EYE on NPI: WAGO 2601 Series Super-Compact PCB Terminal Blocks #EYEonNPI @DigiKey @wagocorporation
Channel: Adafruit Industries
Date: 2023-01-12

This week's EYE ON NPI is clipped in and ready to roll, with WAGO 2601 Series Super-Compact PCB Terminal Blocks (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/w/wago/2601-series-pcb-terminal-blocks) available in both horizontal (https://www.digikey.com/short/twfw2cjh) and vertical types (https://www.digikey.com/short/7t4fp5b5) and a wide range of widths. 

These terminal blocks feature WAGO's famed snap-lock levers for quick and secure connectivity with certified current handling that can support your high-current and high-voltage setups and a wide range of wire gauges.

Terminal blocks (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/wire-to-board/371?s=N4IgTCBcDaIC4FMBOBbAlgOwIYBsAEARjgPYDGA1gM4gC6AvkA) are super common to find on any electronics product, especially used for power and motor connections where you need high current/voltage capabilities because every day connectors like JST PH's (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/jst-sales-america-inc/S4B-PH-SM4-TB-LF-SN/926657) are only rated for a few Amps and it's common to need 5A or more for power/motor connectivity. Terminal blocks are also inexpensive, easy to use, and don't require custom connectors or crimping: any stranded or solid core wire will fit and work and you can rearrange wire order if necessary.
Traditionally, we've used the side-entry-with-top-screw type of terminal block -- Digi-Key has a video that describes all the different types of terminal blocks you may encounter here (https://www.digikey.com/en/videos/c/cui/the-ultimate-guide-to-terminal-block-selection). However, it can be easy for folks to misuse them by not tightening enough, or accidentally inserting outside of the block's "mouth". Also, sometimes they're Phillips screw, sometimes they're Flathead - or folks end up stripping them by over-tightening or having the wrong size driver.

These WAGO 2601 Series Super-Compact PCB Terminal Blocks (https://www.digikey.com/short/bnw5b3pz) are a super-fancy upgrade to classic terminal blocks. They're still the 3.5mm pitch of compact terminal blocks, but come with WAGO-quality levels that can be lifted with a finger to open the mouth, and snapped down in a moment. Two through-hole pins per contact give good mechanical stability when hand, selective or wave-soldered onto your board. Wires can be 26 to 16 AWG, and solid core wires can even be push-inserted in as long as they are 20AWG or thicker. (https://wago.priintcloud.com/datasheets/2601-1104/en_US/e75ede034608c38f290f16f29cacc6cc) Each contact can handle 300V and 10A, and the terminals are UL/IEC rated so you can trust their power capacities! In case you're wondering, if WAGO tests to figure out what happens if the ratings are exceeded, may we point you at this entertaining video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg6VPucscxI) where the engineers got to turn the WAGO block into a heat lamp!

Best of all, the WAGO 2601 Series Super-Compact PCB Terminal Blocks (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/w/wago/2601-series-pcb-terminal-blocks) are available and in stock right now at Digi-Key for immediate shipment in a range of widths and orientations. Upgrade your design for these awesome terminal blocks to make connections reliable and error-proof, if you order today you'll have any size you like by tomorrow afternoon!