What is the TE 66100-9 contact used for?
It serves as the female half in a wide range of TE's power and signal connector housings — common in industrial control, automotive harnesses, and power distribution where a reliable, field-serviceable crimp connection is required.
Packaging and line feed
For automated crimping machines and reel-fed assembly lines, the TR format feeds directly into the applicator — no manual handling required. The CT option suits lower-volume builds or prototype runs where a full reel is unnecessary.
Crimp tooling and termination
As a stamped contact, the 66100-9 requires a specific crimp tool or die set matched to the Multimate III+ contact geometry and 16-18 AWG wire range. TE's application tooling (hand crimp or pneumatic) ensures the wire barrel is compressed to the correct height and the insulation support is formed without damaging the gold plating. Using the wrong tool risks an intermittent connection or wire pull-out below spec.
What is the difference between 66100-9 and 66101-9?
The 66100-9 and 66101-9 are both Multimate III+ stamped socket contacts, but they serve different wire gauge ranges. The 66100-9 is specified for 16-18 AWG, while the 66101-9 is typically used for 14-16 AWG or a larger wire range. If your harness uses 16 AWG, either may work, but the 66100-9's barrel is sized for the smaller conductor — crimping a 14 AWG wire into it would risk insufficient pull-out force. Always match the contact to the exact wire gauge on your BOM.