Industrial


Reliable connections in harsh environments


Jennifer Love, product manager, board hybrid, industrial devices at TE Connectivity discusses the latest terminal blocks from TE Connectivity and use cases in hazardous industrial settings


What are TE’s terminal blocks made of?


The contacts are made of non-magnetic metal — typically copper alloy that is tin- or gold-plated. The housings are halogen-free polyamide material and are UL 94 V-0 rated. We are also working on extensions to our product lines that would include high-temperature and non- moisture sensitive materials.


The additional ratings and rugged features make these terminal blocks ideal for harsh industrial applications, as they can withstand a wider range of operating conditions.


Can you walk me through some of the customisation features that are available?


Our terminal block offering ranges from less than 5mm centerline to more than 10mm centerline. It includes a one-piece and two- piece board mount options, as well as a flush mount plugging option, along with various wire termination methods.


We use a modular design that includes an interlocking feature. This allows for high levels of customisation, as customers can join different parts together to create a wide range of combinations and positions. For example, you could combine two three-position parts side-by- side to create a six-position terminal block. Along with a modular design, we also offer stackable configurations. Stackable terminal blocks allow customers to combine two parts together on top of each other to create additional positions without taking up additional space on the board. This is critical as the industry moves more toward miniaturisation — we can help increase connection capacity while still meeting strict space requirements.


What about labeling and identification features? Why are those important?


We offer multiple colour-coding options for our Terminal Blocks to streamline organisation and


18 April 2021


identification. This is especially important when there are a lot of wires in one application — and with our modular and stackable designs, the amount of wires in a small space can add up quickly.


Easy identification allows installers the ability to quickly determine if they’re making the right connection. Not only are the wires clearly labeled, but the additional color-coding makes it extremely simple.


What other features are important in the field?


Anything that can help increase productivity is critical. Screwless terminal blocks are a great example — since they don’t require additional tools and can connect with a push, it creates a low-complexity connection and disconnection. This reduces time spent while installing a system or performing maintenance.


What are some of the main factors panel builders need to consider when looking at what terminal blocks to integrate?


The first step is to figure out current requirements. Too much current causes overheating, which can destroy not only the terminal block but the entire board. Second, voltage requirements need to be taken into account. High voltage can cause current leakage, which may cause unnecessary and intermittent tripping. In extreme cases, it can cause a rise in voltage on accessible conductive parts. Once the voltage is figured out, you need to match the type and size of wire being used to the voltage requirements.


Of course, application environment needs to be taken into account — especially for industrial applications. How much shock and vibration will the connection need to be able to withstand? How much humidity? Those factors can help determine which type of terminal block is best. For example, a screw-


Components in Electronics


down terminal may be better suited in environments with a lot of vibration.


How can terminal blocks be leveraged to help increase overall


design productivity and connection reliability?


Terminal blocks are easy to use, are installed with simple tools, and enable installers to make fast connections or disconnections as needed. Push-pull technology significantly improves productivity.


To improve reliability, we have terminal blocks that feature locking flanges for high- vibration environments. Essentially, the kinked legs help the terminal blocks stay in place properly no matter the application movement. We also use built-in interlocks in the housing to ensure a solid connection.


While these features were developed for industrial applications, they’re quickly becoming an overall industry standard due to their ability to increase connection reliability.


What are the main differences when designing for industrial applications? The biggest thing that needs to be taken into account is the application environment. This includes everything from temperature and vibration to humidity and moisture — which is why IP ratings are important.


Where are they manufactured? As a whole, TE’s manufacturing operations are split evenly among the Americas, EMEA and APAC. Our PCB terminal blocks are made in Europe and Asia and then shipped to local warehouses. For our Asian markets, components are typically distributed to Hong Kong. For our European markets, terminal blocks are shipped to a variety of warehouses depending on its final destination. In North America, we have two major warehouses


where we keep our components — one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. This strategy of manufacturing and storing our products close to our customers helps us serve them more quickly and accurately.


Did TE have to overcome any supply chain issues since COVID-19 impacted production worldwide? Global manufacturers have indeed faced unprecedented challenges throughout the pandemic. One of the factors that has enabled TE Connectivity to overcome these challenges is our long-standing business model of operating in the same geographies as our customers. This strategy allows for close collaboration and, over the past year, provided opportunities for us to continue to meet customer demands as governments around the world reacted to the spread of the virus.


How does TE ensure they can meet the varying needs of its customer base? Because we offer such a wide range of terminal block solutions, we generally have a product that can meet any application needs. However, when a customer does come to us with a unique and specific request, we can combine different parts of other terminal block offerings to create a solution that’s custom- built for their needs.


For example, if we have a terminal block that meets the space and current requirements for an application but it needs to withstand higher temperatures, we can switch out the housing to a high-temp material. This ensures the best product for each individual application.


te.com www.cieonline.co.uk


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