For a Good Connection between the Field Signal and Control Room

Related Vendors

Italvacuum, Srl

Anton Paar GmbH

ProMinent GmbH

PHOENIX CONTACT Deutschland GmbH

New Disconnect Terminal Only 3.5 mm Wide

In practice, wiring with low currents (generally 4–20 mA) typically uses conductors with cross sections between 0.14 and 1.5 mm². Terminal blocks with a standard pitch of 5.2 mm and a connection capacity of up to 4 mm² are therefore often oversized — and this affects space requirements, performance data, and costs. Until now, there have been no alternatives that allow this problem to be solved. The Type PT 1.5/S-MT terminal block is the first knife-disconnect terminal on the market with a part width of 3.5 mm.

Gallery

The space required in the control cabinet is about 30 % less with this terminal block series than with conventional solutions — thanks to push-in connection technology, which Phoenix Contact has now introduced to a number of product lines other than the modular terminal block system. The compression spring principle allows maximum connection capacity with minimal design width. Despite the narrow housing, the disconnect knife can be opened with a normal screwdriver.

The new product range of knife-disconnect terminals encompasses all the traditional two-, three-, and four-wire disconnect terminal blocks, including identically contoured feed-through variants. The double-level version of the new terminal block, which is just 3.5 mm wide, features the most compact design. It allows 572 disconnectable signals on a single meter of mounting rail. In addition to the marking capability at each terminal, the identical color of the disconnect knife and the pusher ensures ease of use — despite the high packing density. Orange dividers, which are positioned at regular intervals in long terminal block rows, add to the clarity of the arrangement. A panel width of just 0.8 mm allows the implementation of this segmentation with almost no loss of space.

Additional Information

Know-how

Push-In Connection Technology

Push-in technology allows the user to wire the entire control cabinet more efficiently. Simple, safe handling prevents incorrect wiring. Each terminal can be completed several seconds faster than terminals with screw connection technology. This amounts to significant savings over the course of wiring an entire control cabinet — and noticeably reduces the time required for commissioning.

Disconnect Terminals for Potentially Explosive Zones

The processing of many operating materials used in the chemicals industries can generate an explosive atmosphere. This possibility makes the use of explosion-proof equipment necessary. Measuring and controls technology often uses intrinsic safety Ex i explosion protection. According to IEC/EN 60079-14, modular terminal blocks used in intrinsically safe circuits are simple electrical devices. Suitability according to IEC/EN 60079-0 and 60079-11 can be confirmed by the manufacturer, who guarantees compliance with the required air and creepage paths as well as spacing through solid insulation for circuits of up to 60 V.

For easy identification of the intrinsically safe circuits, all knife-disconnect terminals from Phoenix Contact are also available in blue. Disconnect terminals with explosion protection type Ex nA approval are also available. These disconnect terminals are suitable for measuring large currents in Zone 2. Opening them live is permissible only if the appropriate approval has been granted.

Summary: Disconnectable modular terminal blocks simplify the measuring of signals in the field. This reduces the time required for start-up, allows faults to be quickly localized, and makes maintenance processes practical.

* The author is Process Industry Product Manager, Industrial Cabinet Connectivity, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg/Germany.

(ID:43545603)