What are DIN Rails?

DIN rails are components that are standard to component rail-mounting systems, commonly found within equipment cabinet racks. DIN rails facilitate the secure attachment of various devices and systems, commonly being used for mounting circuit breakers, power supplies, terminal blocks, actuators, solenoids, and other items within a frame or cabinet. As an advantageous component that is seen in various settings and industries, it can be useful to familiarize oneself with the common rail types and their uses.

The DIN acronym stands for Deutsche Institut für Normung (German Institute of Standards), first implemented in industrial settings in Germany during the late 1920s. By the 1950s, DIN rails quickly spread worldwide, establishing themselves as a standard. While much development has been made to such products, DIN rails simply serve the role of providing physical and mechanical support to assemblies, rather than acting as an actual component of an electrical system. Despite this, they can still provide certain electrical uses, such as acting as a grounding element even if not specifically designed to.

DIN rail assemblies provide a variety of advantages that are not seen in other mounting options, making them quite beneficial for some applications. For one, DIN rails can save individuals much time and work, often being quick and easy to assemble with snap and sliding capabilities. Additionally, each component does not need to be panel mounted separately. DIN rails are also space savers, ideally used for constrictive applications due to their facilitation of tight component configurations. With their standardization and wide availability, DIN rails can be quite a cheap option, coupled with their density. Lastly, they enable an ease of maintenance due to their organization options, promoting safety and management.

While the aforementioned advantages are great for many users, the most beneficial aspect of DIN rails are their standardization in sizing and mounting protocols. Through consistent development, the DIN rail system has been designed to fit within a universally accepted standard of mounting hardware width and shapes. With this universal protocol for DIN rail manufacturing, potential buyers can rest assured that they can find exactly what they need for their assembly without risking differences based on manufacturer, country of origin, etc.

There are a wide number of DIN rail types that may be used by individuals, all of which may fall into one of four key categories. The TS35, or top hat, category of DIN rails is often considered to be the industry standard, regularly used for a wide variety of electrical industrial control products and components. Top hat DIN rails often come in 7.5 mm and 15 mm channel depth options, both of which are well suited for various assemblies. The TS15, or miniature top hot, DIN rail is shaped similarly to the TS35 type, albeit smaller. Typical TS15 rails are 15 mm in width, and their channel depths are regularly shallow with 5.5 mm depths being standard.

The TS32 rail is the next main category, encompassing components that are 32 mm from edge to edge. They also feature a C-shaped cross-section and symmetrical curve, thus they are often referred to as “C” section DIN rails. Intended for heavier components, TS32 DIN rails are commonly implemented for the support of power supplies, transformers, and other items. The last major type is the TS “G-type” section, which gets its name from the shape of their cross-section. G-type rails feature two outer channels, one of which is deeper for supporting heavier objects or high-powered components.