Terminal Block Basics

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We have all seen this type of wire connection: exposed twisted wires
Does it work? Yes.
It allows electricity to flow
It is NOT safe. It’s messy and unreliable.

An improvement on that connection would be a wire nut and wires.
We are all familiar with wire nuts. They are very commonly used to make electrical connections.

They provide much more safety
They are more secure.
Not terribly organized, but get they job done.

An even better solution would be a terminal block. It functions no differently that the two examples I just showed you, except that:
Commonly used in industrial and commercial applications
It is much safer
More secure
Allows for more connections options
And gives us the ability to keep our wire much more organized.

Types of Terminal Blocks

They are several different types of terminal blocks that can be used to accommodate different situations, uses and applications

Single Level Pass through terminal block
Just like the wire nut, this type of terminal block is simply used to connect two wires together with a common junction point. This is helpful when a component needs to be disconnected or we simply want to isolate something within the circuit. These are the most common types of terminal blocks you will see in industrial applications.

Ground Terminal Blocks
Look and function and function almost exactly like most pass through terminal block with one exception. They are grounded.
These blocks and a metal connection from where the wire is terminated all the way to the bottom of the block where it will clamp into the panel.

This allows us to ground an electrical circuit without have to run a wire to the main ground connection on a breaker or surge protector

Fused terminal blocks: https://www.rspsupply.com/c-1637-term...
These functions in a very similar manner to the basic pass through terminal block with one exception. There is a fuse located in the terminal block.

This fuse allows us to protect items that we are wiring so that they do not encounter to much voltage or current.

Multilevel terminal blocks
Just like with a basic pass through terminal block, the multilevel terminal block allows for an electrical connection, or junction point. The advantage to using a multilevel terminal block is that it can make 2 or 2 electrical connections in the same block.

Also, this block can incorporate fuses, and have the ability to be ground.

So, in some cases these blocks can be a combination of all the other blocks we have talked about.

Disconnect Terminal Blocks
Similar to a fused block, the disconnect allows us to stop the flow of electricity by lifting this lever on the terminal block. Unlike fuse blocks, the are a more permanent solution, but will not provide any protection in the event of a power surge.

By doing this the metal will no longer be in contact and no electricity will flow.

Safety is one of the main reasons terminal blocks are used. The connections points are very secure, and the design does not allow for short circuits or shock hazards to be a common occurrence.
They are very durable. This is why they are the preferred connection method for industrial use. They can stand up to harsh environments.

They give us the ability to isolate components, sensitive instrumentation, power, etc.

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