| Sponsor: Acromag |
New White Paper: Intro to 4-20mA loops and 2-wire transmitters

Learn the basics of 4-20mA control loops and loop-powered instruments such as Acromag’s new USB-configured head-mount temperature transmitters. The low-cost ST130 starts at just $89. This paper reviews the operation and advantages of 4-20mA networks and the installation of loop-powered transmitters. We also discuss power, wiring, and grounding issues.
Learn More.
|
| Sponsor: ISA |
ISA's 6th Annual Water & Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium June 22-23, 2011

The WWAC Symposium will help professionals in the water and wastewater industry understand how automatic control applications affect processing and distribution of water treatment and provide an outstanding opportunity to gain valuable technical information and training.
More information.
|
| Sponsor: Automation.com |
Looking for automation talent?

Reach tens of thousands of automation professionals visiting Automation.com each month. Your job posting will be included in our Career & Job Center and featured on our home page and in our Automation Weekly e-newsletter.
Post Your Job Today.
|
| Sponsor: ISA |
Technician Training Boot Camp

More information.
|
| Sponsor: automationtechies |
Don’t gamble with your career.

automationtechies is your best bet for finding Controls/Automation Engineering, Sales, or Management positions. Our recruiters specialize in the field of automation and will help you find a perfect fit.
Contact one of our experienced recruiters today.
|
| Live News Feeds |



Visit the Industrial I/O portal and use the icons to subscribe to the live feed.
Learn more about RSS feeds.
|
| Automation Networks |
   
|
| Contact Us |
For editorial inquiries, please contact either Rick Zabel or Bill Lydon.
For advertising inquiries, please contact Richard Simpson or Chris Nelson, or see our Media Kit.
View our Privacy Policy |
|
| Featured Articles |
Finding Your Balance
Process Heating, April 2011
By Burns Engineering
This article presents an analysis of cable resistance imbalance in three-wire RTDs, with emphasis on the errors that affect the accuracy of the temperature measurement. Guidance and techniques are given for minimizing the magnitude of these errors.
Device Connection Technology: An IOpener
Control Design, April 2011
By Joe Feeley
We might want to pay a little attention to a device connection technology that's largely unknown to North American machine builders. IO-Link is a sensor/actuator connection system supported by a consortium of about 50 well-known automation suppliers.
Back to Basics: Simplify device-level wiring
Control Engineering, April 2011
By Richard Chung, Eaton
Faster connectivity, data monitoring, and circuit protection are among advantages of device-level wiring solutions.
Switch Types Affect Test Results
Design News, March 2011
By Jon Titus
Many data-acquisition and measurement tasks do not demand simultaneous sampling or analog-to-digital conversions. So, measuring instruments can connect to devices under test (DUT) one by one through switches or multiplexers (MUXs). Here’s how those switches affect their tests.
How to prevent power surges
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, March 2011
By Jasmine Lin, Moxa
Industrial automation operators generally understand that power surges pose a serious threat to their systems and take steps to reduce this threat. Not only do power surges damage and destroy equipment, they cause costly interruptions.
Browse more articles on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Product Sponsor: GarrettCom |
Magnum™ 10KT Next-Gen Switch – Outstanding Reliability/1588 Timing
Highly reliable, 36-port Magnum™ 10KT Managed Switch –for industrial installations of the future—today. |
| Product Announcements |
Advantech introduces PEC-3710 integrated I/O controller
PEC-3710 has an AMD LX800 500 MHz controller with 16-channel analog input, 4-channel analog output and 32-channel isolated digital input/output.
National Instruments releases cRIO-9075 and cRIO-9076 controllers
Both CompactRIO systems combine an industrial 400 MHz Freescale real-time processor and four-slot chassis with an embedded FPGA for custom timing, control and signal processing capabilities.
WAGO introduces J1939 Interface function block
J1939 Interface function block increases large engine efficiency by tracking, and reacting to, engine performance parameters
Phoenix Contact introduces SafetyBridge I/O modules
SafetyBridge I/O modules include 14 different safety-relevant function modules, from a simple Emergency Stop up to various muting blocks.
Acromag releases VPX Carrier Cards
VPX4810 3U VPX carrier cards provide a simple and cost-effective solution for interfacing a PMC or XMC module to a VPX computer system.
Other Product Announcements
Browse more Product Announcements on the Industrial I/O portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Product Sponsor: ICP DAS |
ICP DAS USA’s Industrial RS-485 and Modbus TCP I/O Solutions
Easy to set up and configure. Free EZ Data Logger software provided for PC based data logging and control. Includes Free Technical Support. WISE Web Configurable I/O allows you to implement IF-Then Else-If type control logic through drop down menus in a web page for standalone solutions. |
| Resources |
Data Translation publishes Data Acquisition Product Guide
The 13-page Product Guide offers a summary of all USB and Ethernet (LXI) data acquisition hardware and software solutions offered by the company.
The easy way to PROFINET Technology
This brochure focuses of the development of PROFINET IO products and includes an overview of PROFINET features, product development cycle, implementation options and other resources.
Banner Engineering publishes 2011 Product Catalog
The 2011 catalog wraps Banner's sensor products together with lighting and indicators, machine vision, wireless and machine safety products.
Schneider Electric offers 3D CAD drawings for automation products
Customers can access and search the catalog directly from the Schneider Electric U.S. website and download the drawings into their designs, allowing shorter design time and faster time to market.
National Instruments expands Instrument Drivers
National Instruments now offers more than 9,000 drivers from more than 350 vendors through the Instrument Driver Network (IDNet) that simplify and automate connection to stand-alone instruments.
Browse more resources on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Application Stories |
Remote Wind Energy SCADA Control System
Control, April 2011
By Harm Toren, Iberdrola Rene
Iberdrola Rene installed a SCADA system supplied by PcVue. Among other things, each wind turbine has a control box containing a PLC, power converter, control boards and I/O device. Sensors for wind speed, wind direction, shaft rotation speed and numerous other factors collect and transfer data to the PLC.
Distributed and Remote I/O Improves Performance at Water Treatment Plant
By Geoffrey Miller, OCWA, and Jim McConahay, Moore Industries
Part of the upgrades at Onondaga County Water Authority included distributed and remote I/O that reduced wiring costs for field instrumentation while improving operational readiness and reliability.
Airfield Lights Using Wireless POINT I/O and Mobile Operator Interfaces
At the heart of the lighting systems are ControlLogix PACs utilizing Ethernet/IP wireless communications modules. Airfield lighting circuit status is served to a FactoryTalk SCADA operator console located in the Air Traffic Control Tower.
Wireless I/O Control System Proves Successful for Vehicle Manufacturer in India
India manufacturer of utility vehicles built a modern greenfield facility with state-of-the-art EMS conveyor enabled by Rockwell Automation control architecture and a ProSoft Technology wireless communication system.
Browse more application stories on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| White Papers |
Boost Your PLC System: High-Performance Analog Measurements
By National Instruments
We live in an analog world and we often find ourselves in need of high-performance analog measurements as we push the limits of automation technology. Can PLCs keep up?
Deploying intelligent power supplies to save energy
By Ken Allwine, Phoenix Contact
Today’s high-end power supplies are based on advanced primary switch mode power supply (PSMPS) technology. This improves the energy conversion process to the level where many power supplies boast efficiency levels of 93 percent or better.
Browse more white papers on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Company & Organizational News |
ESCORT Data Loggers signs CAS as distributor
CAS will be responsible for the sales and support of all ESCORT Data Logger products in North America.
ODVA announces machinery initiative
ODVA launched a Machinery Initiative designed to improve the integration of machinery with the industrial manufacturing ecosystem
WAGO 2011 Innovation in Automation Tour Underway
Consisting of two identical vans, IIAT presents WAGO’s latest Automation, Interconnect and Electronic solutions directly to industrial professionals.
Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group celebrates 175 years
Originally founded in Cincinnati Ohio in 1836 by James Foster, Jr., Palmer Wahl has been a consistent innovator since the 18th century, developing the first thermometer made in America - the Foster Cup - in 1852.
Advantech Sells One Millionth Remote I/O Module
B&B Electronics purchased the one millionth ADAM Remote I/O module, the ADAM-6024-AE, a 12-channel universal I/O module.
Browse more company and organizational news on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Project News |
Metso to modernize power plant automation at Xcel Energy
Phase 1 includes modernization of the workstations, data historian, and communication networks. Follow-on phases include the modernization of distributed controllers and I/O.
Innovasic to supply SoC to Advantech for EtherNet/IP
Advantech selected the Innovasic RapID Platform and fido1100 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution to provide EtherNet/IP connectivity in their ADAM-6100 Ethernet I/O modules.
Semaphore to connect Water & Wastewater plant in New Zealand
Semaphore will supply 370 remote terminal units (RTUs) over the next 3 years, along with master telemetry units (MTUs), Ethernet UHF radios, and associated equipment. |
Browse more project news on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Featured Training |
Grounding in Instrumentation Systems (TI21W1)
June 8, 2011
2:00 PM - (GMT -5:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada), Bogota, Lima Time Zone
This seminar covers grounding requirements, concepts, and applications in the measurement and control areas. Terminologies, types of grounding systems, and shielding relevant to grounding are areas of emphasis.
RSTechED 2011
June 12, 2011 - June 17, 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
With over 100 different sessions appealing to users and managers at all levels within an organization, RSTechED provides a highly interactive, classroom-style environment set up for people working in manufacturing, process and machine builder industries.
Noise Reduction in Signal and Power Circuits (TI21W2)
June 15, 2011
2:00 PM - (GMT -5:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada), Bogota, Lima Time Zone
Participants will learn about noise sources, methods to reduce signal noise, power noise sources (including harmonics), and techniques used both to reduce power line noise and maintain power quality.
Overview of Grounding & Noise Reduction for Control Equipment (TI21C)
June 20, 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Held in conjunction with ISA's 57th International Instrumentation Symposium. This course provides an understanding of grounding, both from an electrical systems relationship and from an instrument loops relationship.
PROFINET One-day Training Class
June 23, 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
This class prepares the student to apply PROFINET in his own project. Technical details of the technology are provided along with practical demonstrations.
Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Industrial I/O portal. |
| Featured Events |
2011 Siemens Automation Summit
June 27, 2011 - June 30, 2011
Location: Orlando, FL, USA
Join Siemens to see live, hands-on demonstrations showcasing best-in-class solutions, hear from others how they have successfully applied solutions that you can use in your operations, and network with your peers and Siemens management.
ISA Expo Control 2011 / Mexico
August 24, 2011 - August 26, 2011
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
ISA Expo Control 2011 is the exhibition in Mexico that will allow you to achieve those goals by bringing together the most important national and international companies in instrumentation, control, automation, robotics, software, hardware and measurement.
Remote Monitoring and Control 2011
September 19, 2011 - September 21, 2011
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Remote Monitoring and Control 2011 will focus on the leading advancements for the monitoring and management of distributed equipment and facilities, remote assets, infrastructure, automated process & system controls and device networks.
ISA Automation Week 2011
October 17, 2011 - October 20, 2011
Location: Mobile, AL, USA
This world-class conference will cover seven technical tracks in depth and will be designed with information critical to several identified automation and control career paths. ISA Automation Week provides you with the opportunity to get the best unbiased knowledge available to help you in your jobs and your future.
AUTOMATION 2011
November 23, 2011 - November 25, 2011
Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg "Automation" exhibition is the largest independent specialized international exhibition on industrial automation and computer technologies in Russia.
Browse more industry events on the Industrial I/O portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
|