![]() In a strip, the blocks are insulated from one another. WHAT IS A TERMINAL STRIP?Ī terminal strip combines many similar terminal blocks in a single device, used for connecting the central panel and external devices. They are rugged, easy to use, and designed to keep wires of varying gauges securely connected. When you have a set of electrical wires to connect, a terminal block provides a safe, convenient way to keep them organized. ![]() Terminal blocks work by guiding electrical current through an insulated structure, enabling multiple wires to operate concurrently in close proximity. ![]() It serves as a convenient and organized way to make electrical connections, whether for power distribution, signal routing, or control wiring. stranded or solid wire) of different gages (AWG sizes), as well as the so-called levels, as in single (for a single wire-to-wire connection), double, or triple levels offering multiple connections on the same block.WHAT IS A TERMINAL BLOCK? HOW DOES A TERMINAL BLOCK WORK?Ī terminal block, also known as a connection terminal, is a modular block used in electrical and electronics systems to connect and secure electrical wires or cables. ![]() Other important factors include the type of wire connections that can be terminated (i.e. Typical examples can range from standard signal levels such as 1 to 5 V or 4-20 mA to power supply connections with high amperage current ratings and voltage ratings of hundreds of volts. Other differentiating features may include the size of the terminal block, the number of possible connections, as well as voltage and current ratings. An example of a DIN-rail mountable, multi-level, spring cage connection terminal block. Other types include insulation-displacement connectors (IDC) that don’t require the wire to be stripped prior to insertion into the terminal block. There are also push-in terminal blocks where a wire attached to a ferrule is inserted into a hole in the block. Spring-loaded terminals use the force of a spring to maintain the connection of the wire to a conducting plate. The most common are screw-in types where the wire is pressed against a metallic conducting plate or bar and tightened down with a screw to secure it physically and make an electrical connection. Terminal blocks are available with a number of different connection methods. Wires are inserted on the side and make contact with a conducting bar and are secured in place with a screw tightened from the top.Īnother common way to classify terminal blocks is by the method of terminating the wire or making the connection. This single level terminal block from AutomationDirect shows clearly the basic mechanism of the screw-type block. Other common types include ground blocks designed specifically for making a connection to ground and fuse blocks where two wires make a connection to a fuse, providing circuit protection. Other examples include terminal blocks for I/O, for power distribution, as well as for motor connections, both single-phase and three-phase motors for various industrial uses. General-purpose types are broadly usable in many applications as simple termination points to make electrical connections. There are a large variety of terminal blocks for varying needs. (Image via Phoenix Contact)Ī typical automation system inside of an equipment rack may contain any number of components (such as controllers, PLCs, I/O modules, etc.) mounted on DIN rails and connected together via terminal blocks. A typical control cabinet showing pluggable terminal blocks mounted to DIN rails with wire connections labeled for easy identification. In control systems, terminal blocks are used to connect panel-mounted equipment to power and field wiring. Terminal blocks were originally referred to as screw terminals because a screw was used to secure wires to a conducting plate, making an electrical connection. What exactly is a terminal block and what function does it serve in motion/automation systems? The most basic definition is that it provides an electrical connection point for two or more wires. What’s a component that forms the backbone of most motion or automation control systems but that often times goes unacknowledged? We’re talking, of course, about the hard-working terminal block.
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