Terminal (electronics)
Encyclopedia
A terminal is the point at which a conductor
from an electrical component, device or network comes to an end and provides a point of connection to external circuits
. A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener. In network analysis, terminal means a point at which connections can be made to a network in theory and does not necessarily refer to any real physical object. In this context, especially in older documents, it is sometimes called a "pole".
The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, or may require a tool for assembly and removal, or may be a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices.
Electrical conductor
In physics and electrical engineering, a conductor is a material which contains movable electric charges. In metallic conductors such as copper or aluminum, the movable charged particles are electrons...
from an electrical component, device or network comes to an end and provides a point of connection to external circuits
Electronic circuit
An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow...
. A terminal may simply be the end of a wire or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener. In network analysis, terminal means a point at which connections can be made to a network in theory and does not necessarily refer to any real physical object. In this context, especially in older documents, it is sometimes called a "pole".
The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, or may require a tool for assembly and removal, or may be a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices.
Types of terminals
- Splices
- Solder Lugs
- Tongue Crimp terminals (ring terminals)
- Turrets
- Test probes (pogo terminals)
- ClipsCrocodile clipthumb|Standard clipthumb|Pair of standard clipsA crocodile clip is a simple mechanical device for creating a temporary electrical connector, and is named for its resemblance to an alligator's or crocodile's jaws...
- Screw terminalScrew terminalA screw terminal is a type of electrical connector where a wire is clamped down to metal by a screw.The wire is sometimes just stripped of electrical insulation at the end, and is bent in a U or J shape to fit around the shaft of the screw....
s - Tab terminals (quick-connect, quick-disconnect)
- Wire nutWire nutTwist-on wire connectors are used to fasten two or more electrical conductors together. They are a type of electrical connector.Twist-on wire connectors are also known as wire nuts or cone or thimble connectors. Marrette or Marr connectors are two other trade names for such connectors...
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