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Installing and removing wires as fast as possible is the name of the game for engineers using terminal blocks to connect groups of wires in industrial automation or other electronic systems. As a result, major vendors in the connector industry are rolling out new technologies to assist with the wiring and rewiring of industrial equipment, while keeping the terminations robust and reliable.
For its part, Phoenix Contact is applying its proprietary Push-X connection technology to its XTV series of terminal blocks, enabling easy wiring with minimal force while reducing installation times.
The unique feature of Push-X is a spring-loaded design that resembles a mousetrap, where even a light tap from the conductor will release the pre-loaded contact spring and trigger the closing of the terminal block. Phoenix Contact said Push-X expands on its widely used Push-in Technology (PT), in that it enables safe and durable terminations for virtually any type of conductor with direct wiring.
The XTV series supports the connection of both stripped rigid and flexible conductors—with or without ferrules. Since the ferrules are no longer necessary, the Push-X technology is touted by Phoenix Contact as one of the fastest and most flexible connection technologies on the market.
While the wires can be installed and firmly clamped with only a light touch on the spring, they can be removed with relative ease, too. The wires are disconnected by pushing down the orange “pusher” in the new XTV terminal block. When the button is pressed down, a locking mechanism inside snaps back into place and reloads the contact spring so that the terminal block can be rewired. When the button is flush with the terminal block, customers can tell that the wire is connected.
The new family has a space-saving form factor that delivers a high degree of flexibility, according to the company. Customers can connect wires and cables with cross sections of 6, 10, and 16 mm. For reliability, the lateral connection of the new XTV terminal blocks keeps bending to a minimum, while the parts also support visible wiring, which is useful when combined with wire markings.
Per Phoenix Contact, the Push-X technology has been tested above the standard requirements, suiting it for the industrial and other sectors that put a high priority on vibrations and robustness.
The XTV series also features a QR code on the product labeling for the first time. Users can scan it with a smartphone to access additional information, services, support—everything they need to know about using the part.
Phoenix Contact is bringing the Push-X plug-in connection technology to other types of connectors as well, including a family of 1.5-mm connectors called XPC targeted at PCBs.