akYtec News

In this video the ITP11’s functions and operation are introduced step by step.

Starting with the exterior design, going through the electrical installation until the configuration of:

• Password function
• Decimal point position
• 4 mA – lower limit (-999…9999)
• 20 mA – upper limit (-999…9999)
• Damping time
• Square root function
• Alarm function
• Lower setpoint limit
• Upper setpoint limit

Based on many requests, we have developed and released two new process indicators: ITP14 and ITP16.

The ITP14 is a universally-applicable process display with a voltage/current input, which can be set either for 0-10 V or 4-20 mA.

The ITP16 is temperature display, which supports many RTDs and a lot of different types of thermocouples.

All PLCs and mini-PLCs are very similar in terms of function, hardware, operation, design, etc., which makes them pretty interchangeable and universal devices. The most distinguishing aspect of such devices is programming software. That is why the user has to immerse themselves in learning the programming environment to program the device at hand. Sometimes, it is quite a time-consuming effort. To save your time, we decided to provide you with various sample projects on programming our programmable relay PR200. Our ultimate objective is to create as many such projects as needed to cover the whole functionality of programming environment akYtec ALP.

The RS485 interface has gained quite a common application in Fieldbus networks. This is a high-speed and interference-resistant serial interface which makes it possible to create networks connecting many devices into a common bus.

Due to circuitry optimization, the digital display ITP11 has been benefited from a significant improvement in the voltage drop. From now on it reaches 4 V max. Such a low voltage drop allows this process indicator to be powered from an active output of a PLC or other devices that the ITP11 is connected to. In addition, the ITP11 has got the alarm function. If this function is active and the process value is beyond the specified range, the screen starts blinking.

Interface is a shared boundary between two or more functional units (device, PC, etc.) defined by common physical interconnection characteristics, signal characteristics and functional characteristics of the interchange circuits.

Protocol is a standardized set of rules for data transmission over a communication interface.

Rigid cost restrictions and a huge variety of automation goals have led to the impossibility of creating a universal PLC. That’s why, even having selected a well suited controller, the developer may face the following challenges:

• - Lack of PLC resources, e.g. I/O-points, etc.
• - Issues with device compatibility with other devices in the network (interface, protocol, etc.)
• - Long distances between the PLC and field devices.

To solve these and other similar matters, remote I/O-Modules are intended. These modules are used in building distributed systems of control industrial objects and processes. They allow expanding these systems by more inputs or outputs of the same types or new types whenever the need arises, to provide more functionality of the system. Among many distributed systems the single-master systems based on serial interface RS485 and Modbus protocol have gained the highest prevalence rates in industrial automation. That’s why the I/O-modules from akYtec feature the corresponding interface and protocol.

Process displays from akYtec are distinguished by their compact and unique design, unlike the other industrial indicators in the market which are rectangular and take more space for mounting. AkYtec displays fit into boreholes of 22.5 mm for standard signal lamps and push buttons due to their standardized dimensions and cylindrical form. This reduces not just mounting space but mounting time as well, compared with usual rectangle devices. Beside the installation into a panel or control cabinet with minimum space requirements, these display can even be easily installed into a push-button box due to its short length (65 mm). The measured value is displayed on a 4-digit 7-segment LED display with characters of 14 mm high. In addition, these devices belong to the IP65 protection class on the front and thus they are protected against water and dust.

During the development of an automatic system in CODESYS, the implementation step of a field bus system comes up quite often. For example, there is a need to carry out climate control in a vegetable storage facility based on the SPK207 control panel from akYtec. Since the SPK207 does not have its own inputs and outputs on board, it requires using expansion modules. For instance, the I/O-Modules of the MX110 series from akYtec can be connected to this control panel over the RS485 interface. Any modules with interface Ethernet can also be connected to the SPK207. This article describes in detail all necessary steps for proper configuring the SPK207 control panel for data exchange via Modbus protocol in CODESYS v3.5 SP3 Patch5.

Configuring the MSD200 data logger for data exchange via Modbus with MV110-8A input module from akYtec over the RS485 interface, and data logging from one of 4-20 mA inputs