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Terminal Blocks - Headers, Plugs and Sockets

Overview

Terminal blocks are a type of electrical connection that provides pseudo-permanent connections. They are commonly used for linking low voltage DC circuits, control circuits, and signal circuits. Generally they are used for connecting wires for professional electronic applications, for example in industrial and engineering environments.

Terminal blocks are characterized by their shape and application field. Commonly they come in two versions: “headers” and “plugs”. Between the two, the header is a type of block that is attached to a neat wire that is connected to the target device, while the plug is a block that is used for connecting individual wires or cables in a permanent or semi-permanent connection.

Application of Terminal Blocks

Terminal blocks have many applications. Commonly they are used to link instruments, test equipment, and special purpose equipment to a main power source. They can also be used as a wiring junction box to interconnect many types of equipment. They often are used in electronic systems where they can provide electrical isolation between two or more circuits, reduce circuit complexity and help to eliminate unpredictable electrical noise.

Terminal blocks are frequently used in industrial and engineering applications when connecting electronic and electrical devices to data buses, field buses, sensors, switches, motors, or other types of electrical equipment. They are also used in many consumer electronics applications, for example in the appliances industry. In short, terminal blocks are used for almost all types of electrical equipment where wired connections are necessary.

Types of Terminal Blocks

Within the terminal block family, there are several little subsections. The two main types of terminal blocks are ‘headers’ and ‘plugs’, whereas additional types of blocks include barrier terminal blocks, DIN rail terminal blocks, pluggable terminal blocks, and power terminal blocks.

Barrier terminal blocks divide the connections using a barrier, permitting the simultaneous connection of two circuits and allowing for the arrangement of multiple electrical circuits into one connection point. They can be used to create multi-connections in one terminal block, and are often available with multiple circuits designed into a single block.

Working Principle of Terminal Blocks

The working principle of terminal blocks is based on the manipulation of conductive bridges. Typically, the accessible contacts are connected by tightly clamping the connection of pin bars or wires. This tight connection then transmits electrical current from one contact to the other through the connected pins or wires. The connection is secured by a combination of mechanical fastening devices such as screws, rings, and collets.

Terminal blocks often contain terminals for securing the wires and are often used to combine multiple sets of wires into a single connection point. As well as this, some terminal blocks feature clips for holding onto multiple wires or cables. Most terminal blocks are available in various sizes to accommodate different types of wires and cables, and they are often used in combination with marking strips.