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- December 7, 2022
- PCB, PCB knowledge
- (0)
- 05 mins
An exclusive guidance to PCB terminal
With the advancement in technology, different complex systems are manufactured, which creates a demand for efficient distribution of either power signals or data signals. To overcome this demand PCB terminal proves a solution to it, which aids in all kind of signal distribution in complex circuit and also make system harness routing even more professional.
What is a PCB terminal?
The modular block used to hold more than one wire together, and has a non-conductive frame is known as PCB terminal. Usually, these PCB terminals are used to make the endpoint of the conductor reusable without affecting PCB physically. Generally, PCB terminal comprises of an insulated casing i-e plastic and a conductive metal.
There are two main portions of the PCB terminal, one is used to clamp wires and the other is for conducting electrical signals through a terminal. The insulated frame or housing of the terminal plays important role in clamping wires and also in mounting, and unmounting the terminal to PCB.
What is a PCB terminal used for?
PCB terminals are mainly used in connecting PCBs to the outer world to transfer data, power, and the electronic signal from PCB. Their usage purpose is closer to the normal connector but certain points differ both. The main purpose of using a PCB terminal is to have an easy and convenient way to connect wires and also to disconnect them whenever wanted to.
They have a wide variety of applications like terminals used in the electrical system to fulfill the system’s safety connection requirements. PCB terminals are also widely used in such electrical system designs which require semi-permanent wiring with a well-organized look.
What are the advantages of PCB terminals?
Following are some advantages of using PCB terminals
- Can be easily wired in the field: PCB terminal can be easily wired in the field with the
help of simple tools. Generally, only a screwdriver is required to make connections through it in the field.
- More robust than connectors: PCB terminals are designed to be used in extreme
environmental conditions like motors, energy equipment, drives, and elevators.
- Improved current and voltage ratings: PCB terminal also ensures higher current and
voltage ratings, due to which they are also employed in higher power-demanding applications like power supplies, and electrical distribution equipment.
- Safety: As it is mentioned earlier that they are employed in high voltage and high current
environments so there is a need to make them safer to handle. So, with advancement, the updated designs are safer to avoid live contacts to prevent emergency conditions.
What is a PCB terminal made of?
PCB terminals are generally made up of plastics which makes their outer housing super insulated, but for different situations, different kind of plastic is used to make them. Such as:
Thermosetting Plastic EP: this material has excellent physical stability with high flame
resistance. Poor toughness is the main disadvantage of this material.
Thermoplastic polycarbonate PC: This material offers high geometry stability, good
toughness, and extreme thermal stability along with highly insulated properties. Due to high toughness, stress more than certain limits may cause cracks, and also this material is less resistant to ammonia and other similar solvents.
Thermoplastic Polyester PBT: It offers excellent electrical properties along with flame
resistance, and also geometry stability.
Glass fiber reinforced nylon PA-F: Highly reliable for over-voltage protection, offers
rigidity and low water absorption than non-reinforced nylon.
What are the types of terminals?
PCB terminal are classified into many types on the basis following two categories
- Structure Type
- Device Type
Structure type:
There are three types of PCB terminals based on structure type
- Single Level pass-through terminal Block: These types of single-feed PCB Terminal
Blocks are used to connect a single wire with another single wire i-e only as one input and one output.
- Dual-Level PCB Terminal Block: Such blocks have another stack of connecting
terminals in such a way as to make them smaller in size. - Three-Level Terminal Block: Like dual-level, these blocks have one more connecting
terminal than dual-level terminals
Device types:
Following are further types of these PCB terminals
- Ground terminal block: Generally, they are similar to single-level terminal blocks only
difference is that one wire is connected to the ground terminal.
- Fused connection terminal: These are similar to the grounded terminal but instead of
grounding the wire now it’s connected to the fuse. - Thermocouple terminal block: These are used in the connection of thermocouple leads.
- Sensor block: Usually these are designed to handle more than one wire from different
sensors to the controller. Sometimes also called I/O terminal block.
How to mount terminal blocks?
In most cases, mounting of PCB terminal on the PCB is similar to mounting electronic components on PCB i-e with the help of soldering. Mounting of the terminal block on PCB is jotted down step by step
- The first step is to tin the iron bit and terminal pins out.
- Place the PCB terminal block in the right position on PCB.
- Apply some solder to the joint between the terminal pins and PCB while heating with the
- help of a soldering iron.
- After that remove the iron from the joint and wait till the solder cools on PCB and then the
- terminal is ready for doing its job.
What is the difference between terminal blocks and bus bars?
The main difference is that there is a separate circuit for each connection in the terminal block while the bus bar usually gathers all wires available for connection at once for distribution purposes. In other words, if there is a single copper conductor then it must be a bus bar, and if there are different conductive copper segments for each connection to be made then this must be a terminal block.
The modular block used to hold more than one wire together, and has a non-conductive frame is known as PCB Terminal.
PCB terminals are mainly used in connecting PCBs to the outer world to transfer data, power, and the electronic signal from PCB.
The main difference is that there is a separate circuit for each connection in the terminal block while the bus bar usually gathers all wires available for connection at once for distribution purposes.
