows it.