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Terminal blocks slash engineering time by ‘up to 75%’

12 July, 2016

Weidmüller has announced a new generation of terminal blocks that, it claims, will save space and cut engineering times by up to 75%. The Klippon Connect A-Series system, which includes both clamp and screw connection technologies, is also said to offer other attractions during the planning, installation and operating phases, such as error-free wiring and faster marking.

The terminal blocks can be combined with a new load monitoring and control voltage distribution system that is designed to save space, cut installation times and increase safety.

There are two ranges of terminal blocks: a standardised “universal” range; and an application-specific range for repeat applications. Examples that Weidmüller has already identified include: power feed-in and distribution; control voltage distribution; current and voltage transformer distribution; signal distribution; DCS marshalling; as well as shielding and earthing. If bespoke configurations are needed, a customised assembly service is available.

The screw connection technologies offer a choice of clamping yoke or stud connection designs, while the spring designs are equipped with push-in or tension clamp technologies:

•  The clamping yoke system separates electrical and mechanical functions. It can be used to connect solid and stranded-wire conductors, with or without wire-end ferrules, and with cross-sections from 0.05–300mm2.

•  The affordable and reliable stud terminals ensure a high level of safety, particularly in harsh environmental conditions. Conductors with crimped cable lugs can also be connected in cross-sections from 10­–300mm2.

•  The new Push-In technology offers safe wiring and simple handling, and can cut wiring times by up to half, compared to screw-clamp connectors. The conductor pull-out forces are higher than with the tension clamps. Solid- and stranded-wire conductors, with or without ferrules, and with rated cross-sections ranging from 2.5–16mm2, can be connected safely and reliably using this technology.

The "universal" version of Weidmüller's Klippon Connect system is aimed at general-purpose applications

•  Stainless-steel tension clamps offer a universal, screwless connection system. They save time and offer flexibility. Solid- and stranded-wire conductors, with or without ferrules, and with cross-sections from 0.05–35mm2 can be connected.

Although push-in connections represented just 6% of terminal connections last year, Weidmüller predicts they will account for 18% of sales by 2025, while tension clamp connections will fall from 25% to 16% over the same timescale. Screw terminals will drop slightly, from 57% of the market last year to 54% by 2025.

Each contact point in the new terminals has an associated check and test point to simplify maintenance. Built-in cross-connection channels are claimed to reduce wiring times and the cross-connectors can be identified easily. A new marker system allows labels to be applied quickly as strips.

The new Web-based Weidmüller Configurator (WMC) tool provides step-by-step support when selecting and assembling A-Series terminal block strips and accessories. It is claimed to cut engineering times by up to 75% when configuring terminal rail components. The graphical configurator supports continuous engineering workflows, from CAD planning to documentation. It includes a wizard function and a product database, and can be integrated with engineering systems such as Eplan or Zuken, to make the configuring of terminal rails simple, safe and convenient.

Also part of the A-Series is a system that combines load monitoring and potential distribution, and is said to cut installation times, enhance safety and to save space on terminal rails. Called maxGuard, it makes terminal blocks part of a 24V DC control voltage distribution system. Single- and four-channel variants can be combined freely to achieve efficient 24V DC distribution with no unused channels. The maxGuard system uses 6.1mm-wide electronic load monitors and potential distributors to save space.




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