Terminal Block Requirements Checklist

Choosing a terminal block takes more than matching the number of connections. It needs to fit the board, accept the wire you’re using, and leave enough room for someone to install it. If you’re replacing one half of a plug-and-header connection, the new part also needs to work with the half you’re keeping.

The details below will help us narrow down the options with you. If you’re replacing a part, its complete manufacturer part number and drawing are a useful starting point. For a new design, include the requirements already defined and identify any open questions.

Start with the connection

• Fixed or pluggable: a fixed terminal block holds the wires directly at the board. A pluggable connection uses a wired plug that can be removed from a header mounted on the board. Which arrangement does your equipment need?
• Positions and pitch: positions are the individual wire connections. Pitch is the distance between the centers of adjacent contacts. Include both, using the drawing for dimensions rather than estimating from a photograph.
• The part it connects to: if you’re keeping an existing plug or header, include its manufacturer and complete part number. Two parts with the same pitch won’t necessarily fit together.
• Wire and terminal type: include the wire size, whether it’s solid or stranded, and whether you need a screw or spring connection. Note how the wire ends will be prepared for assembly.

Check the space around it

A part can fit the board and still be difficult to wire inside the enclosure. Along with the mounting dimensions, allow room for the wires, the tools needed to connect them, and removal of the plug if the connection is pluggable.

Useful details include the board footprint, which shows the pin and mounting locations, as well as pin length, overall height, and the direction the wires enter. For a replacement, tell us which dimensions and assembly steps must stay the same. Compare the drawings for the proposed part and any plug or header it needs to connect to.

Include electrical ratings and production needs

We also need to know the operating current, voltage, and temperature, along with any required approvals or supporting documents. Check the selected part’s ratings against those conditions before deciding to use it.

Include how many parts you need for evaluation, when production will start, and any marking or packaging requirements. Those details help us discuss supply with the manufacturer as well as the connection itself.

A brief you can copy

Use this brief to gather the details for your inquiry. Leave anything undecided as an open question.

Application:
Existing manufacturer and complete part number:
Fixed terminal block or removable plug/header:
Manufacturer and part number of plug/header to keep:
Number of positions and pitch:
Wire size and construction:
Screw or spring termination:
Wire-entry direction and board footprint:
Height, mounting, and access constraints:
Current, voltage, and temperature:
Required documentation:
Evaluation quantity and production timing:
Open questions:

Browse On-Shore products or discuss your requirement with Edge.

Sources and further reading

• On-Shore product search: look up a part and its specifications.

Use the complete manufacturer part number and current drawing when comparing parts. The diagrams above explain the connection types; dimensions and ratings come from the selected part’s documentation.