What This Terminal Block Does in the Build
The TE Connectivity Buchanan 1546216-2 is a 2-position PCB-mount terminal block from the Buchanan series. It terminates solid or stranded 15-17 AWG wire into a rising cage clamp, tightened by an M3 screw to 0.68 Nm (6 Lb-In). The 5.00 mm pitch matches the hole spacing for a standard two-position power or signal termination on the board. Rated 13.5 A at 300 V, it handles a moderate load — think a 24 VDC control supply tap or a 120 VAC solenoid circuit — not a main bus. The block mounts through-hole with the wire entry oriented horizontal to the board (side entry), so the wires run parallel to the PCB surface. This keeps the assembly low-profile in an enclosure where vertical clearance is tight. The clamp and screw are brass with nickel plating; the contact surface is tin-plated brass, which is standard for a fixed-installation block where repeated re-termination is infrequent.
Wiring and Torque — What the Specs Mean on the Bench
15-17 AWG is the wire range the rising cage clamp accepts. That covers common control wiring — 16 AWG stranded is typical for panel terminations. The clamp lifts as the screw tightens, pressing the wire against the current bar. Over-torquing past 0.68 Nm can strip the M3 thread in the brass clamp or crack the PA66 housing; under-torquing leaves a high-resistance joint that heats under load. The side interlocking feature lets you snap multiple 1546216-2 blocks together into a multi-position assembly without a separate end bracket. The interlock is a dovetail on the housing side — no extra hardware needed.