Function and circuit role
State whether each position is feed-through, PE, disconnect/test, fuse, distribution, pluggable, signal or another defined function, and identify feeder, branch, control or field-wiring context.
A reliable RFQ defines the installed circuit and complete approved terminal configuration—not just amps, volts and quantity. Give every supplier the same technical, evidence, quality, change-control and delivery inputs, then require a part-number-specific response with every exception visible.
Background: a technician identifies and tags control wires inside switchgear. Photo: MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Background cropped and darkened for layout. The scene does not identify a SENTOP product or prove terminal type, ratings, certification, installation compliance or safe working state.
An RFQ becomes comparable only when the buyer's requirements and the supplier's exceptions stay visible line by line.
State whether each position is feed-through, PE, disconnect/test, fuse, distribution, pluggable, signal or another defined function, and identify feeder, branch, control or field-wiring context.
Define complete part numbers, poles, levels, potentials, colors, jumpers, end plates, markers, rail hardware, covers and the approved-alternate rule.
Request the approval-specific data sheet, drawing, certification record, Conditions of Acceptability, test condition or declaration for the exact offered item.
Define sample or FAI needs, traceability, PCN/PDN, quantities, MOQ, pack multiple, price basis, lead-time definition, packaging and Incoterms rule with named place.
Keep the buying sequence auditable so an early product suggestion is never mistaken for an approved release.
Identifies possible families and connection technologies using preliminary application data.
Not proof of suitability, certification scope or substitute approval.Freezes buyer requirements, response fields, evidence targets, quantities, assumptions and the exception process.
Produces a technically and commercially reviewable offer.Checks exact parts, accessories, drawings, ratings, evidence and deviations against the responsible project design.
Approval belongs to the named authority, not supplier silence.Authorizes the approved parts, revisions, quantities, prices, delivery, documentation, packaging and change-control clauses.
The PO must preserve accepted deviations and evidence references.Start with the available terminal block product families, but use the RFQ and approval record—not visual similarity—to control the final offer.
Describe what every position must do and attach a current terminal plan or sequence drawing. Include poles, levels, potentials, conductor entries, colors, keying, numbering, marker text and language. If a jumper topology is required, show the intended locations and request the exact bridge or comb—not a supplier assumption.
Itemize end plates, end stops, separators, covers, test plugs, fuse carriers or links, marker carriers and mounting rail hardware. Compatibility can be series-specific, and an accessory can change current, voltage, spacing, touch-protection or approval conditions. Ask the supplier to identify those effects in writing.
Use the same scope discipline for control cabinet wiring components and terminal block accessories. A rail fit and a similar nominal current do not make two assemblies interchangeable.
State “No substitution, including accessory, label, material or manufacturing-location substitution, without written approval.” If alternates are permitted, define the required comparison rather than using the single word “equivalent.”
Each item needs a buyer input, a supplier response and an evidence locator. “Per data sheet” is not a complete answer when multiple approvals or configurations exist.
RFQ ID, issue/revision, project, destination market, deadline, contacts, confidentiality, currency and quote validity.
Supplier: quote revision, assumptions and signed exception log.Feeder, branch, control, signal, neutral, protective-conductor, fuse, disconnect/test or another defined path; field or internal wiring.
Supplier: intended-use confirmation and every limitation.Function, manufacturer preference, full MPN, poles, levels, potentials, colors, terminal sequence and approved alternate rule.
Supplier: exact offered MPN/revision and alternate comparison.Cu/Al only where permitted, solid/stranded/fine-stranded, AWG/mm², ferrule, temperature class and conductors per clamp.
Supplier: approval-specific ranges and restrictions.Nominal and maximum working voltage, frequency, continuous current, load profile, grouping and ambient assumptions.
Supplier: ratings, derating and bridge/accessory limits.Ui/Uimp context, OVC, pollution degree, altitude and insulation function where applicable; AFC and upstream OCPD when SCCR matters.
Supplier: evaluated conditions and exact combination evidence.Rail, orientation, row length, depth, wire access, CAD, ambient/storage, condensation, vibration, dust, corrosion and sector needs.
Supplier: dimensions, limits and approval exceptions.Destination countries and specific UL/CSA/IEC/CB/EU or customer evidence requested; drawing, instruction and declaration revisions.
Supplier: status, file/report/document IDs, scope and applicable Conditions of Acceptability (CofA).Sample/first-article inspection (FAI)/factory acceptance test (FAT) applicability, inspection plan, Certificate of Conformance (CoC)/Certificate of Analysis (CoA) content, lot/date code, PCN/PDN and nonconformance disposition.
Supplier: actual capability, policy and report templates.Prototype/pilot/production quantities, forecast, dates, packaging, labels, origin/customs and Incoterms rule with named place.
Supplier: MOQ, pack multiple, prices, lead-time basis and delivery terms.Do not ask a supplier to design an unspecified circuit. Provide the operating conditions and let the supplier identify exactly what its offered product supports.
| RFQ group | Buyer states | Supplier returns | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function & circuit | Terminal function, circuit role, field/internal wiring, poles/levels, potentials and connection count. | Exact product function, intended use, category and limitations. | Current data sheet, drawing and certification record. |
| Electrical | AC/DC, voltage, frequency, continuous current and duty, load/inrush where relevant, ambient/grouping assumptions. | Approval-specific ratings, bridge limits, derating and required protection. | Rating table and document page for the exact model. |
| Conductors | Material, class, range, ferrule/preparation, conductors per clamp and temperature class. | Permitted conductor combinations, field/factory conditions, strip/tool and torque requirements. | Connection table and installation instructions. |
| Insulation | Working-voltage system and required Ui/Uimp, OVC, pollution degree, altitude or insulation function where applicable. | Evaluated values and the conditions to which they apply. | Applicable standard/certificate/report and product table. |
| Fault duty | Circuit location, AFC context, target panel requirement and known upstream protective device. | Exact SCCR or protected-combination basis and every voltage/OCPD/conductor limit. | Product marking, controlled default or named combination record as permitted. |
| Mechanical | Rail profile, orientation, row length, enclosure depth, wire direction, service access and CAD format. | Dimensions, rail and end-stop compatibility, clearances and layout limitations. | Dimensioned drawing, STEP/CAD and assembly list. |
| Environment | Operating/storage/transport conditions, condensation, vibration, dust, chemicals, corrosion and sector constraints. | Evaluated limits, special approvals and exceptions. | Product/environmental data and approval report. |
Use the dedicated pages for seven essential terminal block specifications, current rating versus actual load and creepage and clearance inputs. The RFQ records the project requirement; it does not replace those engineering checks.
List conductor material and construction at each clamping point: copper or aluminum only where the product permits it; solid, stranded or fine-stranded; bare or ferruled; the project AWG and/or mm² range; temperature class where relevant; and whether one or two conductors are required in one opening. Do not infer one approval system's range from another.
State the required connection technology—screw, spring, push-in, bolt, plug or another evaluated method—and request the exact strip length, tightening torque where applicable, tool and conductor-preparation instructions. Never copy a torque, strip length or ferrule rule from a similar family.
Keep field wiring and internal wiring separate. Certification conditions, conductor class, size and temperature rating can differ. If a ferrule is planned, name the ferrule construction and ask the supplier to confirm the evaluated conductor/ferrule combination and tooling.
Use the guides for AWG wire sizing, when ferrules are required and torque specifications for the underlying technical review.
State AC or DC, nominal and maximum working voltage, frequency where relevant, continuous current and duty/load profile. Add ambient, grouping and bridge assumptions that may change the applicable current. Ui, Uimp, working voltage, current and SCCR are different fields; do not combine them in one “rating required” cell.
If insulation coordination matters, identify the project-defined overvoltage category, pollution degree, altitude and insulation function under the governing equipment route. Do not ask a supplier for one universal creepage or clearance number without the relevant system and standard conditions.
If SCCR is relevant, state the circuit role, available-fault-current context and known upstream OCPD. Require the exact terminal part number, rated voltage, conductor conditions, protective-device manufacturer, class/type, catalog number, maximum ampere rating and every condition behind a claimed combination.
Review terminal block SCCR for UL 508A panels and high-current terminal blocks before freezing the fault-duty or continuous-current line.
Certification, declaration, environmental communication and completed-equipment approval answer different questions.
Request the exact model, UL status, applicable route, CCN/file, ratings, field/factory-wiring suitability and, for a Recognized Component, applicable Conditions of Acceptability (CofA). A UL 1059 Recognized terminal block and a UL 1953 Listed power distribution block are not interchangeable labels.
IEC 60947-7-1 covers terminals and test-disconnect terminals within its scope; -7-2 covers protective-conductor terminal blocks; -7-3 covers applicable fuse terminal blocks. Ask for function-specific evidence, not “IEC terminal.”
When the offered supply and its market role fall under applicable EU legislation, request the relevant EU Declaration of Conformity and exact product/document identity. A generic “CE certificate” is not the default evidence request for every terminal.
Request current, part-number-specific and dated declarations or communications as applicable. These are separate evidence routes; a portfolio statement or one checkbox does not cover every market or substance requirement.
Use the dedicated guides for terminal block certification standards worldwide, avoiding certification errors and interpreting terminal block markings.
For each critical response, ask which exact part number and revision the evidence covers; which standard, edition, category/file or issuing organization applies; which ratings and environmental conditions are stated; and whether the document covers every supplied accessory.
Request the current data sheet, dimensioned drawing, installation instructions, approval-specific rating table, Product iQ record or other certification identifier, applicable CofA, test or combination record, and dated environmental declarations. Require a document number, revision/date and page locator so production and quality teams can find the same proof later.
A QMS certificate such as ISO 9001 addresses the certified management-system scope and site. It does not prove the quoted terminal meets the buyer's product specification, inspection plan or complete panel requirements. Keep supplier qualification separate from product approval.
The RFQ should identify the intended panel builder and switchgear project context without asking the component supplier to approve the completed assembly.
Freeze the buyer requirement column. The supplier completes a separate status, response, evidence and impact column without overwriting what was requested.
Supplier identifies the exact offered part/configuration and attaches or locates the current evidence supporting the response.
No evidence locator means the line is incomplete.Supplier explains the technical, certification, quality, schedule and commercial impact and proposes a disposition.
Do not hide an exception in quotation notes.Supplier gives an exact alternative MPN and a line-by-line comparison, including every accessory and evidence difference.
An alternative is not approved until written disposition.Supplier explains why the requirement is outside the quoted product, circuit, market or supply scope.
Blank cells and silence never mean N/A or compliance.The response matrix keeps technical approval separate from commercial award while preserving a usable record for production and later changes.
Align RFQ revision, BOM, terminal plan, drawings, quantities, market and open engineering questions.
Give function, circuit, conductors, electrical/fault context, mounting, environment and required evidence.
Include exact base blocks, bridges, end pieces, markers, rail hardware, covers and project-specific parts.
Supplier uses Confirmed, Exception, Alternative or Not applicable with evidence and impact.
Separate MOQ from pack multiple and define price, lead-time, packaging, origin and delivery assumptions.
Match part/revision, approval route, ratings, documents, accessory configuration and stated limitations.
Record responsible technical, quality and commercial decisions before comparing the released offers.
Carry approved MPNs, deviations, quantities, documents, packaging, delivery and change clauses into the PO.
Retain quote, evidence, approval, sample/inspection record, lot identity and later PCN/PDN disposition.
For catalog components, define the sample or first-article configuration, inspection characteristics, acceptance criteria, lot identity and record format. A sample should represent the proposed model, accessories, labels, packaging and production site when those attributes matter.
Use a factory acceptance test only for a custom assembled or prewired terminal row when the RFQ defines the released drawing, witness/hold points, inspection and test methods, calibrated equipment, acceptance limits, nonconformance disposition and final report. FAT is not a routine default for every catalog block.
Define a Certificate of Conformance (CoC) by required content: PO, supplied MPN/revision, lot/date code, quantity, conformity basis and issuer. If a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is needed, name the measurement/test, method, sample identity, acceptance limits and result fields.
Require Product Change Notification and Product Discontinuation Notification for the agreed scope: material, form/fit/function, site/process, approval status, markings, accessories, packaging, origin and discontinuation. State the contractual notice requirement or require the supplier to propose its actual policy; no one notice period is universal.
The same price can conceal different pack multiples, lead-time triggers, origin, documentation and delivery obligations.
| Commercial field | Buyer states | Supplier returns |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity & forecast | Prototype, pilot and production quantity per MPN; annual forecast or release profile where available. | MOQ, order/pack multiple, price breaks, capacity and allocation assumptions—shown separately. |
| Price & validity | Currency, line-level format, validity expectation and whether tooling/NRE is permitted. | Unit price by quantity, tooling/NRE, surcharge, validity, tax/duty and currency basis. |
| Lead time | Requested ship/delivery date and whether stock, production, shipment or door-to-door time is required. | Lead-time type, start trigger, calendar/business-day basis, manufacturing site and schedule risks. |
| Packaging & labels | Pack quantity, anti-mix controls, barcode/label fields, damage protection and any project grouping. | Pack format, label sample, handling limits and cost for special packaging. |
| Delivery & customs | Delivery address, importer role, origin/HS-code need, freight responsibility and requested rule. | Incoterms 2020 rule with precise named place, country of origin, HS code and delivery assumptions. |
MOQ is not pack quantity: MOQ is the smallest order the supplier accepts; pack or order multiple is the unit in which the part must be ordered or shipped. Ask for both with units. Define “lead time” just as precisely.
A low price does not cure an unresolved application, evidence or delivery assumption.
Resolve feeder/branch/control role, terminal function, conductors, voltage/current/fault context and responsible design input.
Add every base block, bridge, end part, marker, cover, rail item and project-specific accessory to the controlled BOM.
A family page, photograph, nominal size or “equivalent” note cannot be technically released.
Resolve part/revision, certificate/file scope, rating conditions, accessories and document date/page before approval.
Record acceptance, rejection or redesign by the named technical, quality and commercial owners.
Normalize MOQ, pack multiple, price breaks, validity, lead-time basis, origin, packaging and delivery responsibilities.
Send the files you have and label every unknown. SENTOP can help identify matching product families, accessories, document availability, MOQ and lead-time assumptions; the project authority controls design approval and compliance.
RFQ ID/revision, project, destination countries, panel/equipment role, deadlines, contacts, confidentiality, quote currency and validity.
BOM, terminal plan, schematic/one-line context, panel layout, marker schedule, CAD/STEP need and all referenced document revisions.
Function and circuit role per position; AC/DC, voltage, frequency, current duty, insulation/fault context, environment and sector needs.
Material, construction, AWG/mm² range, ferrule/preparation, temperature class, count per clamp, field/internal wiring and connection technology.
Exact or preferred MPNs, poles/levels/potentials, colors, bridges, end parts, covers, rail hardware, fuse/test parts, markers and alternate policy.
Requested certification status/files/CofA, data sheets, drawings, instructions, SCCR combinations, declarations, environmental data and page locators.
Sample/FAI/FAT applicability, inspection and acceptance criteria, CoC/CoA fields, lot/date-code labels, nonconformance and PCN/PDN rules.
Quantity per MPN and phase, forecast, price-break format, MOQ/pack multiple, delivery target, lead-time definition, packaging, origin and Incoterms named place.
This page controls the quotation package. These resources own the underlying model, specification, approval and sourcing decisions.
Map circuit and conductor requirements to the correct terminal family before issuing the line item.
Open the selection guide →Locate voltage, current, conductor, dimension, mounting and approval-specific information.
Read specification examples →Build the UL 508A evidence request without treating a bare kA value as panel approval.
Review the SCCR guide →Identify end plates, jumpers, separators, markers and other series-specific parts.
Review accessories →Separate marks, recognition, listing, certificates, declarations and application limits.
Review certification errors →Prepare the project conductor schedule without assuming every size or class is accepted.
Open the sizing guide →Evaluate factory-direct sourcing only after the technical response package is controlled.
Review factory-direct sourcing →Compare price breaks and availability without losing exact model and accessory control.
Review bulk sourcing →The same 10 questions and answers appear in the FAQPage data below. Apply the actual project standards, certification records and responsible design process.
The most important item is a controlled description of the installed application and complete configuration. Identify the terminal function, circuit role, conductors, electrical conditions, accessories, market approvals and evidence expected from the supplier. Current rating alone is not enough.
No. A UL Recognized Component is evaluated for use under defined Conditions of Acceptability in a larger end product. Request the exact status, standard, CCN, file number, ratings and CofA for the offered model. Certification of the component does not certify the completed panel or machine.
Match the standard to the terminal function. IEC 60947-7-1 applies to the terminal blocks and test-disconnect terminal blocks within its scope, IEC 60947-7-2 covers protective-conductor terminal blocks, and IEC 60947-7-3 covers applicable fuse terminal blocks. Do not use “IEC terminal block” as a complete specification.
State conductor material, construction, minimum and maximum size, AWG and/or mm² requirement, ferrule or other preparation, conductor temperature class where relevant, and the number of conductors per clamping point. Keep field-wiring and internal-wiring conditions separate.
State the circuit role, fault-current context and known upstream protective device. Require the exact terminal model, voltage, conductor conditions and OCPD manufacturer, type, catalogue number and maximum ampere rating behind the SCCR. Do not accept a bare kA value as proof of panel suitability.
Yes. Itemize end plates, end stops, separators, jumpers, combs, covers, test plugs, fuse parts, marker carriers and rail hardware by exact part number and quantity. Ask the supplier to identify compatibility and any current, voltage, spacing or approval limitation introduced by an accessory.
Use more precise wording. CE marking is required only where applicable EU legislation requires it, and the manufacturer is responsible for the conformity assessment and EU Declaration of Conformity. Request the applicable declaration and product identification rather than a generic “CE certificate.”
CofA means UL Conditions of Acceptability and describes limitations for using a Recognized Component in an end product. CoA commonly means Certificate of Analysis and contains specified measurement or test results. Spell out both terms in the RFQ so the supplier cannot confuse them.
No. Catalogue components normally need a controlled sample, first-article inspection or incoming inspection. A FAT is more appropriate for a custom assembled or prewired terminal row and only when the RFQ defines the configuration, test plan, acceptance criteria, witness points and report requirements.
Require every alternate to be identified in writing with an exact part number, technical comparison and supporting evidence. No substitute should be treated as approved by silence. The RFQ should also define PCN and PDN scope, notice timing, affected-lot identification, requalification and last-time-buy requirements.
Standards and legislation are controlled sources. This article paraphrases public boundaries and does not reproduce copyrighted requirements or replace the active project documents.
Share the BOM, destination markets, conductor schedule, circuit and fault context, accessories, labels, quantities, documentation list, packaging and delivery target. SENTOP can review matching series, accessory completeness, document availability, MOQ, pack and lead-time assumptions while returning every exception for your approval.
Popup Maker 6432 opens when available; the contact-page URL remains the no-JavaScript fallback. SENTOP component matching does not replace panel design, conformity assessment or project approval.
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