Weidmuller Connectors

In contrast to conventional Weidmuller heavy duty connectors, for the first time the "ConCept" series offers customer specific connectors at the price of a standard connector. Any number of fiber optic signals may be combined in one Weidmuller heavy duty connector and even in one module.
Weidmuller Connectors

Red Lion Counters

The Red Lion Controls CUB5 counter provides the user the ultimate in flexibility, from its complete user programming to the optional relay output capability. The meter can be programmed as a single or dual counter with rate indication capability & the display has 0.46" (11.7 mm) high digits.
Red Lion Counters

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DC Drives Are Easy To Install

ABB has launched a series of high-performance DC drives designed for easy installation. All controllers have guided commissioning included as standard, which means the ABB DC drive can be installed by the user, in most cases without reference to the manual. Connecting the ABB DCS800 DC Drive is also straightforward, with connections comprising three cables in and four cables out. The drive detects the phase sequence automatically, meaning the user does not need to worry about in-phase connection. Plug-in expansion modules, which can be added without tools, are available.

Ease of installation is of significance for retrofits, where the time for installation is often very limited as the work frequently has to be carried out over a weekend. OEMs will benefit from the ability to use the ABB DCS800 all over the world, thanks to supply voltages of 230 to 525V AC, 50/60Hz, plus CE, CULus and C-Tick approvals as standard. The control panel can display information in eight languages, including Russian and Chinese. It shares many features with the firm's range of AC drives, giving familiarity for users with both AC and DC drives on site. One of the common elements is the control panel, with a high-resolution display and context-sensitive assignments for individual keys, similar to a mobile phone. The drive also has several features that make it easy to control drives remotely. Fast, high-performance peer-to-peer communications allow data to be exchanged directly from drive to drive. An IDEC PLC is provided with each unit, allowing the user to handle local control tasks affordably and efficiently directly in the drive.

G7 Wins Control Engineering Editors' Choice Award

The "480 V, three-level inverter architecture" of the Yaskawa Drives G7 solves high-performance speed, torque, and position-control applications. Increased speed and torque response is said to provide servo-like motor control; and a new open-loop control method produces true torque control without an encoder. Three-level power architecture reportedly limits detrimental voltage-switching effects of IGBT power-switching devices to 50% the dv/dt value of conventional PWM drives. Yaskawa G7 drive simplifies 480-V installation and provides enhanced system protection.

This technology also solves major installation and reliability concerns in industrial plants, for example: long cable length between motor and drive; induced shaft bearing current; EMI/RFI radiation; common mode currents; audible noise; and surge voltages, according to Yaskawa. G7 drives come in a 0.5 to 500-hp power range. Drive programming is DriveWorksEZ Yaskawa's PC-based, object-oriented graphical icon programming tool. All of Yaskawa's products must pass rigorous quality assurance (QA) standards, combining leading edge technology, unsurpassed performance and user friendly application with absolute reliability. Yaskawa Drives consistently applies quality control (QC) and reliability control (RC) methods across the company's operations, beginning with product planning and design and extending to order entry and after sale service.

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Sola S1K UPS with Ultra-Secure Mounting Kit

The new Sola Heavy Duty S1K Wall/Panel Mount Kit is a permanent mounting solution specifically engineered for its S1K Series Off-line Uninterruptible Power System (UPS). Purpose-built to extend the value and versatility of the S1K UPS, the mounting kit delivers a degree of safety, stability and support not available from lesser quality "off-the-shelf" brackets. Whether it is used to mount the UPS in a control panel or wall mount, or as an integrated past of an enclosure or a machine, the mounting kit is tailor made to the precise dimensions of the S1K.

The S1K series Sola UPS provides economical protection from damaging impulses and power interruptions. These uninterruptible power supply units include two types of outlets; three for critical devices needing battery back-up and surge protection such as the CPU and one surge protected only outlet for non-critical devices like printers and fax machines. The S1K Sola Hevi Duty UPS is ideal for point of sale and office applications.

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Superior Customer Service at ABB

A solution always begins with a need. In this case, the engineer of a company who had not previously been an ABB Controls customer was in the midst of a new design update for an induction machine. He was requesting a quotation for a Tmax main circuit breaker with a cable operated flange handle mechanism, a design solution similar to that which his company had been using for years. ABB provided a 70% savings in cost, greater competitiveness and higher profits. ABB's Business Development Management Team understood that to just offer the customer the same solution that he had used in the past might suffice to solve the problem, but greater cost savings Value-Added Solutions were possible.

Not wanting to disappoint the customer, ABB gave them a quote for the requested solution, as well as an interesting alternative solution: an ABB Tmax molded case breaker with a through-the-door handle mechanism. Not only did the ABB alternative save money on the ABB provided components, it also allowed for savings on the panel, by enabling the engineer to use a different, smaller and less expensive panel. The customer really liked the cost savings and the extra thought ABB had given to his needs. He understood that ABB wanted to solve his problem, not just sell a product. The customer was able to achieve an overall savings of 70% over his previous design. He made his company more competitive and more profitable. By offering solutions, ABB gained a satisfied, long-term customer, while the end-user gained a design partner he could count on. The new ABB Breakers Tmax series has a hologram on the front, obtained using special anti-imitation techniques, which guarantees the quality and that the circuit breaker is an original ABB product.

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Novel Thermal Design Reduces Inverter Volume

Lenze has developed 8200 vector inverters using the 'cold plate' technique for cases where the inverter can be mounted directly onto a substantial heatsink. AC Tech Lenze 8200 vector inverters are available for power 0.55 to 90kW with three-phase supply. In the more popular smaller sizes up to 22kW, a space saving variant can reduce the requirement for panel space by up to 40%. By dissipating the heat outside the cabinet, these 'cold plate' versions enable panels to have higher enclosure ratings. Alternatively a plate with external cooling by liquid or air can be used. The cold plate versions of the 8200 vector inverters have no heat fins, so heat generated is passed to the mounting plate and transmitted out of the cabinet.

In this way inverters require less mounting depth and the space savings are substantial. For a 1.5kW inverter the saving is 25%, rising to 40% for a 22kW inverter. Therefore panels can be smaller and costs reduced. As the heat is now transmitted to outside of the cabinet, requirements for a flow of cooling air through the cabinet are removed. Cabinets can be sealed and protection to IP65 is easier to achieve. This is particularly advantageous in dusty conditions where any through flow of air would cause a dust build-up. Above 22kW the cold plate design is not available. However an alternative 'push-through' design can be used right up to 90kW. Here the Lenze Drives inverter heatsink is mounted outside of the panel, gaining the advantages of panel space and enclosure as described. The concept of the 8200 vector frequency inverter is based on a modular system of complementary components. Combined with a Lenze geared motor or a Lenze three-phase AC motor, it can be used to implement electronic variable speed drives for a multiplicity of applications. Compact: Side-by-side mounting saves space in the control cabinet. Integrated filters (optional) simplify installation. Flexible: The modular structure enables the inverters to be optimised for your application. This results in cost-effective but high-performance drive solutions. Whether as a "stand-alone" inverter with setpoint selection via potentiometer or a networked inverter with speed feedback in master/slave mode, the inverter functions can be adapted to suit every application.

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Communicate With Up To 16 PLCs Using One Touchscreen

IDEC Touchscreens are now able to remotely communicate simultaneously with up to 16 devices in an Ethernet network. IDEC Corporation, a leader in HMI technology, is making this possible by releasing three new drivers and additional enhancements in its updated WindO/I-NV2 3.01 programming software. IDEC touchscreens support many major brands of PLCs and over 100 controllers. With the newly added Ethernet/IP driver, IDEC 10.4" and 12.1" TFT color LCD touchscreens can control and monitor up to 16 PLCs including Micrologix, PLC5, SLC500 and ControlLogix.

And because this driver is so easy to use and implement, IDEC touchscreens provide a cost-effective solution for automation design engineers. In addition, two new Ethernet networking protocols are also available: Modbus TCP/IP 1:N driver and IDEC 1:N driver. The updated IDEC IZUMI WindO/I-NV2 3.01 also provides enhanced programming features. These include a security function and alarm logging, both of which give added programming flexibility. For instance, the security function can now allow several levels to require passwords to increase security when multiple users are editing projects, or displaying screens and objects. Alarm logging, which stores historical events, now has an improved configuration compliant to ISA (Instrument Society of America) Standards giving users additional options to display and manage alarm messages.

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New PS400 and PS500 Programmable Pressure Sensors

TURCK introduces new programmable pressure sensors that combine high accuracy and performance with simple programming, resulting in an extremely user-friendly sensor. The PS400 and PS500 TURCK sensors are easily programmed via three controls: two push buttons for scrolling through programming features and one recessed enter key. The menu is clear and concise to allow parameters such as set points, reset points, output functions, analog ranges, and a range of special options to be programmed with ease. The menu also includes an optional electronic lockout that disables the push buttons from functioning until the lockout is removed. The high accuracy TURCK programmable pressure sensors are specified with a switch point accuracy of =+/- 0.5 percent, generally exceeding what is required by the machine engineering sector.

The combination of high accuracy and flexible programming often allows a single sensor to replace several conventional sensors (with varying sensing ranges) resulting in a significant reduction in inventory. These TURCK sensors feature a large, bright 4-digit, 7-segment LCD display with a constant indication of pressure in either psi (pounds per square inch), bar, kPa (kilopascals), or MPa (megapascals). This display is tilted at a 45 degree angle, and can be inverted electronically for easy reading in a variety of applications. The TURCK PS400 and PS500 pressure sensors are encased in compact, 34 mm diameter housing with various threaded connections for simple, versatile installation. The TURCK PS500 series also features a process connection that allows the housing to rotate 360 degrees for optimal viewing prior to locking the sensor in place. The innovative PS400 and PS500 TURCK Pressure Sensors were designed to tolerate tough applications. Stainless steel housing with an integrated stainless steel M12 eurofast connector enables fast and reliable installation. The sensors also offer a variety of stainless steel pressure connections including G1/4 and 1/4-18NPT threads. The TURCK sensors are highly resistant to overpressure and burst pressure, yet they also incorporate a patented medium stop system that prevents leakage when these levels are exceeded, which immediately seals the sensor if the pressure cell has been damaged. All of these features were incorporated to create a pressure sensor ideal for use in virtually any application.

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Inductive Sensors Rule The Waves

CONTRINEX Series 700 inductive sensors, which are designed specifically for marine applications, are being used in wave power generators by Edinburgh-based company, Ocean Power Delivery (OPD). Alternative forms of clean energy are vital in view of the decline in the finite reserves of gas and oil and therefore, in many countries, nature's substitutes such as photovoltaic, hydroelectric, tidal, wind and wave are being developed as a matter of priority. Wave power is now set to rival wind turbines in the pursuit of 'clean' power generation and the European community is the sponsor of OPD at the European Marine Energy Test Centre in Orkney.

If successful, the trial site will be expanded and additional sites commissioned. OPD is also working with the Portuguese utility company, Grupo Enersis, on a full-scale wave power site situated off the Portuguese coast that will create sufficient power for a small town. As one of the world's leading companies in wave power generation, OPD has tapped into the marine and offshore expertise in Scotland and has designed and built some of the most advanced and biggest wave energy convertors ever constructed. The principle of operation is that as waves pass over the hinged, multi-hulled installations they flex, displacing hydraulic fluid that is fed through turbines linked to power generators. OPD selected the new Contrinex Series 700 range of marine-standard Inductive Proximity Sensors to monitor the fully automated mooring and disconnection system.

The control of this underwater mooring mechanism in zero-visibility conditions is vital to the success of the operation and has to be totally reliable during docking, commissioning, in-service generation and removal for maintenance to avoid damage to the generator and the latching mechanism and to prevent the possibility of losing an extremely expensive generator. Typical mooring sites present a highly aggressive environment so it essential that the sensors are both environmentally protected against ingress of salt water and physically robust to avoid collision damage during docking. The Contrinex S700 sensors are made from a single piece of V4A Stainless Steel Enclosure, including the sensing face, and are impervious to seawater and salt spray and will not rust even in the most severe maritime environments. They can also withstand extreme impact, high shock levels and are resistant to virtually any chemical stress. The use of new technology seals the sensors to 80bar, providing IP69K protection and the ability to withstand water pressure to a depth of 800 metres making them suitable for both subsurface and topside applications. Supplied in M12, M18 and M30 sizes, in embeddable and nonembeddable formats these sensors are also ideal for use on ROV grippers, ferry ramps, cranes and other equipment in all types of vessels, harbours, docks and oil rigs at highly competitive prices that are far lower than contemporary marine sensors capable of the same performance level.

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Sola Hevi Duty SCP-X Extreme Environment Power Supply Reduces Costs

Sola Heavy Duty has introduced a new SCP-X field power supply that delivers 24Vdc power from an IP67-compliant package resistant to dust, water and other contaminants. Designed as a stand-alone unit that can be mounted directly to a machine, the SCP-X reduces end-user costs by eliminating the need for a separate cabinet and simplifying I/O device cabling. The metal outer case withstands physical abuse while efficiently dissipating heat to deliver consistent power from -40 to +60C.

This compact, stand-alone unit can be mounted directly to the load eliminating the need for protective enclosures. This innovative mounting option drives down costs and provides machine builders and system integrators increased flexibility during the design process. Direct machine mounting also decreases the amount of cabling between the Power Supply and consuming devices on the machine. Reduced cabling means lower capital costs and also allows for easier modification if system requirements change in the future.

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