Hitachi's remote I/O series for increased flexibility and cost efficiency

Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors

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January 2007 Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors

Elquip Solutions is the South African supplier of the highly modular, user-friendly ER-RIO range of remote I/O (input/output) from Hitachi.

This is according to Mike Cronin, managing director of Elquip Solutions, an established local provider of quality global electrical, automation, mechanical and consumable products.

"Hitachi's EH-RIO range is the latest in the high quality products that we are bringing to local industry. This remote I/O solution allows users the flexibility to distribute I/O throughout an application. By using EH-RIO, one can precisely plan and expand I/O - and locate them right where they are needed: close to the sensors and actors," explains Cronin.

"By mounting a junction box directly on or near the machine, one can minimise wiring, and eliminate the need for further control and marshalling cabinets. This solution benefits today's modular production processes; and is especially advantageous when upgrading centralised automation systems," says Cronin.

Each I/O module consists of the following three components:

* A mounting base, providing mounting locations for the I/O modules and the removable terminal blocks.

* The removable terminal block providing eight or 12 separate terminal locations for field wiring.

* The control status indicators. The LEDs indicate module, network, power and calibration status, as well as I/O point status (ON/OFF/Error or diagnostic). I/O modules report diagnostic information back over the network communication adaptor, thus making debugging tasks easier.

"A lot of thought has gone into this range, and users will find the mounting system is both easy and designed to protect against human errors like inserting modules into the wrong mounting base, and exposing them to incorrect signals," says Gustav Verster, Elquip Solutions technical sales manager.

"They have also considered that the separation of the electronics unit from the removable terminal block. This makes it possible to remove and exchange the electronics unit under power, without having to rewire the entire I/O module," he explains.

Elquip Solutions' Mike Cronin concludes: "We are always pleased when we source a piece of equipment that has obvious advantages and benefits to our customers and Hitachi's EH-RIO range is exactly that."

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Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors

Hitachi's remote I/O series for increased flexibility and cost efficiency

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