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Beyond I/O: Terminal blocks with added value

Space-saving design, integrated electronic components, built-in test points, increased safety, and custom marking tags complement termination methods. Here are some examples.

By Michael Babb, Editor-in-Chief, Control Engineering Europe -- Design News, March 25, 2002

Designs allow testing without disconnection

Designed to allow circuit testing without disconnecting wires, Knife Edge Disconnect Series is the latest addition of the "taris" family of terminal blocks. Featuring built-in test points with a lever disconnect switch, the terminal blocks employ Wieland's taris IDC technology, which reduces wiring time by as much as 60%. The taris family includes two types, the 5-mm WKC1/TKM35, and the 6-mm WKC 2.5/TKM35. For more information, enter 548

Wieland Electric, www.wieland-electric.com, Burgaw, NC

Compact tension spring terminals

The newest addition to Conta-Clip's smallest terminal series of tension clamp connectors "captivates by its compactness." With a length of 40 mm, an overall height of 33 mm, and a total width of 5 mm, Conta Connect is said to be the ideal solution for installations where space is limited. Featuring a cross connection channel (to connect adjacent channels) on the inside, it is available as a single terminal or in blocks of up to 24 terminals. It mounts on both popular sizes of DIN rails (TS15 and TS35) and can also be directly mounted on the wall of the switch cabinet. For more information, enter 549.

Conta-Clip, www.contaclip.com, Hillsborough, NJ

Sloped-roof design saves space

The Z Roof series was designed to meet requirements for higher mounting density and more room at the connection level in industrial wiring systems. A sloped-roof design is said to enable the length of a Z Roof terminal block to be reduced as much as 36% compared with a standard tension-clamp terminal block. Terminal blocks are designed with top connections, with wire insertion and spring operation occurring from above and parallel to each other. This allows cable ducts to be mounted close to a row of terminals. For more information, enter 550.

Weidmüller, www.weidmuller.com, Richmond, VA

'Fast' IDC

FIT Clamp Series 290, featuring "Fast" insulation displacement technology within a terminal block, is actuated by introducing a wire, inserting a screwdriver, and sliding the clamp towards the wire. FIT Clamp terminal blocks are produced in two, three and four conductor versions. It is said that OEMs can take advantage of increased speed and efficiency when using the FIT clamp to do factory wiring. The clamp is suitable for use with PVC insulated conductors 16-22 AWG and is available in grey, blue, and green-yellow to designated ground. For more information, enter 551.

Wago Corporation, www.wago.com, Germantown, WI

Analog expansion modules

Entrelec's "systron" remote I/O terminal blocks, featuring digital I/O expansion modules, now offer analog expansion modules. The plug-in modules mount into a separate terminal block base, which is available with either screw-clamp or spring-clamp terminations. They are compatible with Interbus and Profibus protocols and allow up to eight analog inputs and four analog outputs. The analog expansion modules also offer a number of design features to facilitate operation and maintenance. For more information, enter 552.

Entrelec, www.entrelec.com, Irving, TX

Blocks for three-wire sensors

Sensor Terminal Block, designed specifically for use with three-wire sensors, is said to reduce the labor needed to assemble DIN-rail blocks by as much as 50%. The lock connection system used in the three-level TLS block is a pre-assembled fork bridging system that allows the positive and negative connections to be made by sliding terminal blocks together, then tightening two integrated screws. Color-coded insulating covers are available for dc power supply connections. Covers provide physical protection and safety from bused connections and an additional marking area to customize the DIN-rail assembly. For more information, enter 553.

Cabur s.r.l., www.cabur.it, Albissola Marina (SV), Italy

Space-saving motor connection

The new DLK 4 PE four-wire terminal block is characterized by compact, clearly laid out wiring, especially for high-power 3-phase ac consumers in an extremely small space. Here all three phases and the protective conductor are connected with a pitch of just 6 mm. As a result, every millimeter of space in the switch cabinet is utilized. The individual connections can be labeled, and therefore enable clear, unambiguous assignment. The PE foot automatically makes contact when it is clicked onto the mounting rail. For more information, enter 554.

Phoenix Contact, www.phoenixcontact.com, Harrisburg, PA

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