Terminal Blocks & Connectors

Connectors are components that are manufactured for power, data and audiovisual applications and can be divided into three categories:

cable connectors: permanently attached to the cable

splice connectors: permanently join two lengths of wire or cable

panel connectors: permanently attached to a piece of equipment so a cable can be attached to a stationary device

Insecure mounting of panel connectors can contribute significantly to the risk of failure, especially when subjected to extreme shock or vibration. 

Terminal blocks are a modular block with an insulated frame connecting two or more wires in a reliable manner. A clamping component and a conducting strip are used to secure and organize connecting wires, allowing multiple outgoing wires to join to one singular incoming wire. Wires are secured to the terminal blocks with screw connections, spring cage connections, push in connections (requiring the use of ferrules on the wires), fast connections, or barrier connections (requiring ring or spade terminals on the wires).

Terminal plugs are a type of terminal block that has a cable entry where the wires are inserted into a housing and has a plug output for easy connection to a socket. This allows for frequent disconnects of main connections without the need to disconnect all individual wires.