Start planning and taking action to mitigate for obsolecence now!
How many times over the years have you had to say to someone “I told you so!” Just recently this has become a recurring theme for me.
Three years ago, I did my first blog on the demise of the Interbus Master for Siemens PLC systems manufactured by Phoenix Contact. The IBS S5 DSC/IT termination board for S5 115U systems had already been replaced by the S7 300 DSC/IT and S7 400 DSC/IT.
“One small step for Phoenix Contact. One giant leap for the Process Automation industry”
In today’s current climate of digitalisation and IIoT, there is a major trend going on across all industries. Namely users are demanding more information from their plant with the goal of optimising assets to improve operating performance.
The increased demand is pushing Ethernet to move further out into the plant, closer to field devices. However, in terms of integrating Ethernet into process instrumentation at the device level, we are some way from that point.
Written by Deepan Patel, Industry Manager- Infrastructure
Look no further!
Project + is Phoenix Contact’s solution to providing the marketplace with a very easy and intuitive way to configure your PLC solutions. This extends also to our Building Technology solutions. In my previous posts I talk about ILC 2050 Building Intelligent controller. This is based on Tridium’s Niagara platform. You can see my previous blog.
Configuring your solution
Phoenix Contact designed Project+ to overcome challenges when it comes to designing which parts are needed for the project. Nowadays we retain so much information, but it is common to forget things, so we create solutions to help us. Say you had a part number missed or incorrectly entered, how about knowing what power supply to use? What about what size of the panel you need or when you need an extra power module to support the IO modules. What about pricing? These are the many challenges Design/Electrical engineers face in today’s world. Project+ addresses all of these!
Written by Nigel Dawbarn, Sales & Marketing Manager- Industry Management
Did you know that the UK has gone for more than 2 months without using coal power? The reason for this is the development of renewable power installations throughout the UK of Wind and Solar and also hydro-power.
Boosting the uptake of solar through the next decade needs to form an essential part of the Government’s package of measures to deliver net zero as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Written by Mark Lloyd, Senior Product Manager- Power Supplies & Surge Protection
Flat and efficient is a good, if boring, overall description of the STEP range of power supplies.
Originally launched in 2003, updated in 2008, and now launched in its third generation, the STEP3 is now even more efficient. In fact, it is the first din rail power supply in the world to deliver Efficiency Level VI – the highest level possible – in no-load and part-load operation. With an efficiency of more than 94% and no-load losses of less than 0.1W, there is far less unwanted heat generated compared to most power supplies on the market.
Written by Deepan Patel, Industry Manager- Infrastructure
PLC Logic is a product provided by Phoenix Contact. This solution provides small IO potential for the Building Automation market. The controller has enhanced functionality- like PID control- and I feel it is worth you knowing about this as it is capable to communicate over Modbus and integrates well with our Niagara controller ILC 2050 BI. This little gem could be used as a HVAC application but also has potential for other applications too.
Written by Deepan Patel, Industry Manager- Infrastructure
After my last blog discussing the benefits of using our Building solutions, I wanted our readers to realise the great range of modules the ILC 2050 supports. I can’t list them all on here but you can visit the ILC 2050 page and browse the accessories tab to get the full list.
The adverts on TV for full EVs and Hybrids are becoming more widespread- even oil and gas companies have been adverting their clean fuel and EV charging services on prime time TV !
My view on this massive change? I believe it is the same as the change that packaging industry is currently experiencing. The automobile industry and the associated infrastructure needs to make changes for our future on this planet, so we don’t pollute the seas and the air we breathe.
So why am I talking about the planet ? My last blog was dedicated to renewables- solar– this one is e-mobility. We have been involved in this industry for approximately 10 years and some would say that Phoenix Contact is all about connectors- yes, that’s where we started in the infrastructure of EV charging but we have now developed a full product range and we are, as I see it, the technology behind the charge point.
I have joined the new world of hybrid cars recently and plugged
into the charge point at one of my favourite pubs (at the weekend) and was
pleased to find I had plugged into a Phoenix Contact socket !
Phoenix Contact continues to develop the range, and during 2020 we will launch new sockets, connectors and controllers which will help support the infrastructure you will need to power your hybrid or full EV in the coming years.
One aspect of this industry which is particularly exciting for me is the different ideas that our customers develop to solve the requirements we will all have in the coming years such as:
not having a driveway – leads to the need for on-street charging
taxis need to charge during the day – leads to inductive charging for taxi rank parking
Phoenix Contact has products and solutions to help – please get in touch for further information. Email: ndawbarn@phoenixcontact.com or tel: 07584 514958
Written by Nigel Dawbarn, Sales & Marketing Manager – Industry Management
I write this with the sun blasting in the window – it’s cold but sunny, the best of winter days. We have experienced increased activity in the solar market over the last few months and with our improved range of solutions available, the outlook is a sunny one!
Written by Karl Fazakerley, Product Manager- Device Connections
First and foremost I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope it turns out to be a successful one for you all.
For this year we are focusing into the world of building automation, the big trends which we are beginning to see come in to play and of course where Phoenix Contact and our vast range of products and solutions sit in this arena.
Building automation has been around for some time but it is evolving rapidly. Communication between devices, communication between protocols, and communication between whole cities is here and moving fast. We are lucky that we now have the technologies to diminish many of the shortcomings we have had and make great leaps and bounds forward.
Cities are undergoing what could only describe as a wave of digital transformation. To understand the needs, we have to manage our ecosystems. It is estimated that by 2050, 66 percent of the global population will be located in cities, that is an additional 2.5 billion people to our current number. With rapid population growth and urbanisation transforming the way we get on with our day to day lives, we need to find methods of improving and maintaining our current quality of life by using our resources more efficiently.
Smart cities work by using IoT sensors, actuators, and different protocols to connect components across the city. With these devices, which monitor everything from the air to the street to the Underground, cloud based IoT applications receive, analyse and manage data in real-time to help businesses and the general public make better decisions that can, in turn, work towards making their (and our) lives that bit easier. Another huge benefit is that smart cities also benefit the environment. Pairing devices and data with a city’s physical infrastructure and services cuts costs and improves sustainability with both water and energy usage, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions.
A massive step forward will be the further deployment of 5G
technology. This will be a turning point
to propel smart city technology and development into the mainstream. 5G will allow larger amounts of data to be
communicated across networks much faster than we have been able to achieve so
watch that space.
Where do we fit in? At Phoenix Contact we have a vast range of products that are perfectly suited to manufacturer’s who specialise in this arena.
Everything from BMS control system solutions right down to the Printed Circuit Board, we have something that will help you with your design of a complete system down to the design of a device. For example, if you are looking into board to board connectivity for high pole counts, look no further than our robust Finepitch range of connectors with both shielded and unshielded options. It is the perfect solution to use when designing future proof devices suitable for use in building automation device applications.
