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Here's a video from across the pond on terminal blocks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZEBfGY9bxg

Amazon in this country seems to carry similar products:

https://www.amazon.com/Positio...mp;ref_=sb_s_sparkle

Looks like a cost effective product with many potential applications for wiring a model railway.  

 

Last edited by PGentieu
Original Post

I ordered some and they arrived.  My first impression is positive now that I have them in hand.  I feel their best use is as a terminal block bus using the jumper strips (the black and red things): very adaptable to whatever number of wires you may need.  The blocks themselves come with 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, or 12 positions.  The clear plastic cover (not attached in the photo) has a good friction fit (not too hard nor too easy to remove) and has numbers for each of the positions which is handy for documenting or labeling the wiring diagram. 

Note that you don't have to use a separate block for each common bus; in the photo, I used two five-position jumpers on a ten-position block.  You could also use a six and a four position jumper strip, shown but not attached.  So there's quite a bit of flexibility in how you use them.  The wires basically get inserted between the bar that connects both sides of the strip on the bottom and a square "washer" on the top.  This means neither surface rotates when you tighten the screw.  I found additional jumper strips (without the terminal blocks) on Ali Express; there may be other sources but I haven't found them.  

 IMG_2609[1]

Note that most of the blocks (like the one shown here) are rated for 15 amperes; the spacing is different for other ampere ratings - so far, I have also seen similar blocks for 25 and 45 ampere ratings but with different spacing.  In this block, I was able to insert a 14 gauge solid copper wire with no problem.  The crimp-on spade fork wire connectors that come with the 124-piece set from Amazon can also be used.  Finally, if you like to bend your wire in a loop so that it hooks around the screw, the screw can be removed so that the loop can be inserted between the square washer on top and the connecting bar on the bottom and then reinserting the screw and tightening it down.

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  • IMG_2609[1]

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