Push In Terminal Block 8X4

[Seb]

Hi, this has been bugging me for a while and I can work out if I'm totally missing the point. The Loxone Push In Terminal Blocks are 8x4 which means there are 8 layers, each layer has four interconnected terminals - two on the top half and two corresponding terminals on the bottom half.

But why 2 top and bottom and not 1 (eg 16x2)? Surely by having 2 the majority of the interconnected terminals will remain vacant? eg when wiring up a switch, it will only use 2 of the 4?

What is the use case for actually needing all 4? (for tree, 1-wire and power distribution I already have the 8x4 interconnected terminal blocks)

Thanks, Seb

[Rob_in]

Nice as these blocks are they take up space and are expensive. We've discussed alternatives before.

Anyhow, I think the user case is for pros who build cabinets away from the site then bring everything in the cabinet ready to go to an already wired site and just connect all the blocks to external wiring as required.

As for 4 way connections (2 top and 2 bottom) I think it's easier to connect busses (loxone tree) or other common connections (like a ground or +24v wire) that way.

Say you have a star loxone tree bus leaving down 5 different arms. You need 3 blocks (you actually only need 4x4 for loxone tree 4 core wiring but still).

Bring the bus in on the bottom of block. Take one star arm off the top. Take a second star arm of the other top connection. You use the final bottom connection to jumper the bus to the bottom of the next block, where you take 2 more arms off the top.

If you are extravagant or a neat freak one external wire per block might be used.

This could be done indefinitely as the bottom of every block has a bus arrive and depart then at the top 1 or 2 external wires can depart.

At least that's how I thought they would be used. I actually didn't bother in the end as didn't feel the need. I am wiring up my cabinet in situ though and it's not very complicated. I can see the need in a big, complicated install built away from site.

Robin

[Seb]

Thanks Robin, that is definitely one way to use them. For the tree I have also used the interconnected block (2 for each branch) as I'm bringing all wires back centrally (I may change that when I start ripping through the wire but as it's only actuators at the moment it's easiest).

Seb

[Simon Still]

On Friday, 9 June 2017 13:47:24 UTC+1, Seb wrote:

Hi, this has been bugging me for a while and I can work out if I'm totally missing the point. The Loxone Push In Terminal Blocks are 8x4 which means there are 8 layers, each layer has four interconnected terminals - two on the top half and two corresponding terminals on the bottom half.

But why 2 top and bottom and not 1 (eg 16x2)? Surely by having 2 the majority of the interconnected terminals will remain vacant? eg when wiring up a switch, it will only use 2 of the 4?

What I did was create a load of short jumper cables to give the 24V 'out' to the switch (see all the red wires on the lower section of the blocks top left).   

[Kevp]

Hi Simon,

What make is that panel? Is it an early future automation panel?

[Simon Still]

On Monday, 12 June 2017 19:20:31 UTC+1, Kevp wrote:

Hi Simon,

What make is that panel? Is it an early future automation panel?

Yes - first generation Future Automation, before they had the hinged cover.