Short answer: copper lugs are used for copper conductors, aluminum lugs are used for aluminum conductors, and bimetal lugs are used when aluminum conductors connect to copper equipment.
| Copper lug | Best for copper cable and copper busbar connections. Tin plating improves corrosion resistance and contact stability. |
|---|---|
| Aluminum lug | Used for aluminum cable. Confirm oxide control, crimping tool and joint compound requirement. |
| Bimetal lug | Used for aluminum cable connected to copper equipment. The copper palm and aluminum barrel reduce galvanic corrosion risk. |
| Insulated terminal | Used for control wiring and low-current panel wiring. Confirm wire range and insulation color code. |
Use bimetal cable lugs when aluminum cable must be connected to copper busbar or copper equipment terminal.