Wire Connections (Terminal Blocks, Lever Nuts, Soldering, Breadboards, Shrink Tubes)

Terminal Block Connectors

Terminal blocks are a type of connector used in wiring systems. They are commonly used in industrial control systems and other applications that require secure, reliable connections. A very common type is called a screw terminal, where a wire ending has an attachment that allows it to be fixed to the printed circuit board by screwing it down with a screwdriver.

Multiple individual connections will usually be separated by a nonconductive barrier. These are called barrier strips. If there are no separating elements, the setup is called a terminal strip. The first is used for connecting most wires and transmitting data, while the second is used mostly for power distribution. Barrier strips are more common in lower power applications, such as 5 volts direct current used in most microelectronics, while terminal strips are often used for 120-240 volts alternating current power transmission.

Lever Nuts

Wire Nuts:

Formally called twist on wire connectors, wire nuts are a way to bind together low voltage wires without soldering. They can often be found in home wiring systems, and work by twisting together two thin wires into a common housing and using the screw action of the nut housing to pull them together into a bond. The nut itself does not hold the wires together-by continually twisting, the wires are bonded together. A good connection will have the wires twist outside of the nut several times.

Soldering

Breadboards

A breadboard is a tool for laying out circuits and prototyping electronics that puts off the need to solder anything until the final design is finished. Here, wires and other components are plugged into a rectangular board that consists of a plastic frame with a regular pattern of holes formed into it. These holes lead to parallel and perpendicular strips of conductive material, which serve as pathways for electrons. By plugging components into these holes, it is possible to form circuits. The ad-hoc capabilities of breadboards are extremely useful for prototyping and troubleshooting, as well as putting together a circuit when there isn’t a circuit board immediately available. However, breadboards have drawbacks: in addition to significant parasitic capacitance and some complicating induction properties, circuits established on a breadboard are not nearly as permanent and can be damaged by pressure being placed on the exposed components. They also cannot be fitted to SMT circuitry, as the components are too small.

Shrink Tubes

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