A terminal block can look correct and still fail the design review because the pitch, footprint, wire entry, conductor range, rating or mating geometry is wrong. The safest workflow is to select from verified requirements rather than appearance.
01 / CONNECTION ARCHITECTURE
Choose how the conductor should meet the PCB or equipment.
Start with the assembly and service requirement. A direct PCB screw terminal, a pluggable pair, a barrier form and a spring-clamp connection solve different wiring problems even when their pitch or current range overlaps.
Pluggable Terminal Blocks
Serviceable wire-to-board connections where the wiring harness may need to disconnect from the PCB.
Explore 23 models →02PCB Screw Terminal Blocks
Direct screw-clamp wire-to-board connections with no separate mating plug.
Explore 14 models →03Barrier Terminal Blocks
Partitioned screw positions used in equipment and power-wiring layouts.
Explore 5 models →04Spring Terminal Blocks
Spring-clamp or push-button connection requirements where the exact actuation form matters.
Explore 11 models →02 / EIGHT SELECTION CHECKS
Turn the application into eight verifiable inputs.
- 01
Connection architecture
Decide whether the wiring should connect directly to the PCB, disconnect through a plug and header, use a partitioned barrier form, or use a spring-clamp mechanism.
- 02
Pitch
Measure the center-to-center spacing of adjacent contacts. Check the complete PCB footprint; a small pitch difference accumulates over multiple positions.
- 03
Positions
Preserve the source term—positions, poles or ways—then state the number, rows or levels, plug/header role and exact drawing. Do not infer conductor entries or PCB pins from one count.
- 04
Mounting & wire entry
Confirm vertical or right-angle PCB mounting, conductor entry direction, enclosure clearance and access for assembly or service.
- 05
Conductor range
State conductor type and cross-section or AWG range. Strip length, ferrule use and termination instructions must follow the exact product data.
- 06
Current & voltage
Use the rating for the exact model, applicable standard and operating condition. Do not transfer a family-level or similar-product value to another part.
- 07
Mechanical details
Check housing dimensions, pin layout, screw or actuation access, latch, flange, cover, keying and any required tightening information.
- 08
Documents & sample
Define the target market and required drawings, material information and compliance documents, then verify PCB fit and mating with a sample before approval.
03 / POLES, POSITIONS & WAYS
Keep the source term, then attach a number and drawing.
Public catalogs do not use one universal field set. A simple single-row product may show the same number for positions, connections and potentials, while another exact product can have more than one solder pin per potential. The safe RFQ is not just “5-way”: it states the source label, required count, pitch, row or level arrangement, plug/header role and drawing evidence.
- 01
Positions
Use the exact product or drawing field. For a single-row PCB part, this commonly identifies the repeated electrical locations along that row, but rows, potentials, connections and solder pins can still be separate fields.
- 02
Poles
Pole count is common market language for the repeated circuits or locations in a block. Do not use the word alone when the supplier data uses a more precise positions, potentials or rows definition.
- 03
Ways
Ways is not safe as a universal substitute. Depending on the product context, it may describe repeated positions, conductor paths or connections per pole. Preserve the original label and add a number plus drawing.
- 04
Intervals and span
A straight, evenly spaced 5-position row has four center-to-center intervals. Nominal center span is (positions - 1) × pitch; it is not the housing length, PCB edge clearance or proof of mating compatibility.
40 models · KF2EDG-5.08, KF2EDG-5.08 Pin Header, KF2EDG-7.62 Pin Header, KF2EDGK-5.0…
This is a catalog-level range, not proof that every count, color or option is available. Confirm the ordered configuration.
2 models · KF135-1016, KFA(B)-1016
This is a catalog-level range, not proof that every count, color or option is available. Confirm the ordered configuration.
11 models · KF2EDGKD-5.08, KF2EDGKDM-5.08, KF2EDGKN-3.5, KF15EDGKD-2.5…
No pole count is published in the current source. Request the exact configuration before shortlisting.
For one straight, evenly spaced row, a 5-position part has four nominal pitch intervals. Use the calculator for center span, then use the exact drawing for overall length, pin count, row arrangement and PCB holes.
Calculate positions, intervals and nominal center span →Open the current technical drawing library →Review holes, pin layout, first-pin origin and housing outline →Separate THT, wave, THR and SMT process evidence →Compare up to three current model references side by side →04 / PITCH & MATING
A near match is not a confirmed match.
Pitch is measured from the center of one position to the center of the next. A small difference between two nominal pitches grows across a multi-position connector, so the complete footprint must be checked instead of one gap.
Do not treat them as automatically interchangeable. Confirm the drawing, total span, solder-pin layout, housing geometry and — for pluggable parts — the matching plug or header.
Calculate any listed pitch from a measured center span →Compare center spans with the 5.0 vs 5.08 mm pitch calculator →Mating compatibility also depends on contact geometry, orientation, keying, latch and housing tolerances. A reference model or clear photos help narrow the search, but physical sampling remains the final practical check.
Convert conductor size for communication, then confirm solid, stranded or ferruled acceptance, strip length and the exact model data.
Convert AWG and check documented catalog ranges →Check model-level strip length and recommended torque →Compare current and voltage by exact model →05 / FAMILY COMPARISON
Compare the useful distinction, then verify the exact part.
Serviceable wire-to-board connections where the wiring harness may need to disconnect from the PCB.
Plug/header mating pair, pitch, orientation, keying, latch, flange and PCB footprint.
Direct screw-clamp wire-to-board connections with no separate mating plug.
Pitch, wire entry, positions, conductor range, tightening information and board clearance.
Partitioned screw positions used in equipment and power-wiring layouts.
Terminal spacing, cover requirement, mounting direction, conductor range and installation access.
Spring-clamp or push-button connection requirements where the exact actuation form matters.
Conductor type, actuation method, pitch, positions, footprint and confirmed model-level ratings.
06 / RFQ CHECKLIST
Send enough detail to receive a useful shortlist.
Equipment type, PCB use and operating context
Existing model, drawing or clear product photos
Connection family, source term, positions or poles, pitch, rows and mounting
Wire range, current, voltage and target market
Sample quantity, estimated volume and required timing
Drawing, material data and requested compliance files
07 / COMMON MISTAKES
Seven shortcuts that create avoidable rework.
- 01
Matching only by color or housing appearance.
- 02
Treating poles, positions, ways, connections and solder pins as one universal count.
- 03
Treating 5.0 mm and 5.08 mm pitch as automatically interchangeable.
- 04
Selecting a pluggable part without confirming its mating header or plug.
- 05
Using a current or voltage value copied from a related model.
- 06
Ignoring wire-entry direction, enclosure clearance or tool access.
- 07
Approving production before checking the drawing, PCB footprint and sample.
08 / BUYER FAQ
PCB terminal block selection questions.
What is terminal block pitch?
Pitch is the center-to-center distance between adjacent electrical positions. It must match the PCB footprint and, for pluggable systems, the mating component.
Are 5.0 mm and 5.08 mm terminal blocks interchangeable?
Do not assume so. The spacing difference accumulates across positions, and pin, housing, keying and mating geometry may also differ. Check the exact drawing and sample.
Are terminal block poles, positions and ways always the same?
No. They may overlap in simple single-row products, but manufacturers can separately state positions, rows, potentials, connections and solder pins. Preserve the source term, state the numeric count and confirm the exact drawing.
Does a 5-position terminal block always have five wire holes and five PCB pins?
Do not assume it. A simple design may align those counts, but other products can use multiple connections, rows or solder pins per potential. Check the exact model data, pin layout and drawing.
Which rating should be used when several values are listed?
Use the rating that applies to the exact model, conductor, target market, standard and operating condition. Confirm the final data and required documents before approval.
When is a pluggable terminal block preferable?
It is useful when the field wiring should disconnect from the PCB for assembly or service. The plug and header must still be selected and sampled as a mating pair.
What should be included in a terminal block RFQ?
Include the application, reference model, connection type, pitch, positions, mounting direction, conductor range, current, voltage, quantity, target market and requested documents.