Switching large solenoids and actuators direct

Specifically developed for use in food industry applications, with special housing materials and high ingress protection ratings, the new AL14xx IO-Link masters from ifm electronic combine versatility with the capacity to switch large solenoids and actuators direct. Masters in the range are available in four- and eight-port versions and are complemented by matching ecolink L-code power cables, which have an IP69K ingress protection rating.

Four-port versions of the AL14xx masters have four type-B ports, while eight-port versions have four type-A and four type-B ports. All ports can be used as binary inputs or outputs, allowing the configuration to exactly match the requirements of the application. When used as outputs, type-B ports can be configured to supply up to 2 A. 

The maximum output current for each port, whether type-A or type-B, can be individually set by the user to guard against damage if, for example, an actuator becomes jammed. In addition, the current and voltage at each output port can be continuously monitored, making it easy to determine the energy used by an installation, so that this information can be made available to an ERP system.

The total maximum current rating for each IO-Link master in the AL14xx range is 8 A for actuators plus 3.6A for sensors, supplied via standardised L-coded cables with M12 connectors. To simplify design and wiring, supply connections can be daisy-chained through the modules.

To provide compatibility with the widest possible range of control systems, the new IO-Link master modules can be supplied in PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and EtherCat versions. All types are compatible with ifm’s moneo|configure software application, which, among other options, allows all devices connected via the new masters to be configured from one central location.