Neutral Block Selection: Adapting To The Development Trend Of Industrial Automation
In the context of the evolution of industrial automation towards high precision, high reliability, and intelligence, the selection of neutral blocks needs to deeply meet the requirements of technological iteration, focusing on three dimensions: electrical performance optimization, environmental adaptability improvement, and intelligent integration.
Electrical performance optimization is the core. With the increase in power density of industrial equipment, terminals need to have stronger current carrying capacity. For example, in the field of high-voltage frequency converters, a neutral block design reinforced with copper bars has been adopted, which achieves strong and weak electrical isolation between the main control system and the power unit through independent terminal slots and nut structures, while solving electromagnetic interference problems. In signal transmission scenarios, the impedance matching requirements for RF signals on wiring terminals are becoming increasingly strict. Special terminals with standard impedances of 50 Ω or 75 Ω should be selected to avoid transmission distortion caused by signal reflection.
Upgrade environmental adaptability to meet basic needs. Extreme conditions such as high temperature, high humidity, and strong vibration are commonly present in industrial sites, promoting innovation in terminal materials and structures. Taking the LINKWELL rail type terminal as an example, it adopts a thickened structure design and has passed UL94-V0 flame retardant certification. It can work stably in a wide temperature range of -40 ℃ to 105 ℃, and has an IP67 protection level, effectively resisting dust and water immersion. In the field of new energy, the dedicated terminals for photovoltaic inverters need to pass salt spray testing to ensure a 20-year service life in highly corrosive coastal environments.
Intelligent integration expands boundaries. Industry 4.0 promotes the extension of terminals from a single connection function to status monitoring. Some high-end products have integrated temperature sensors and conductivity monitoring modules, which provide real-time feedback on connection status through I2C interface. Combined with predictive maintenance systems, equipment downtime can be reduced by 60%. In addition, modular design has become a trend, such as the pluggable terminal module launched by Phoenix Contact, which supports hot plugging and quick replacement, increasing maintenance efficiency by more than three times.
When selecting, attention should also be paid to standard differences. For example, the IEC standard uses a metal pin temperature rise of 45 ℃ as the rated current test benchmark, while the UL standard uses a temperature rise threshold of 30 ℃. Therefore, compliant products should be selected according to the application scenario. By comprehensively considering electrical performance, environmental adaptability, and intelligence, a terminal selection system that adapts to the development trend of industrial automation can be constructed.
