An electrical connector, especially for making connection to a fine, varnish insulated wire, comprises a terminal and a housing for receiving it. The wire is carried in slots in the housing. The terminal comprises a pair of wire gripping plates which are urged resiliently together in contiguous relationship. As the terminal is inserted into the housing, the plates are initially cammed apart by wedges in the housing so that the wire is received between the plates. Upon full insertion of the terminal, the wedges enter notches in the plates so that the latter resile to grip the wire the insulation of which is pierced by serrations on one of the plates. Frictional wear on the wire is thereby avoided.
The connector has a body part (4) of good electrical conductivity and which is of U-shaped cross section. A pair of wings (18) extend from one or both ends of the side walls (16) of the body part (4) and define a wire slot (20). The wings (18) are not connected to the base (12) of the body part (4), so as to allow the side walls (16) of the body part (4) to be deflected away from each other. A U-section spring (10) receiving the part (4), and being separated therefrom, resiliently restrains deflection of the side walls (16) of the body part (4) away from each other, when a wire (W) is inserted into the wire slot or wire slots (20). The spring part (10) stores energy so as to maintain the integrity of the electrical connection between the edges of the slot or slots (20) and the core (C) of the wire (W), despite temperature cycling. The spring characteristics of the spring part (10) can be selected to achieve a desired contact force.
