The TE Connectivity Buchanan 282843-3 is a 3-position, single-level PCB terminal block from the Buchanan series. It uses a screw-driven rising cage clamp termination — the screw turns a clamp that pulls the wire tight against a current bar, giving a gas-tight connection that doesn't loosen under thermal cycling. The green PA66 housing carries a 600 V, 17.5 A rating per position, so this block handles distribution-level power — motor feeds, PSU outputs, lighting circuits — not signal-level work.
Side Interlocking for Multi-Position Ganging
Each 282843-3 block has an interlocking (side) feature that lets you snap multiple blocks together side-by-side without extra brackets or jumper hardware. This builds a custom-width terminal strip from standard 3-position modules — useful when your panel layout calls for 6, 9, or 12 circuits from the same part number. The interlock is a mechanical dovetail, not a current-carrying bridge; separate wire jumpers handle commoning between positions.
Wire Termination and Torque
The rising cage clamp accepts 12-30 AWG wire — solid or stranded — and the M3 screw should be torqued to 0.79 Nm (7.0 Lb-In). Overtightening strips the threads in the PA66 housing; undertorquing leaves the wire loose under vibration. The clamp and screw are both brass with nickel plating, and the contact bar is brass with tin plating, so the current path is corrosion-resistant in indoor industrial environments.