Industrial Ethernet: High density I/O, no-tool RJ45 Ethernet connector, extenders

As Ethernet hardware and protocols are being applied more readily in the industrial space, additional products become available to make implementation easier. This includes an Acromag rugged, high-density Ethernet I/O system, Weidmuller RJ45 Ethernet connectors that do not require any cable stripping or crimping, and Westermo Wolverine series of Ethernet extenders to support redundancy rings. See photos. Acromag EtherStax line of rugged, high-density Ethernet I/O blocks for distributed I/O and SCADA applications grew with new analog input models. The ES2161 and ES2162 accept 32 differential dc current or voltage inputs, respectively, and interface the signals to Ethernet devices or controllers with Modbus TCP/IP or UDP/IP protocol communication. ES2162 units also accept signals from 8B signal conditioning module racks through two DB25 ports to monitor a wider variety of sensors including temperature, frequency, and load cells. Fast scanning updates all 32 channels in less than 5 mS. An embedded Web page provides easy setup menus to eliminate programming. Units are available in a variety of configurations with prices starting at $950.Two models, each with 32 differential analog inputs and 16-bit A/D, support a variety of I/O ranges. The ES2161 accepts dc current withters support both 16-bit signed and 32-bit floating point formats. IEEE-754 32-bit floating point scaling registers are configurable on a per-channel basis.Read more about the rugged, high-density Acromag Ethernet I/O system with high-performance 32-channel analog input units . Acromag is based in Wixom, MI.

Weidmuller introduced a new RJ45 Ethernet connector for faster and easier connections.

Weidmuller offers a new tool-free RJ45 Ethernet connector , which it characterizes as the fastest and easiest connector available. The new connector provides the industry with the only two-piece Ethernet connector that does not require any cable stripping or crimping, making installation faster and easier. Only a knife or cutting tool is needed to remove the cable’s outer jacket and cut the conductors to length.The connectors have built-in strain relief and full shielding for each cable assembly. They can terminate 4 to 8 wires. Full 8-wire termination of 22-26 AWG conductors result in an industry leading rating of 10 G performance, in addition to 10/100 and GigE.Included are easy-to-read color wire diagram so technicians can quickly wire the connector for Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) TIA-A and TIA-B, and Profinet wiring types. They are designed to work with Weidmuller’s modular line of Steadytec housings and bulkheads for IP67 protection in coupling and through-panel access.Weidmuller, based in Richmond, VA, develops, produces and sells industrial electronics, network infrastructure components and connectivity products, such as industrial Ethernet, relays, power supplies, I/O modules, printed circuit board connectors, terminal blocks and DIN rail assemblies.

Westermo Wolverine DDW-221 and DDW-222 Ethernet extenders provide integrated serial port and redundant rings support.

Westermo Wolverine series now include Ethernet extenders DDW-221 and DDW-222 . They have all the same features as their predecessor, the DDW-220, and provide integrated serial port and redundant rings support. Applications include critical process control and other mission critical implementations, such as traffic management, airports management, and onboard railway signaling.The redundant protocol can be used either on the SHDSL interface or on the built-in Ethernet switch. It uses Westermo FRNT (Fast Recovery of Network Topology) technology, said to be the fastest protocol on the market to re-configure a network in the event of any link or hardware failure.DDW-222 includes a RS-232 serial adapter and 10-port virtual COM port re-director software, which re-directs a COM port to an IP address. Pre-existing programs that use COM ports can be reused in IP networks. The cables of existing serial networks can be reused to create an Ethernet network while allowing legacy serial devices to function on the new network. The unit supports TCP client, TCP server and UDP protocol modes allowing use in a wide variety of applications.Like the DDW-220, the two have built-in four-port Ethernet switch allowing one unit to create entire Ethernet solutions. Existing twisted pair cables can be used to establish a high speed remote connection between two Ethernet networks. With transfer rates up to 5.7 Mbits/s and with an operating distance of up to 10 km at lower data rates, this is an easy-to-install alternative to fiber optic or radio systems when linking remote Ethernet networks. They use a transient blocking unit on each DSL line to provide over-current and over-voltage protection, allowing it to handle indirect lightning strike transients, power induction, and short circuit problems.Units are preconfigured for multi-drop applications, meaning a simple installation can be done with no software configuration at all. For further configuration, a built-in Web interface is provided, requiring only a standard Web browser. Diagnostics are included. The units also support SNMP allowing them to be managed as part of the overall network infrastructure.– Edited by  Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief Control Engineering System Integration eNewsletter Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .

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