What is the purpose of a terminal block?

A terminal block is used to fasten or terminate wires. It is often used to connect wiring to a ground or electrical switches and outlets to the mains supply. A simple design has several single terminals positioned in a long strip, with an insulating frame and a clamping part.

There are several types and structures for terminal blocks. For instance, the single feed-through structure that’s used for wire-to-wire connection has one input and one output contact. The dual-level structure has two levels of contacts that help save space and simplify wiring. Types of terminal blocks include: ground circuit, fuse holders and thermocouple blocks.