Choosing the right PLC panel

November 22, 2016/in Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Beverage and Food, Factory Automation, Industries, Medical, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Pulp and Paper, Robotics, Wind Energy

Programming logic controller (PLC) panels come in almost every shape and size with some of them being freestanding and others being wall-mounted and choosing the right solution for a particular application can be difficult.

David Manney, L&S Electric

11/18/2016

Controlling equipment has always been of interest in industrial applications. Before modern-day computers came into existence, a series of relays controlled that equipment and may have numbered into the thousands. Any updates required expensive and time-consuming manual labor by electricians who needed to rewire all of the relays.
The adoption of digital computers gave rise to the modern programmable logic controller (PLC): a digital computer utilized for the automation of various processes within an industrial facility. The PLC is designed for applications ranging from controlling parts of an assembly line to automating and controlling the light fixtures in an establishment.
There are similarities between a personal computer and a controller. Both a PLC and a personal computer have a CPU, memory, and input/output (I/O) units. On the other hand, a controller is built for industrial applications. It is designed to operate under harsh environments often seen in many facilities. In essence, the PLC and a PC gather and release information.
The PLC panel can be used in a wide range of industrial applications, primarily for automating processes and increasing control over critical systems. The processor controls electrical power and is commonly referred to as an automation panel. PLCs are utilized in many industries including:

Automotive industry: the automotive industry is one of the largest users of PLCs and one of the first industries to embrace factory automation fully. The industry still makes use of automation through PLC panels on an ongoing basis.
Marine: from controlling specific parts of the vessel to a full vessel system, it is an important part of maintaining operation where failures can cause severe consequences.
Power generation: PLC panels can be used for some processes within a power generation facility, such as automating the soot blower controls
Paper making: PLC panels can be used for controlling many processes within the paper mill industry.
Automation control: The applications that achieve automation through the use of PLCs include HVAC systems, car wash systems, material handling, and conveyor systems

RELATED PRODUCT: IDEC PLC+HMI SmartAXIS

Zone 1 Hazardous Area Rated Incremental Encoders

January 4, 2016/in Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Beverage and Food, Factory Automation, New Technology, News & Events, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Pulp and Paper, Robotics, Steel Mills

Zone 1 Hazardous Area Rated Incremental Encoders

The new EN42 hollow-shaft and EN44 hub-shaft incremental encoders eliminate the cost, guess work and hassle of installing a barrier thanks to encapsulated electronics. The EN series offers ATEX, CSA and IECEx triple certification and a powerful signal driver for universal use in oil & gas equipment applications.

ATEX, CSA, IECEx Triple Certified

With enforcement of regional certifications on the rise, the EN series is a flexible solution for zone 1 use with ATEX, CSA and IECEx certifications. The EN series also offers the industry’s leading operating temperature range of -50° to 100° C.

High Power Line Driver Available

The EN series offers a high power mosfet line driver (10-30 VDC) is for applications requiring a long cable run to ensure reliable signal output without sacrificing performance.

Easy to Install with No I.S. Barrier Needed

Both the EN42 and EN44 offer encapsulated electronics with increased safety interface for zone 1 use eliminating the need for a separate I.S. barrier and the guesswork to install one. The EN44 also offers a standard B100 mounting flange and integrated double helix coupling for easy installation.

EN42 Hollowshaft	EN44 Hubshaft
1 to 5,000 PPR	1024 or 2,048 PPR
Hollow Shaft	Hubshaft Style Mount With 6 Mounting Holes on the Face
Bore Size Options: 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″, 1″, 15 mm, 16mm	Bore Size Option: 16mm
Max Operating Speed 3,600 RPM	Max Operating Speed 6,000 RPM
CE, ROHS, CSA, ATEX, IECEx	CE, ROHS, CSA, ATEX, IECEx
50G Shock and 20G Vibration Tolerant	50G Shock and 20G Vibration Tolerant

OPEN CCTV Systems for hazardous areas

June 10, 2015/in Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Beverage and Food, Elevators, Factory Automation, Industries, Medical Imaging, New Technology, News & Events, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Products, Pulp and Paper, Steel Mills, Wind Energy

Camera Systems provides a complete camera portfolio for industrial process monitoring and security surveillance for hazardous and industrial areas. Due to our innovative SNF*-technology, all cameras are considerably lighter than any existing ones, and extremely robust. Almost all of our cameras are designed for operation in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°C to +75°C, even our infrared camera with day/night vision.

We are therefore able to design complete surveillance systems for any type of production plant, be it an oil rig, a tank farm, onboard ship or in process plants in the pharmaceutical or chemical industries. For control and standard monitoring, we have the ISview software package.

Larger surveillance systems with up to several hundred cameras are covered by the professional SeeTec software.

*(SNF – sensor-controlled nitrogen filling)

Green Energy – Meters from Weschler

April 30, 2015/in Aerospace and Defense, Beverage and Food, Factory Automation, Medical Imaging, News & Events, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Products, Steel Mills, Wind Energy

Energy management and energy conservation start with the ability to monitor power and energy use. For electrical systems, this involves measuring DC or AC power (Watts, VA, VAr) or energy (Wh, VAh, VArh).

In fixed installations, digital meters offer a range of display formats, capabilities & sizes. Single display power/energy meters start at $150. Multiple display meters with user selectable parameters are available for $200-800, depending on configuration and capabilities. Bargraph power meters, which show a digital reading and analog level, start around $350.Advanced parameters, including power factor, demand & harmonics, are standard on many models. Most meters also offer options for setpoint alarms & network communications. Specialized meters are available for applications such as generator monitoring or load shedding. See the more popular digital:
Power Meters
Energy Meters
Bargraph Meters
For older systems, we offer a selection of Analog Power Meters and panel adapters.

Energy Meters & Monitors for & Energy Conservation – Weschler Instruments

For more on Weschler Meters