We’re moving over to ferrules for improved wiring. But I’m sure we’re going to run into a situation where to need to connect the ends of wires together that have ferrules on them. What connectors should we be using for that type of application?
Consider the CTRE CAN connector
http://www.ctr-electronics.com/can-connector-5-pack.html
You wouldn’t. Ferrules are for use in terminal blocks, not wire-to-wire connections.
The general purpose of ferrules is to increase contact between stranded wire and the contact point inside a terminal. The pressure from a contact point will cause bare stranded wire to fan out. The ferrule prevents that, ensuring 100% contact. This means lower resistance, increased lifespan, and increased durability of the terminal.
Specifically to FRC, ferrules also allow the Weidmuller push-in terminals to be used properly (pushing the ferrule in vs. pushing the lever down and then inserting wire).
Wire-to-wire connections are still best accomplished via powerpoles, molex connectors, soldering, or other means.