Monthly Archives: March 2017

Radioline: The only Wireless System you need

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Finding it difficult to avoid the cost of laying long cables?

Fed up of laying long, 5km cables just to establish communication signals across your site?

Have issues optimizing your plant’s communication to get better monitoring and control?

Look no further! Say no to messy, cluttered and costly cables and say hello to wireless technology.

Introducing Phoenix Contact’s RADIOLINE Wireless Technology!

Radioline

Radioline

Phoenix Contact provides an INNOVATIVE way to upgrade and optimize industrial plants while eliminating costly cables and unnecessary downtimes.

No programming, no software. Less hassle, more productivity.

Phoenix Contact Radioline Wireless I/O mapping at the turn of a wheel allows for easy deployment in extensive plants – without any programming or complex configuration.

Radioline I/O mapping

Don’t be fooled by the colorful arrows, they’re not wires mind you but wireless signals transmitting across the RADIOLINE units.

It allows modular extension of every station up to 32 I/O-modules per station (hot-swappable) and creates multiple network structures up to 250 stations (yes, you heard it. Up to 250 stations! Impressive).

Radioline T-Bus

Radioline T-Bus

Phoenix Contact Radioline is THE wireless product for large systems.

So if you have a large system or a big plant to manage, Radioline is the answer.

Again did we also mention that the Radioline does not need any software or programming? Yes we did. By simply turning the thumbwheel, the Radioline is ready to go.

By simply turning the thumbwheel, the Radioline is ready to go.

No complicated software. Just easy thumb action.

Just watch this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrL6Lob8tnA

Please accept statistics, marketing cookies to watch this video.

If she could do it, you could too!

Thanks to the Trusted Wireless 2.0 technology using 868 MHz, 900 MHz, and 2.4 GHz radio frequency, Phoenix Contact Radioline is the ideal choice for reliable use in industrial environments up to 5 km of signal communications.

Cables are a thing of the past and they cannot withstand demanding environments, not to mention the effort and cost in installing them.

Stop wasting time and money. Get in touch with us at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg and make the switch to Phoenix Contact’s Radioline TODAY.

Industrial Internet of Things: Revolutionizing the way Business is Done

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Industrial Internet of Things

The Internet of Things(IoE) is taking the world by storm. If you’ve been to industrial seminars or read articles online, you’ll come to realize that there’s a lot of buzz in regards to this new age term.

So what exactly is the Internet of Things (IoT)? How industries are implementing it in their work processes and most importantly, what it means to you as a business?

I am assuming that you do not have any idea about this concept. If you do, you can jump straight to our other blog articles on IIoT (in the coming weeks).

Do note that in this article we shall dive into the basic terminology of IoT/IIoT and then we shall dissect how it’s applicable to various industries. They key takeaway here is to form a self-realization about how you should start to plan your business for this revolution.

Why are we advocating IIOT?

At Phoenix Contact we build innovations that speak volumes. Our mission is to help clients and businesses alike achieve productivity and efficiency through cost saving and ground-breaking solutions.

Our clients who have transitioned towards the concepts of IIOT including Big Data and M2M have seen tremendous changes in the way their business is being run. And we hope to share as much awareness and knowledge, in the simplest possible way.

As such we have customized solutions if you’re planning to gear your business for IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things).

Be warn that this concept is not new and chances are you know of businesses who are already transiting towards this new technology even as we speak. So if you’re ready to understand more on IIoT, I suggest reading on.

Next stop, the Internet.

Birth of the Internet

For those of you who may not know, the term IoT corresponds to the birth of the internet. During its infancy, the internet was an exclusive place for selected members to have access to information.

As it experiences growth and widespread usages, the internet brought a wave of ideas along with it such as globalization, wireless technology, and data-driven analytics (in real time). This has enabled us to share data across borders, reducing the need to be physically present.

So what is IOT?

While the internet is basically a medium where we search for information, IoT, on the other hand, is a channel where we gather information regarding a specific thing.

Things such as having a heart monitor implant on a person or perhaps a biochip transponder in an animal or even a vehicle with built-in sensors to alert the driver about incoming objects. In short, anything that can be assigned an IP address and renders the ability to transfer data over a network is considered an IoT.

To make it simpler, IoT is basically a term where machines can talk to each other and then allow humans to read those data because of their communications.

Kevin Ashton, cofounder and executive director of the Auto-ID Center at MIT, first mentioned the Internet of Things in a presentation he made to Procter & Gamble in 1999. Here’s how Ashton explains the potential of the Internet of Things:

“Today, computers — and, therefore, the internet — are almost wholly dependent on human beings for information. Nearly all of the roughly 50 petabytes (a petabyte is 1,024 terabytes) of data available on the internet were first captured and created by human beings by typing, pressing a record button, taking a digital picture or scanning a bar code.

The problem is, people have limited time, attention and accuracy — all of which means they are not very good at capturing data about things in the real world. If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things — using data they gathered without any help from us — we would be able to track and count everything and greatly reduce waste, loss and cost. We would know when things needed replacing, repairing or recalling and whether they were fresh or past their best.”

How is IoT important for businesses?

Before we explore how important it is, we must first understand through case studies and applications of IoT in everyday business dealings.

The first known application of IoT was in the early 1980s. Programmers at Carnegie Melon University connected a Coke machine over the internet.

The purpose was to monitor the status of the machine and determine the stocks of coke so that they could decide whether to make the trip to the vending machine.

Although this experiment was small scale, it manages to identify the true essence of IoT – which is to allow machines to gather data so that we could make informed decisions.

The first IOT is your every day vending machine

So what’s the difference between IoT (Internet of Things) and IIot (Industrial Internet of Things)?

As said, IoT is generally anything that you connect the internet to, enabling you to govern and extract data from.

IIoT, on the other hand, is a manifestation of IoT but, instead of a singular product or process, IIoT is more large scale and permits different machines working on other tasks to communicate with other machines, working on separate tasks.

In short, it’s IoT, but industrial sized. That means you’ll have software and data engineers working hand in hand with your automation and process engineers.

IOT or not to IOT, that is the question

Successful applications of IIoT:

As said IoT allowed humans to interpret data from the machine to machine communication (M2M). Today, everything from household appliances to manufacturing production makes use of IoT.

Examples of how Phoenix Contact has enabled IIoT:

  • Using digitization, manufacturing companies are getting data through digital, which allows for intelligent decisions and flexibility. Learn more.
  • Through a common protocol such as IEC61850 to facilitate communication across different“Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED)” in manufacturing plants that uses different communication devices. Learn More.
  • Using technology such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in water systems to transmit remote data back to central control (data such as water quality levels for example). Learn More.

IIoT can be and have been utilized in industries below:

  • Building Infrastructure – Example: Smart Lighting
  • Automotive Industry – Example: Vehicle Auto-diagnosis
  • Solar and Wind Energy Industry – Example: Photovoltaic Installations
  • Oil and Gas – Example: Monitoring of water, oil and gas levels in storage tanks and cisterns
  • Transportation – Example: Estimated time of arrival for public transport systems

These are just some examples of where internet technology can be unified with engineering technology to provide seamless data supplied.

The applications are endless.

In the next article, we will be sharing practical applications of IIoT based on products that we suggest and provide insights on how to utilize them.

We shall also dive into the other keywords surrounding IIoT such as Industrie 4.0, M2M and SCADA.

A point to note: Businesses are slowly paving the way towards integrating cloud-based technology in their processes to allow for cost reducing, data-backed and consistent decision making.

If you wish to find out more, speak to our IIoT specialist regarding how your business can benefit from IIoT and the technology needed to get started on.

CUT, STRIP and CRIMP wires with no effort

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Cut, Strip and Crimp Wires – Electrical wiring is integral in any building construction, electrical maintenance or rewiring works.

In today’s highly competitive market, businesses are looking for efficient shortcuts to hasten the task on hand.

If a particular task can be completed half the time at half the cost (or manpower), businesses can definitely reap the advantages.

QUALITY + CONSISTENCY

Problems facing Electricians and Technicians

Often the case for anyone and everyone, productivity is key in maintaining good client relationships and pair that with consistency, your business could go a long way.

Whether it’s in building construction, electrical maintenance or anything which requires electricity, there’s one thing that gets on everybody’s nerve – Wires. Wires, cables, cords or lines – Whatever you call them, they can be a menace.

“Of course I know what I’m doing. I’m an engineer”.

Cutting, Stripping and Crimping wires.

It’s a painstaking and laborious task. Admit it, we know.  Even with extreme patience and discipline, there’s no other way around it.

Wire maintenance is a known problem and the task can be daunting especially for large scale projects.

Using conventional tools (or primitive ones) such as pliers, wire strippers and wire crimpers takes little or no effort if it’s just a small scale task but it could be a nightmare for electricians and engineers especially if they have to complete a rewiring task for the whole building!

“Martin, we have a wiring issue” (Courtesy: Warner Bros)

Here at Phoenix Contact our mission is not to just produce innovative stuff but, we want to bear your pains.

By understanding engineering pains could we then build better things to solve common problems.

Ok, before we identify the problems, let’s take a look at the current tools we have today:

Cutting Wires

Recognize this guy?

Tools from the stone age.

If you’re a technician or electrician this would already be an extension of your arms. This is a wire cutter and no rocket science needed. It cuts wires.

If you’re cutting wires for a living you know that it’s a pretty much a simple task. Snip and you cut the wires into two. But what if you have to cut long stretches of wires at the exact lengths.

Now imagine if you have to cut rolls and rolls of electrical cables at specific measurements within a limited timeframe.

Stripping Wires

Okay, so if you’re not into cutting wires, surely you would have to strip wires right?

At some point when you’re dealing with electrical cables, you may need to strip them.

Here comes this dude here:

You can surely find this tool in a museum

Maybe you can picture yourself cutting spools of wires. After all, anyone could do it with a pair of scissors or penknife.

But how about stripping wires?

Stripping wires require more dedication and accuracy. Not only do you need to be extra careful to not break the sensitive insides of the wire, you also need to apply delicate pressure to tear apart the rubber insulation.

You’ve imagined cutting rolls and rolls of wire. Now imagine stripping rolls and rolls of wire.

Talk about having a bad day.

Crimping Wires

If you’re dealing with electricity, or in general wires, you would know that cutting and stripping wires are just the tip of the iceberg.

We haven’t got to the fun part yet – Wire Crimping!

Manual Crimping is a hassle

Cutting seems like child’s play while stripping take a little more effort. But there’s just no denying that crimping keeps you awake at night.

Crimping wires is an art form that requires extreme dedication. If done wrongly you’ll be having a loose ferrule and that’s not good if you have a rewiring job with thousands of wires terminating at various points.

Locating just that loose wire (or bad crimping job) amongst the thousand of termination points could be a hassle and could double the effort. And using a manual crimping tool could be child’s play at first but after awhile you’ll get hand aches and sore fingers.

Complicated and hard work right?

Anyone could crimp a wire but to crimp multiple wires is just insane. The next thing you know, you’ll be looking like this man over here:

“Come with me if you want to Crimp”. (Courtesy: Orion Pictures)

So if we were to sum it up, imagine if you have to CUT, STRIP and CRIMP rolls and rolls of wires. Even if you outsource the job, it’s going to cost you.

Other than cost, you also have to factor in the time taken to cut wires (ensuring they’re evenly cut into exact lengths), crimp (to ensure they’re securely attached to the ferrules) and strip them (being careful enough to not cut more than intended) – Phew!

Cost and time aside, you’re also facing safety issues and also ensuring quality so that your client becomes a returning client each and every time.

Solutions to Everyday Problems

As said earlier, we hear your pains and then translate that into solutions.

Over at Phoenix Contact we have introduced revolutionary productivity tools to solve your wiring woes (all at a fraction of the cost!).

We present to you the A-Team for Wire Maintenance! (Drumroll….)

Bad boys, bad boys…Whatchu gonna do

The CUTFOX10 (The wirecutter)

The CUTFOX10 cuts almost any wire and is ideal for heavy duty cable trimming activities. With a user-friendly display and safety mechanism, the CUTFOX10 is built for speed and usability.

 

Steps on using the CUTFOX10:

    1. All one needs to do is placed the wires onto the rollers of the CUTFOX10 and then close the covers.
    2. Set the desired length and quantity on the user-friendly display (and it comes in multiple languages so do learn a new foreign language or two).

  1. Once you press the Start button (which is the green button – how convenient!), the CUTFOX10 will cut the desired length and required quantities of your wires. It’s that simple!

Features Benefits
  • HUD display
  • No prior knowledge needed to operate
  • Cuts conductor, cables and similar profiles
  •  Cuts wires in a matter of seconds
  • Easy operation
  • Automatically cuts to the desired length with a push of a button

 

The WF1000 (The stripper)

Don’t let the name fool you. This weapon is a must have in your arsenal for stripping cables, even those with special insulation types. Since it is built to specifically strip wires, the WF1000 also does partial stripping and also ensures that pressure points on sensitive insulation are avoided. With just a touch of a button, you can strip cables with diameters ranging from 0.08mm² to 6 mm².

Again, we make it in such a way that you can use the machine in 3 easy steps:

    1. All one needs to do is turn the knob to the desired diameters (we even provide the dimensions on top of the machine for quick reference).

    1. Once you’re happy with the configuration, insert those wires into the WF1000.

  1. Enjoy the detailed cut, you deserve it (it’s actually only 2 steps but we’ll make step 3 serves as a reminder of your success).

Features Benefits
  • Wire dimension diagram on machine
  • Fast reference without requiring third party reference
  • Easy to operate controls – knobs for diameter adjustments
  • Strips wires with precision without physical strength
  •  Built for wire stripping in mind
  • Strips almost any type of wires, even those heavy insulated ones

 

The CF500 (The Crimp)

While the WF1000 strips, the CF500 was made to Crimp wires. With a range of crimping die dimensions, it crimps various types of cables. With a build in protective cover and step pedal for easy operation, the CF500 is designed for safety and convenience.

 

By now you should already know that we simplify the usage within 3 simple steps:

    1. Apply the correct die for the crimping job. As seen in the picture below, it only takes 45 seconds with the use of our specialized Hex Key (you heard that right, only 45 seconds).

    1. Once the desired die has been bolted, attached the enclosure to ensure maximum safety when using the device (without the protective cover attached,the machine would cease to operate). With the die and enclosure secured, you then need to press the buttons on the display.

  1. Once you’re satisfied with the configuration, it’s time to crimp! Insert the wire into the mouth of the die and let your feet do the pressing (with our crimping tools, we let your hands do other important tasks – like having a sandwich while your foot does the labor).

 

And there you go folks! You have your wires crimped at half the time and half the effort (or should I say, quarter the time, quarter the effort). Say goodbye to working overtime.

Features Benefits
  • Build in display and buttons
  • Crimps within seconds, with a simple touch of a button
  • Safety enclosure
  • Won’t operate if the enclosure or the die is loose.
  •  Multiple die for multiple crimping jobs
  •  List of accesories and compatibility with various ferrule designs

 

So in summary we’ve got tools that cut, strip and crimp your wires, turning meaningless chores into passionate hobbies.

BUT WAIT! There’s more!

In some cases, you might need strip and crimp at the same time and utilizing two different machines could take time (and it might cost you to have two separate machines).

Well, we hear you! Say no more!

The CF1000 (2 in 1 Strip/Crimp Behemoth)

While Phoenix Contact carries two different devices for Stripping and Crimping, with the CF1000, it incorporates both activities into a single powerful machine.  The user-friendly interface and easy operation make daunting task seemed effortless. The CF1000 is built to withstand heavy duty and prolong usages.

 

This monster of a machine can be summed up in 3 easy steps (never more, never less):

    1. Depending on whether you’re stripping or crimping, you can just flip the appropriate switches (there are only two options so no room for mistakes there) and then set the knob to the desired diameter for stripping.

    1. If you’re stripping, you could insert the wires in the hole and witness magic happen before your eyes. If you’re crimping and stripping, you need to dump the ferrules in the turbine-like bowl at the top of the machine. And then, naturally, magic happens when you insert the wire into the hole.

  1. And you’re done! Once the wires have been inserted (either stripping or crimping), you’ll get the end result.

Features Benefits
  • Easy navigation
  •  Option to Crimp or Strip wires in seconds
  •  1000 conductors can be processed an hour
  • Easy to use, no prior knowledge needed
  •  Built for heavy duty, long hours
  •  Comes with accessories to meet your industrial demands

 

The CF3000 (2 in 1 Strip/Crimp on-the-go)

Unlike the CF1000, Phoenix Contact’s CF3000 model is made with mobility in mind. While the CF1000 is ideal for industrial usage, the CF3000 allows both Stripping and Crimping on the go. Users only need to feed the reel of ferrules and the CF3000 will crimp/strip cables within a matter of seconds – just like a machine gun.

 I’ll show you (no stranger here. In 3 easy steps):

    1. Open the safety hatch and slide the safety panel. Insert the box of ferrules of your choice on to the safety panel shown below.

    1. Just like bullets on a machine gun, load the ferrules (or ammo as I call it) into the feed fixture as shown below. Once you’ve load the ferrules till you no longer can, that means you’re good to go.

  1. With the ferrules primed and ready, it’s time to put this baby to the test. Close the safety hatch and then you can start inserting the wires into the hole shown below. Be amaze at how fast the wires are being stripped and crimped.

Features Benefits
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Easy to use, no prior knowledge needed
  • 1200 conductors can be processed an hour
  • Option to Crimp or Strip wires in seconds
  •  Safe and secure usage
  • Comes with different ferrules and accessories for on the go wire maintenance

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The CF1000 and The CF3000 may not look identical but their functions are similar, they both Strip and Crimp your cable within seconds. The only difference is that the CF1000 is great for industrial usage and requires a compression tank fitted into the machine. The CF3000, however, requires only electricity.

With that said, the CF3000 requires manual insertion of the ferrules to start the crimping process, whereas with the CF1000, you can pour in a whole box of ferrules and the job can commence.

So you see folks if you have any wire woes look no further. Phoenix Contact has the solution.

With business picking up you need to ensure that you concentrate more on customer servicing and the actual wiring job rather than menial task such as cutting, stripping and crimping wires.

Our products are made in Germany so expect the best in terms of quality and precision. They’re also built for safety and easy usage so anyone can get a head start.

Why Phoenix Contact’s Productivity Tools?

  • Saves time and effort – by relying on technology to automate task.
  • Provides consistent quality– preset your measurements and let the machines cut, strip and crimp to precise results.
  • User-friendly – Electricians, Technicians and even students have used our tools.

 

Schools and laboratories have used it, building contractors have used it, major global companies have used it and now, you could too!

*Psst…Did we say that it’s on promotion now?

For more information on our products, visit our promotional website below:

Cut, Strip, Crimp Promotion

Phoenix Contact Has Industrial PCs (IPC) Too!

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Phoenix Contact has come a long way with our IPC.  Yes! Industrial PCs. We have always been known for our terminal blocks and other passive components such as relays and PCB connectors. However, Phoenix Contact is not a name one would link to IPCs.

Hydroelectric Power Station

Source: Ontario Power Station

Embarking on a drive to introduce active components during the 1970’s, the ‘Second Industrial Revolution’, success was achieved in the European Automotive market since it was a period of rapid growth. With the mass production of cars fueling industrial progress, our INTERBUS range of automation products soon elevated Phoenix Contact to become a household name in the European Automotive Industry.

Unfortunately, the same success could not be replicated in Asia.  With Japan being the only player in the past 5 decades and in recent times China, Thailand and Malaysia, the Phoenix Contact name did not really catch on in Southeast Asia for Automation products such as the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). Nevertheless, in the last two decades, Phoenix Contact continued to develope a wide range of automation products targeted at other industries.

One such industry is the Power Industry.

More Than Just Terminal Blocks

In one of our recent roadshows, we found out that a hydroelectric dam managed by the local utilities authority was expanding with two new plants. Our customer was in need of our components such as digital display, measuring instrument, relays, terminal blocks etc…and we provided them with samples to test.

During the engagement with the project team, we realised that they were in need of an Industrial PC to use with their software to drive the Power Management System.  We proposed our product but the team was skeptical if our IPC would be compatible with their software. They have had no prior experiences with our IPCs.

Consequently, we loaned them a sample for testing. Reformatting our IPC to install a fresh copy of their software, our hardware was connected and tested with their system. The team concluded that our IPC was 100% compatible with their software.

Why Phoenix Contact’s IPC?

Phoenix Contact’s IPC was chosen not just because it was 100% compatible with our customer’s software but because of our teams dedication to ensuring that our customers would be successful integrating our products into their system.

Throughout the testing, our team provided close support and technical assistance to help streamline their engineering and design process.

What Products Do We Recommend?

EMPro Energy Meter

EMPro Energy Meter

Measuring instrument – EEM-MA600 – 2901366 : For measurement and indication of electrical parameters (voltage, current, frequency, etc) in which voltage and frequency are converted to analog outputs to feedback to Power distribution system for generator control.

Digital Display

Digital Display

Digital display – FA MCR-D-TUI-UI-2REL-UP – 2907064: For the measurement and indication of generator bearing and winding temperature via RTDs. Relay outputs from digital display triggered upon reaching temperature threshold.

Industrial PC (IPC)

Industrial PC

Industrial PC – BL PPC 7000 – 2701398 – For the running and operation of the Power distribution software.

Relay module

Relay Module

Relay Module – PR2-RSC3-LDP-24DC/2X21 – 2834643: Used as interposing relay which requires at least 10A.

Our team is dedicated to helping you to find the products that best fit your requirements.  If you are successful, we are successful.  Contact us at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg and we will gladly visit you to let you know more about our products and services.