Isolated Converter.

Transparently converts RS-232 signals into isolated RS-422 or RS-485

The Advantech ADAM-4520A robust RS-232 to RS-422/485 Isolated Converter is now available from stock. Featuring an enhanced ruggedised design the ADAM-4520Acan operate in harsh industrial environments and features wide operating wide temperature range and wide-range power inputs with up to 3KV isolation protection.

The ADAM-4520/4522 converter allows users to take advantage of RS-422 and RS-485 on systems originally equipped with RS-232. It transparently converts RS-232 signals into isolated RS-422 or RS-485 signals without the need to change computer hardware or software. The ADAM-4520 facilitates a simple to build industrial grade, long distance communication system with standard PC hardware. It can extend the communication distance by 4000 ft. (1200 m) or increase the maximum number of connected nodes by 32.

It has many industrial grade features, provides reliable and stable operation in a wide range of applications, and is supplied with a 2-year warranty. Key features include:

• Converts RS-232 to RS-422/485 signals.
• Extends RS-232 data signals up to 1.2 km.
• Data rate: 115.2 kbps.
• 3000 VDC Isolation.
• Auto-detection on baud rate / data format.
• DIP switch for RS-422 or RS-485 selection.
• Built-in 120ohm termination resistors.
• Power requirement +10 to +48 VDC.
• Operating Temperature -40 ~ 85° C (-40 ~ 185° F).

This robust RS-232 to RS-422/485 Isolated Converter is among the products featured in Advantech’s recently published comprehensive overview of their edge-to-edge-cloud solutions in the 2023 edition of their Industrial Systems and Devices Star Product Guide. The free to download 28 page brochure is a complete guide to their market leading IIoT product range, providing customers with everything they need to know to stay ahead of the curve with IIoT deployment; from IIoT hardware to innovative software for intelligent factories to industrial automation and their IoTMart/AOnline direct sales channels.

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@AdvantechIA @Advantech_IIoT @proactivefleet #IIoT #PAuto

Network Integration – Signal Conditioning Award.

Moore Industries' UL approved ECT-DIN 2-Wire Isolator has won the Control Engineering 2020 Engineers’ Choice Award in the Network Integration – Signal Conditioning category. The award will be presented at the 2020 Engineering Awards in Manufacturing dinner on Monday, April 27, 2020, in Chicago (USA).

The narrow 15mm ECT-DIN signal isolator and converter with 4-20mA, 1-5V and 0-10V inputs and 4-20mA output allows more isolators to fit in cabinets and field enclosures where installation space is a premium. The thinner 15mm width has the same General and Hazardous area approvals, RFI/EMI protection and -40°C to 85°C operating temperature range as the rest of the ECT family of isolators, which means it can be installed in hazardous locations and does not require installation in cooled or climate controlled environments, making it perfect for more extreme locations. The complete ECT family delivers extremely reliable signal isolation and conversion solutions for the most demanding ambient and noisy installation conditions as well as providing versatile choices to match the type
of AC or DC power available at each location.

#PAuto @MII_Worldwide @ControlEngTips

2-Wire Isolator/Converter.

The new UL Approved ECT-DIN 2-Wire Isolator/Converter from Moore Industries is available in a narrow 15mm aluminum housing. The thinner 15mm width has the same General and Hazardous area approvals, RFI/EMI protection and -40°C to 85°C operating temperature range as the rest of the ECT family of isolators, which means it can be installed in hazardous locations and does not require installation in cooled or climate controlled environments, making it perfect for more extreme locations.

The narrow 15mm ECT-DIN signal isolator and converter with 4-20mA, 1-5V and 0-10V inputs and 4-20mA output allows more isolators to fit in cabinets and field enclosures where installation space is a premium.

The rugged and reliable ECT family of isolators/converters provides versatile choices to match the type of AC or DC power available at each location. ECT-DIN 2-wire Output-Loop powered models, 2-wire Input-Loop powered models, or 4-wire (Line/Mains) Powered Isolators/Converters and Splitters are also available. All units feature solid metal housings that stand up to the continuous, daily rigors of process control and factory automation applications, and have an optionally available externally-mounted flange that provides a secure mount which ensures secure installation in high vibration environments. The complete ECT family delivers extremely reliable signal isolation and conversion solutions for the most demanding ambient and noisy installation conditions.

#Pauto @MII_Worldwide

Radio communication in hazardous areas.

The Series 9730 HFisolators from R. Stahl enable users to deploy any type of standard industrial antennas for radio communication in hazardous areas. These antennas can be connected via customisable cables with plug connectors. Using electrical isolation, this innovative solution shields the surrounding atmosphere from all ignition risks: only an intrinsically safe signal (Ex ia IIC) is transmitted to the external antenna. The antenna can therefore never be exposed to supply currents due to radio device malfunctions.

This new solution dispenses with the need for special antennas certified for explosion protection. Such special-purpose antennas are usually costly, only available in a limited range of types, and often depend on fixed cables without plug connectors that are difficult to modify. Instead, any standard antenna can be used and connected to the HFisolator via conventional coaxial connectors. Such antennas can therefore very easily be repositioned, serviced, or replaced. The HFisolator tolerates extremely rough climatic conditions with ambient temperatures ranging from ­60 °C to +80 °C. Using the ISM frequency bands around 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz, the HFisolator supports all wireless transmission standards commonly applied in industrial environments (WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n; WirelessHART; ISA 100.11a; Bluetooth; ZigBee; EnOcean).

In addition to type 9730 HFisolators, R. STAHL provides a wide range of Ex d and Ex p enclosures for radio systems. The explosion protection specialist is a trusted partner for wireless solutions in hazardous areas with many years of experience working in this field.

Stahl products are marketed in Ireland by Douglas Control & Automation.

Safety isolators provide reliable isolation & conversion for HART® Signals

Moore Industries’ new SSX and SST Safety Isolators and Splitters provide reliable isolation and signal conversion for HART® data in functionally safe process control settings. Part of their FS FUNCTIONAL SAFETY SERIES, the two-wire (loop powered) SSX and four-wire (line/mains powered) SST have been certified by exida for single use in Safety Instrumented Systems up to SIL 2. They join products from the company such as the STA Safety Trip Alarm and the SRM Safety Relay Module that have been developed following the strict IEC 61508:2010 standards for safety-related applications.

The SSX and SST family protects safety systems by isolating an SIS from basic process control or monitoring systems so that disconnections or other failures don’t impact the safety system. It also has 1500Vrms of isolating capability to protect safety I/O cards and systems from surges, spikes and transients in the field. Standard 20V/m RFI and EMI protection stops damages caused by radio frequencies and electromagnetic interference.

Sending HART data is critical for diagnostic and preventative maintenance. While most isolators “strip off” HART data, the SSX and SST pass along HART data to asset management systems, programming devices or host systems. This lets site operators get the most out of their HART devices. In addition, the SSX stops ground loop noise and solves “bucking” power supply problems caused when two devices try to source power to the same loop.

The four-wire SST Splitter takes the input from one process signal and creates two identical, isolated outputs that can go to two different monitoring or control devices. It can also serve as a HART splitter to pass HART data to one or both independent outputs. This allows asset management systems to maintain a digital HART connection to critical valves and instruments. It also allows for handheld HART devices, modems or programming devices to easily configure remote field transmitters from control rooms.

The SSX and SST meet the high levels of reliability found in all products in Moore Industries’
FS FUNCTIONAL SAFETY SERIES. Along with its exida certification, comprehensive FMEDA-certified safety data is available on request. This information can be used by a functional safety practitioner to determine if the SSX and SST are applicable for use in their specific safety-related application.

Isolators extending high speed RS-422/485 networks

Provides 1.5 Mbps throughput, 2 kV triple isolation, slim DIN rail mount form factor & top/bottom terminal blocks for easy access

B&B Electronics has expanded its family of serial isolators and repeaters with the 485OPDR-HS high speed, isolated repeater. Developed for use in high speed fieldbus systems like Profibus, as well as Modbus and other asynchronous serial applications, the 485OPDR-HS extends and protects RS-422 or RS-485 serial networks at speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps and ranges of up to 4000 feet (1.2 km), depending upon the data rate. Its compact (1.0 x 3.1 x 3.7 in/ 2.5 x 7.9 x 9.5 cm) form factor and top and bottom loading terminal blocks make the 485OPDR-HS easy to install and easy to fit into cramped industrial automation control panels.

The 485OPDR-HS is designed, built and tested to meet heavy industrial (EN61000-6-2) standards. It features a wide (-40 to 80 °C) operating temperature range, it can use 10 to 30 VDC input, and it is DIN-rail mountable on a standard 35mm rail. Setup is easy; the 485OPDR-HS automatically senses the data rate and users can configure RS-422/485, 2-Wire or 4-Wire, using DIP switches.

The 485OPDR-HS provides 2 kV isolation, 8 kV air ESD protection and 600 W transient voltage suppression on the data lines. Its “Triple Isolation” protects the data input, data output and power connections. The 485OPDR-HS is targeted at industrial automation applications where drives, PLCs, temperature controllers and other devices are installed in harsh electrical environments that present a high risk for ground loops.

USB isolators protecting field computers

B&B Electronics has expanded its family of USB isolators with the small-form-factor UH201 USB Port Guardian.

Designed with field technicians in mind, this unit protects PCs, laptops, and netbooks from the surges, spikes, electrostatic discharges, and ground loops that can occur when connecting such portable devices to equipment in the field. Measuring only 2.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches (5.0 x 25 x 1.2 cm), and packaged in an over-moulded enclosure that protects the circuit board, the USB Port Guardian is small enough to tuck into a pocket or a laptop bag, yet tough enough to stand up to repeated use in harsh environments.

The UH201 USB Port Guardian provides up to 2 kV of protection on the USB line and up to 4 kV ESD contact protection. The isolator is bus powered, has male and female type A USB connectors, and provides 400 mA downstream power when connected to a high-power USB port. Its high-speed digital isolation chip electrically separates the technician’s PC from the remote I/O device, while allowing full-speed USB 2.0 communications at 12 Mbps – the top of the line for USB isolation products. The isolator also operates reliably over a wide temperature range -40 to +85°C.

Applications include any situation in which a technician must obtain data from equipment in the field, as in industrial control and manufacturing, remote sensing and remote metering, instrumentation, point-of-sale, test and measurement, laboratory information systems (LIMS) and more.

HART signal isolator approved!

The HIX HART signal isolator from Moore Industries has received General Location and Class I, Division 2 (Non-Incendive) approvals from CSA International in the United States and Canada.

The 2-wire HIX provides superior loop isolation while allowing the HART signal to "pass through" uninterrupted. It provides economical solutions to three common and costly problems that plague many of today's smart HART loops. The HIX protects I/O cards from surges and spikes, provides area isolation to allow loops to continue working during system maintenance downtime and provides a safe method of sharing a HART signal.

The cCSAus certification allows the HIX to be used in hazardous conditions where flammable gas or vapors are present in the atmosphere, such as petroleum refineries. The approval covers Groups A, B, C and D and temperature code T4A at an ambient temperature of -20 to 70°C.

USB isolator

New industrial-grade USB isolator shields host PC and connected devices from surges and noise

Acromag’s new compact USB-Isolator provides a protective barrier between connected USB devices to prevent equipment damage or errors from ground loops, high-voltage spikes, or conducted noise.

This compact, industrial-rated isolator provides a high-voltage isolation barrier for USB 2.0 or 1.1 connections from computers to USB devices. It is useful to protect against over-voltage conditions caused by electrical surges and transient voltage spikes. Isolation also helps to eliminate ground loop errors and will minimize conducted noise from static discharge, magnetic fields, and radio frequency interference. Acromag’s isolator offers high noise immunity with low radiated emissions for reliable data transfer in sensitive applications. Industrial-grade features offer additional control for advanced users, and the unit is designed to meet UL/cUL and CE approval requirements. Typical applications involve process control devices, automation equipment, test and measurement systems, and medical instrumentation.

“Our new industrial-grade isolator combines high-voltage protection with special features like a manual reset button and selectable data transfer rates to add more value for demanding applications,” remarked Don Lupo, Acromag’s process sales and marketing director.

The isolator is inserted in-line with the USB connection and operates transparent to the devices with no software drivers required. It receives its power from USB and isolates that power to the connected device. A green power LED indicates that power is being received and will blink if the connected device is trying to draw more than 120mA. Default communication is USB Full Speed (12Mbps) but can alternately be set for Low Speed (1.5Mbps) via an internal jumper. The reset button enables re-initialization of a connected device without breaking the cable connection. High-retention USB A and USB B sockets increase connection integrity under shock and vibration. A 1 meter USB A-B cable is included for connection to the host computer.

Electrical isolation of up to 1500V AC / 2100V DC separates the USB host from the USB peripheral. Built-in surge/transient suppression up to 8kV protects all ports. Common mode filtering is also applied on all data lines. Output short circuit protection adds further safety and includes an auto-retry function.

Acromag is an international corporation that has been developing and manufacturing measurement and control products for more than 50 years. They offer a complete line of industrial I/O products including process instruments, signal conditioning equipment, data acquisition boards, distributed I/O modules, and network communication devices.