Ground Terminal Blocks
Ground terminal blocks are put to work in electrical setups to form dependable, secure links to the ground. They are essential for the safe and proper functioning of all electrical systems. Terminal blocks are favored for their ease of connecting grounding wires. The National Electrical Code insists that all electrical circuits must have a clear and reliable path for the safe dissipation of "stray" electrical energy, with the most famous "stray" being the current from a lightning strike.
Ground terminal blocks mainly serve to connect several ground wires in one spot. They are chiefly used in panels but also in the field in various places within a system, where a number of devices or panels require a good, reliable ground connection. Therefore, a ground terminal block is a kind of convenient "busbar" for ground—connecting to ground terminals is much more preferable and safer than daisy-chaining grounÂded devices together (as once was often done).
Many designs use color-coded block terminals for the ground. These are usually easy to identify because the green yellow housing rarely resembles the other terminals on a board. This is an absolutely necessary step to ensure that the personnel who are working on the equipment are not shocked because they inadvertently connected something to the ground when it should have been connected to a different terminal.
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FAQs
Are ground terminal blocks the same shape as other terminal blocks and do they attach to din rail the same way?
Yes, ground terminal blocks typically have the same shape as other terminal blocks and attach to DIN rails in the same way.
Terminal Block Basics
Single Level Pass Through Terminal Blocks are used to connect two wires together with a common junction point. This is helpful when a component needs to be disconnected or isolated within a circuit. These are the most common types of terminal blocks in industrial applications.
Ground Terminal Blocks function almost exactly like most pass through terminal blocks with one exception: they are grounded. These terminal blocks have a metal connection from where the wire is terminated, all the way to the bottom of the block where it will clamp into the panel. This allows for an electrical circuit to be grounded without running a wire to the main ground connection on a breaker or surge protector.
Fused Terminal Blocks function almost exactly like most pass through terminal blocks with one exception: the presence of a fuse. This fuse provides protection for components from too much voltage or current.
Multilevel Terminal Blocks are used to connect two wires together with a common junction point, just like single pass though terminal blocks, but with the advantage of making two electrical connections in the same block. These blocks also incorporate fuses and can be grounded.
Disconnect Terminal Blocks are similar to fused blocks, however the disconnect stops the flow of electricity by lifting a lever on the terminal block. Unlike fuse blocks, they are a more permanent solution, but will not provide any protection in the event of a power surge.