Terminals for connecting wires: which terminal blocks are better

Maintenance of electrical networks inevitably accompanies the work of clamps for electricians. This is a kind of small mounting hardware, which is difficult to manage without using it, making wire connections between each other or with electrical equipment.

Time has eliminated the practice of outdated terminals for connecting wires, but it consistently complements the base of electrical engineering with new developments - more advanced.

We will help you understand the variety of electrical accessories. The article discusses different types of terminal blocks, describes their features of use and installation.

Types of electrical connections terminal block

Considering all commercially available terminals for connecting wires, you should immediately make a reservation and divide the products into two types: electrical and electrical.

In fact, the difference (in terms of current load) between species is often small, but still there is. This point should be borne in mind when selecting electrical terminals for installation, repair or other actions.

Faced with the need selection of electrical terminals for wires, it is better to start with the simplest structures of domestic production - reliable, durable, proven in practice more than once.

There are the following types of "clips":

• knife;
• annular;
• whip;
• coupling

Connections at the device of electrical circuits can be performed by different methods and terminals - this is just one of the options.

However, this option is seen as the simplest, most convenient and even economical compared to, for example, soldering, welding, including cold.

Option # 1 - “sheath”

This is perhaps the most common design options for products. They can often be found in the electrical circuitry of many household appliances: irons, refrigerators, heating devices, etc.

But for conductor connections power wiring, for example, in electric apartment panels, they are not intended.

It is permissible to install this type of electrical products on conductors (stranded) with a cross section of 0.26 - 6.0 mm by the method of power crimping the shank.

There are two types of such products: insulated and non-insulated. Insulation is usually painted in different colors (red, blue, yellow), depending on the rated power of the terminal block. Apply products in pairs in a bunch of "papa-mama".

Option # 2 - ring

Ring products are configured for screw fastening and are presented in two groups. Both groups are classified as uninsulated terminals.

The first group includes designs of a closed ring with a shank. The second group consists of fork-type structures with a rupture of the ring contour, also with a shank. Both those and others are widely used in electronic circuits.

Ring terminals of the first type are available in a wider range than the second type. And the possibilities for their application are more extensive, given the technical characteristics.

This type of electrical products may be installed on electrical conductors with a cross section of 0.25 - 16.8 mm. A plug configuration of connecting terminals for wires is designed only for the cross section of the wire 0.25 - 4.6 mm.

Option # 3 - Pin

This group of connecting terminals for electrical wires is made on the principle of a detachable part consisting of two separate elements - a plug and a socket.

The plug is marked with the symbol “A”, for example, F2A. The socket is marked with the symbol "B", for example, F2B. Installation on conductors with a section of 1.25 - 6.64 mm is supported. The main purpose of the male terminals is to provide the connection of electrical conductors.

This group of assembly accessories belongs to the isolated products. The tail part of the terminals is covered with insulating material. Depending on the rated power of the terminal block for connecting the wires, the insulator has a corresponding color.

Insulators for electrical terminals for conductors with a cross section of up to 2 mm are painted blue, and the rest (from 2 to 6.64 mm) are yellow.

Option # 4 - clutch clips

Another type of connecting fittings is a coupling contact retainer made in the form of a metal tube.

Couplings are designed for installation on electrical conductors with a cross section of 0.25 - 16.78 mm.

Fixation is carried out by the method of force-crimping a part of the tube or with the help of bolts screwed into the threaded holes on the coupling housing. As a rule, crimp sleeves are not used for the connection of single-core wires.

Foreign products

In recent years, the market has been filled with foreign-made terminal blocks. We must pay tribute: technologically foreign designs look more sophisticated compared to domestic products. It is more convenient to work with them - it is faster and easier to make connections.

But from the point of view of reliability of the connections made by a foreign product is not so simple. In this regard, the domestic product often looks preferable. However, consider some examples.

Noteworthy electric company terminals Wago. The engineers of the company invented several attractive designs, where the usual terminal turns into a convenient interface for connecting: Push wire, Power cage clamp, Cage clamp.

Connector # 1 - Push Wire

Technology Push wire based on the properties of the rigidity of the electrical conductor, due to which they get quite reliable contact.

This type of terminal block is most suitable for single wire. Indeed, the quick way to connect Push Wire provides unconditionally.

Just enough strip the wire (10-15 mm) and a small effort to push the stripped end inside the terminals. And in order to quickly extract the conductor, it must be pulled out with simultaneous scrolling around its axis.

Two types of Push Wire connectors are developed:

1. Under the single conductor.
2. Under the group of conductors.

The configuration of the group connection is designed to work with wires of lower stiffness than in the case of a single version. This applies a slightly different mechanical clamp design.

In order to open access to the conductor entry holes, it is necessary to apply some force to the push button. There are also models of Push wire without a button - under the pressure action screwdriver.

Connector # 2 - Universal Power cage clamp

This terminal strip belongs to the category of universal development. It is made for any type of electrical wire with a cross section of 6 - 95 mm.

Constructively Power cage clamp It is a so-called double cage, where there is a spring press and a current-carrying bus.

Electrical conductors are connected to such terminals with an Allen key.

By turning the key, the spring is tightened, the end of the wire is inserted under the press, then the key is turned counterclockwise. As a result, the press is lowered and reliably presses the inserted end of the wire.

Connector # 3 - Type Cage Clamp

This is a unique, patented Wago, the product that received the characteristic of the terminal strip for wires. WAGO type terminal boards are designed for installation on wires with a cross section of 0.5 - 35 mm.

They are well suited not only for working with single-core wire, but also with multi-core wires, regardless of the degree of fineness of individual veins.

Valid Cage clamp simple: using a screwdriver (or a special lever in other versions), the springy clip is lifted, the wire is inserted under the bus bar, then the clip is lowered into place. This item is a type. self-tightening terminal blocks.

Despite the simplicity of the design, the manufacturer claims: the clamping force on the contact is automatically adjusted and directly depends on the wire cross section.

Connector # 4 - Cage clamp S

Version of the connector wires, almost the same as described above product. But the design Cage clamp S still somewhat different.

The peculiarity of the “S” modification is manifested by the ability to work with a terminal of this type without using any electrician's tools.

Plus, the type-setting terminal block of the “S” version is designed for conductors of rather high rigidity - stranded and single-core. It is also permissible to connect wires with metal tips to the terminal.

It is very easy to work with Cage clamp S: the end (polished) part of the conductor is inserted with some force up to the stop, after which the connection is established.

Connecting terminals for wires from the Cage clamp S series found a place in almost all modifications of multi-row terminal blocks.

They are convenient to use on the installation of numerous low-voltage electrical lines. However, the successfully closed Cage clamp S construction is also used in high current circuits.

There are two modifications of the “S” structure completely enclosed in insulation. One involves securing the wire when pressing the plate on the frontal direction. The other is designed for the execution of lateral pressure with a screwdriver on a springy plate.

Screw wire connectors

Screw connectors are widely distributed in electrical households, in fact, being a variation of a tubular (coupling) product. They are made in the form of a rectangular tube, but having a rounded (oval) bottom.

On the upper plateau of such a tube, there are threaded holes where retaining screws are screwed. The whole structure is enclosed in nylon insulation.

Pass-through channels are made to access the screws in the insulation body. There are two types of such terminals for connecting wires - single and group.

Screw terminals for connecting wires are inherent:

• pronounced mechanical strength;
• the ability to work with cables up to 25 mm;
• use in the circuits of weak currents and power.

Working with this kind of connector is easy.

The end parts of the wires are inserted into the brass tube and the retaining screws (usually two screws) are wrapped with a screwdriver. In turn, the screws press the conductor to the bottom of the metal tube.

In addition to terminals, there are alternative ways to connect wires. Additional information on the use of terminal blocks and other soldering methods is presented in this article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The presented video material will expand your knowledge of the types of terminals and methods of their installation.

Electrical work rarely do without the use of the described accessories. It would seem that these are small parts that are easy to discard by replacing the technological connection with the usual twisting of wires.

ButThe practice of electrical engineering is marked by a mass of cases when it is the banal twisting of conductors instead of a reliable terminal connection that leads to tragic consequences..

Have experience using terminals to connect wires? Or have questions on the topic? Please share your opinion and leave comments. The communication unit is located below.