Rail connectors

The rail connector is a small electrical installation equipment used to connect wires and wires (both aluminum and newer copper). Colloquially, it is also called a bar connector or “zug” - from the name of one of the largest producers of this type of elements in the past. The product is intended for installation in low-voltage (LV) switchgears and control cabinets (mainly on a DIN rail).

A well-designed and made control cabinet or switchgear is characterized by full transparency and ordering of the individual elements it consists of. This is extremely important in rooms with a small area, where there is simply little space for convenient arrangement of individual cables or wires. The optimal arrangement of the given components inside the switchgear or cabinet guarantees the operational safety of the entire structure, and also facilitates possible repairs or modifications in the future. One of the most effective solutions in control cabinets and other installations is the use of rail cable connectors, which can be found in the el12.pl store offer.

Use of rail connectors in practice

As the name of the equipment suggests, the rail connector is designed to connect two separate elements, specifically wires or broadly understood cabling. Although the dimensions of the product seem inconspicuous, it can effectively combine individual parts of the electrical installation and ensure its trouble-free operation.

The rail terminal blocks are suitable for mounting on DIN/Euro/TS-35 rails. So it is a universal solution. It is possible to put on single pieces or entire sets, which form the so-called blocks. It very often happens that the switchgear is assembled in a prefabricated form and has factory-installed connectors, thanks to which the entire process of connecting the circuits is short, easy and pleasant.

Types of rail connectors

The rail connectors may differ from each other due to the clamping mechanism, which is directly responsible for creating a connection between the wires. The most popular are strip connectors with a screw clamp, also known as a threaded clamp. The wiring is connected to them from the side, so that you can conveniently connect the cables between the trough or saddle jumper and the terminal block. However, the assembly of the wiring at the screw connection is time-consuming due to the need to tighten the terminals by hand. Rail terminal blocks with clamps are more convenient and modern. They are equipped with a spring connection, thanks to which the connection of wires is greatly simplified and does not require the use of tools. In this type of connectors, wiring is usually installed from the front. There are also hybrid models that combine the solutions of both types of attachments presented above. Thanks to the technology of spring clamps, assembly in their case is facilitated, and the wiring is placed on the sides of the connector. All described models of strip connectors are available in the el12.pl shop.

Individual connectors have additional functionalities or are dedicated to very specific assembly solutions. The selection of specific models is made by the installer, using accessories adapted to the parameters of the given system. It is distinguished by, among others feed-through rail terminal blocks, storey rail terminal blocks, protective rail terminal blocks, fuse-equipped rail terminal blocks, disconnectable and measuring terminal blocks and terminal blocks with electrical modules. The most modern models of connectors even have diodes informing about the status of the installation.

Colors of rail connectors

Each rail connector can be in a different color. In this way, manufacturers make it easier to keep order in switchgears in an additional way. Gray connectors are the most popular – they are installed in the simplest installations, e.g. in home systems. Apart from them, there are also copies:

• blue – adapted to connect neutral conductors,
• orange – connectors for phase conductors,
• yóyellow – used for grounding solutions (sometimes they are yellow and green),
• red – adapted to connect wires serving signaling, emergency and fire protection systems.

Track connectors – advantages

The use of terminal blocks has many advantages. The most important of them are:

• organization of wires,
• easy identification of individual wires,
• easy expansion of the switchgear,
• safe operation and servicing,
• shortening the connection time of individual elements,
• easy measurement of the insulation resistance of wires relative to earth.

How many wires can be connected to one terminal block?

The construction of the connector determines how many wires can be connected to it. Single-pole, two-wire models are standard. However, there are more advanced solutions available on the market that allow you to connect up to three or four wires. It is also worth mentioning single-track connectors, in which the wires are connected to one pole. In the case of stacked terminal blocks, there is a two- or three-circuit structure - in other words, multi-pole. 

Rail connectors in the el12.pl store's offer

The offer of the el12.pl store includes various types of rail connectors, adapted to both simple installations and more advanced systems. Our assortment includes models with a different number of connectors (from 1 to 16). We offer classic threaded connectors and more modern clamping models. We also sell hybrid models.

On el12.pl there are rail connectors coming only from reputable manufacturers of this type of equipment. We offer models of such recognized brands as Simet, Wago Elwag, ETI Polam, EM Group and An-Kom. In addition to connectors, the offer also includes fuse inserts and many other minor elements used for the correct assembly of accessories.

Order delivery time depends primarily on the current store inventory. The appropriate annotation on the product card informs about whether a given type of fitting is available. If you have not found the right accessory model for you or you have questions about the availability of individual products, please contact us.