I've been handling orders for industrial connectivity components for a large system integrator for about seven years now. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) eight significant mistakes involving terminal blocks specifically, totaling roughly $4,200 in wasted budget. That's the cost of learning, I guess. Now, I maintain our team's pre-installation checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors.
The problem isn't that Phoenix Contact terminal blocks are bad. They're not. In fact, they're the standard for a reason. The problem is that choosing a part number, like the ubiquitous 2320173, is only half the battle. The other half is how you specify, handle, and install it. And that's where the real money gets wasted.
So this isn't a guide on which terminal block is best. That depends entirely on your situation. Instead, I'll walk you through the three most common failure scenarios I've seen (and caused), so you can figure out which one you're about to walk into.
Scenario A: The 'Looks Right' Trap (My $890 Mistake)
This was true five years ago when I was still learning the subtle differences. I once ordered 400 pieces of what I thought was a standard Phoenix Contact feed-through terminal block. On the spec sheet, it was the right wire gauge, the right voltage rating, and the right pitch. It looked perfect.
It wasn't until the panel builder called me, clearly frustrated, that I realized my error. The terminals were almost right, but they had a different marking scheme. The 2320173 is a standard gray terminal block with a specific marking. I had ordered the identical physical part but with a different manufacturer's marking that didn't match the customer's drawings for labeling.
That error cost $890 in redo plus a 1-week delay. Every single item had to be swapped out. $890 straight to the trash.
Looking back, I should have paid for a digital sample first. At the time, I thought, "It's just a terminal block. How different can it be?" Very different. (Ugh.)
If you're in this scenario — rushing to match a bill of materials without cross-referencing the physical marking and laser printing — you need to stop. Order a single sample from your distributor. It's a $2 cost to avoid an $890 mistake. Simple.
Scenario B: The 'Supply Chain' Panic (Don't Do This)
Had 2 hours to decide before the deadline for a large order back in September 2022. Normally I'd get multiple quotes and check lead times carefully. But there was no time; our assembly line was about to stop. I went with a new vendor based on a promise of 'fast delivery' at a slightly lower price.
In hindsight, I should have paid the premium for the guaranteed delivery from our usual master distributor. But with the production manager standing over my shoulder and the procurement director waiting, I made the call with incomplete information.
Dodged a bullet? No. I took the hit. The 'fast delivery' turned into three missed deadlines. The problem wasn't the terminal blocks themselves, but the uncertainty of their arrival. In March 2024, after getting burned twice by 'probably on time' promises, I mandated a policy: if a part holds up a production line and the standard lead time is tight, we pay for rush or guaranteed delivery. I'd rather pay $400 extra for a guaranteed date than risk missing a $15,000 contract.
If you're in this scenario — under severe time pressure — recognize that the cost of uncertainty is higher than the price of speed. The 'cheapest' option is rarely the cheapest when it fails to arrive on time.
Scenario C: The 'Blood Pressure Monitor' Confusion (A Different Problem)
This one is weird. I've had three separate inquiries in the past two years where someone confused 'Phoenix Contact' parts with something else entirely, like a blood pressure monitor. I think people search for 'phoenix contact 2320173 terminals' and then get lost in search results. Or maybe they're looking for a 'Duraforce Pro 2' crimper, see the same brand name but for power tools, and think it's all the same ecosystem. It's not.
The misconception here is that 'Phoenix Contact' is a one-stop shop for all things industrial. It is for connectivity, but the brand name doesn't mean a 'Duraforce Pro 2' instrument is compatible with a Phoenix Contact terminal block without checking the crimp die specifications.
The 'one brand for everything' thinking comes from an era when companies were more vertically integrated. That's changed. You must check the specific crimp profile for your 2320173 terminal block against the die set in your tool.
If you're in this scenario — trying to mix and match tools from different tool lines or confusing product categories — stop. Create a compatibility checklist. For every terminal block, specify exactly which crimp tool and die is approved. We've caught 47 potential errors using this checklist in the past 18 months.
How to Figure Out Your Scenario
So which one are you? Here's a quick self-diagnostic:
- You're in Scenario A if: You're ordering based on a part number like 2320173 from a drawing but haven't seen the physical product or its factory marking. Fix this: get a free sample first.
- You're in Scenario B if: You're in a rush to avoid a production stoppage. Fix this: pay for guaranteed delivery even if it costs more. Calculate the cost of a one-day delay vs. the surcharge.
- You're in Scenario C if: You're trying to use a crimper like the 'Duraforce Pro 2' without checking the die profile for a specific Phoenix Contact terminal. Fix this: publish an internal compatibility matrix.
Is there a perfect, universal answer? No. But knowing which trap you're about to step into is the first step to avoiding it. Period.
Pricing as of January 2025; verify current rates. Regulatory information from USPS (usps.com) regarding mailboxes doesn't apply here, but my own financial data from Q1 2024 certainly does.
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