Monthly Archives: September 2017

Fastest and easiest way to connect up for IIOT

From |
Data is the new oil - Connect up for IIOT

Image by Gerd Leonhard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gleonhard/)

Have you been hearing a lot about IIOT? Do you want to kick-start IIOT quickly and easily? What is the fastest and easiest way to connect up for IIOT?

If you want to find out more about Phoenix Contact IIOT Connectivity Solution, read on!

Phoenix Contact IIOT Connectivity Solution (PICS)

Like all revolutions, the excitement surrounding the fourth industrial revolution is increasing as the pace to create working cyber-physical systems to fully integrate big data into processes gathers steam. This is evident with more system providers emphasizing on providing a solution capable to gather and analyse big data to create actionable insights for their customers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ07iDk7-tc

How to connect up for IIOT

The first step to create such a system will be to get the IT backbone (Data servers, Software, Enterprise cybersecurity etc) running. Once this is set up, customers and system providers often face difficulty collecting data back into said systems safely and reliably. There will be a need to look for multiple hardware specialists to obtain the necessary hardware. To make sure that the hardware is reliable and safe, companies will usually have to look for multiple hardware providers.  For example:

  1. Industrial communication products manufacturers
  2. Industrial electrical products manufacturers
  3. Industrial electronics products manufacturers
  4. Industrial Cybersecurity products manufacturers

This process is arduous and time consuming to say the least!

To address this, Phoenix Contact (SEA) Pte Ltd has launched an exclusive product for South East Asian market.  Phoenix Contact IIOT Connectivity Solutions (PICS) allows companies to explore the unknown and kick-start IIOT/Industrie 4.0/ other Future Ready Automation Trends with the fastest and easiest way to connect “Things” to Big Data Analytics Platforms.

If so, contact us today at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg for a free Proof of Concept/Demo box!

UPS IQ – Smart Power for Intelligent Transport System

From |

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) recently awarded a tender for the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to one of their system integrator to setup effective system for monitoring of traffic situation at junctions. The system, which is part of the Smart Nation Initiative Program, will automatically alert the operator of the traffic volume so that remedial actions can be taken promptly.

Traffic Camera

Intelligent Transport System (ITS)

The Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is at the heart of what keeps us safe on the roads and tunnels system in our city. In land-scarce Singapore, ITS’s sophisticated traffic and control system will maximize road network efficiency capacity as well as monitor and manage the traffic flow.

The ITS infrastructure spans over 164km of expressways and road tunnel system, including Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway(KPE), Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), Central Expressway (CTE), Fort Canning Tunnel (FCT) and Woodsville Tunnel (WVT).

Our partner in Singapore has worked wholeheartedly with this system integrator, from design to testing and finally, to the implementation with our UPS-IQ.

Solution

Together with our partner, we set up the actual UPS and communication system to show to the system integrator. This was to provide the proof of concept to simulate the system. A demonstration of the UPSconfigure software allowed the UPS system to be integrated seamlessly into the innovative application from the special system by the system integrator. The system will be manned by LTA.

UPS IQ

UPS IQ

Key Features

  1.  High MTBF – Higher MTBF (>600,000 hours) as compared to most of our usual competitors ensures more reliabilty.
  2. Modbus Enabled – This has enabled the system to be communicated within the same network. It allows the system to be monitored from the main control room without additional hardware which translates into lesser points of failure and eventually to cost savings.
  3. Monitoring software (UPS Config) – The UPSconfigure feature allows the innovative application of the system integrator proprietary software to be integrated seamlessly into their application. This speeds up the deployment process and allows the system integrator to make more efficient time, labour and tools deployment.

If you would like to find out more about our UPS-IQ, check out our website or just leave us your contact at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg and I will get in touch with you.

QPD in Conveyor Systems

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QPD is a product that was launched few years back. While this “forgotten child” is hiding somewhere in the dark recess of Catalogue 2, I feel that the QPD deserves some credit and limelight.

When we present QPD, we always talk about the concept of it and how it benefits the customers in time & cost saving. QPD was never meant to be in the “cheap” category and I think all of us know that good & fast things aren’t cheap!

I would like to share my recent experience with a customer who was deals in warehouse management system. Generally, this system is actually automated conveyors ‘pick & place’ goods and deliver to a designated area.

Conveyor System

A typical conveyor system consists of 2 zones. Firstly, there is the Safe Area (controls) and then the field area (site). The Safe area usually houses the main PLC, whereas the field area is the sensors, motors, e-stops, etc. There will be multiple stations at the field area which usually stations the motors, isolators, e-stops, etc. The number of stations is very dependent on the size of the system itself. These stations are quite a distance apart from each other and power cables are necessary to be laid across the conveyor system to power up the motors, electrical components, etc.

Conventionally, power distribution boxes are used in each station to split the main power to the respective individual stations. This power distribution box has one main requirement; at least IP65 rated. This is where QPD comes into the picture where it fulfills the IP requirement and while offering even more compared to the conventional junction boxes.

Conventional way
 Din Rail

+

 PT Terminal Block

+

 Junction Box

+

 Cable glands
Din rail Terminal Block Box Glands

QPD – The Phoenix Contact way!!

QPD H Distributor QPD T Distributor

This solution require either the QPD H- or T- distributor only! No special tools needed!! No cable stripping & crimping process. This saves you up to 80% of installation time.

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In conclusion, yes you might need to pay a premium for QPD but I am very confident that the gains you get outweighs what you paid.

Check out our website for more information or leave us your contact and we will get in touch with you.

Make-before-break – Terminal Blocks for CT Test

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Make-Before-Break

Make-Before-Break (MBB) is a term “Denoting a switch or other device in which a new electrical connection is made before the existing one is broken”. In short, it simply means, shorting the circuit before disconnecting it.

You may know about MBB when purchasing a relay. But do you know there are terminal blocks designed with MBB in mind too? These MBB terminal blocks can usually be found in power industry applications.

For those who are familiar, you may have come across this term (MBB) during a Current Transformer (CT) testing on a protection relay. However, do you know the importance of ensuring MBB when conducting a CT test with your Terminal? Or what the consequences will be of not having a terminal blocks that comes with a MBB feature during the test?

Protection Relay

A CT will certainly be at risk of being destroyed or even worse (Explosion!) if the secondary is left open circuit while the primary current is present. This is due to the insulation failing from the “higher than rated” voltage that occurs. Therefore it is extremely important to ensure MBB before conducting a live testing. A good terminal block with MBB feature will definitely help you provide the extra mile in ensuring safety.

How does the MBB terminal blocks function and what does it look like?  Here are some good examples of a good MBB terminal block.

  1. A good MBB terminal block must have the feature where shorting is always present first before you are able to break the circuit. It would be best if the terminal blocks are able to automatically perform the short circuit for you whenever it is being disconnected during the CT test.
    Short Circuit function closed Short circuit function open
  2. Clear indication of Short Circuit and disconnection must be visible and this allows your engineers to have an ease of mind during testing.
    PTME
  3. Good MBB terminal blocks should have safe and easy to operate features. Having said that, these features can help to cut short the time while testing (shorten the risk) and ensuring the safety of the person that is conducting the CT test.
    PTME Terminal Blocks for CT Test

So where can you find good MBB terminal blocks for your applications? Phoenix Contact, of course!

With 94 years of experience manufacturing and designing terminal blocks for the Power Industry. Phoenix Contact has never stopped developing new innovative testing terminal blocks that will suits your application, at the same time ensuring safety and quality.

For more info, check out this video of our PTME terminal blocks or visit our website!

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If you have more inquiries, feel free to contact us at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

How IIoT Solutions Make You Look “Smart and Cool” for the Water Industry?

From |

ReservoirThe term Internets of Things (IoT) was coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999 and the big corporate players like Google, Facebook, Apple, Samsung and LG have been practicing it for years. In recent years, it has become a hot topic and IoT ‘tech’ has started to flood the market.

Now, every ‘Thing’ would need to look smart and cool, hence not only has the phone started to “think and talk”, the Smart Devices, Smart Appliances, Smart Home, Smart Car, Smart Factory, Smart City are starting to form a Smart World.

How can the Water Industry catch up with this “smart” trend?

Let’s see what have the big players done so far. GE has launched Predix, a cloud-based platform that enables asset functionality monitoring.  IBM® Intelligent Water software has been developed to deliver smarter water management through insights from data to help utilities manage pressure, detect leaks, reduce water consumption, mitigate sewer overflow, and better manage their water infrastructure, assets and operations. According to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the researchers at Clemson University are building the “Intelligent River” to provide real-time monitoring, analysis and management of water resources.

Of course, it would be cool if we can apply Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) across entire assets, collect the big data from all the facilities perform a thorough analysis in order to find out the insights to improve operational efficiency, enhance productivity and create new opportunities. However, this ideal case unlikely to happen due to the limitations of knowledge, budget, risk, standardization and legacy installed base.

I believe a lot of people will agree with me that we need to “start small” for new ventures in order to gain experience, take the calculated risk and predicted outcome. Let me share a case here to demonstrate how we can achieve that in the water industry.

IIoT Implementation

A reservoir is surrounded by a few pumps / lift stations; the reservoir is 100km away from the centralized SCADA system. A standalone PLC and Ethernet Remote I/O is in place to control and monitor the water level of both reservoir and pump stations.

Kelvin, the Facilities Manager is being assigned to explore the implementation of IIoT within a timeframe of 3 months with budget of less than US$7,000. It should have low cyber security risk, justifiable benefits and consideration of future extension.

Kelvin has decided to pursue a simple IIoT project by partnering with an IIoT service provider. They deploy more sensors at field (e.g. weather stations, thermistors, BTU meter) and install a connectivity box next to the PLC. The sensors will collect more data such as temperature, humidity, energy consumption and water quality.

The connectivity box can take in additional signals and the I/O is expandable for future extension and the box is designed with unique connector for easy plug and play. The box is also equipped with 4G router in order to send the data back to the centralized SCADA and subsequently send to the IIoT platform securely (data is encrypted).

The collected data is in real-time and can be analysed individually (e.g. pump energy usage) and interoperability (e.g. pump can run at lower speed during the hot weather). The analysed data can be used to predict pump failure, save pump energy, early detection of the contamination or give early flood sign.

IIoT for Water Industry

Kelvin has accomplished his mission and now his ‘THINGS’ look ‘smart’. In addition, he can easily communicate with his team about the current status, problem or performance of each facility by using the dashboard and generate a report in the structured data format (e.g. text, graph, image, video) for his management to discuss further improvement or to identify new opportunities. Do you think now Kelvin also looks “smart and cool”?

There are plenty of ways for you to implement the IIoT platform depending on your current situation (e.g. remote area, existing with or without SCADA system, multiple sites) and technical and commercial requirement (e.g. cyber security, cloud-based, redundancy, future expansion, budget).

Phoenix Contact offers flexible and customize IIoT solutions inclusive of the connectivity box, please feel free to drop me an email eexinchong@phoenixcontact.com.sg for clarification or discussion.

or register for our free e-book.

ReSy 104 : Upgrading Control Systems in Power Industry

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Nowadays, in the age of Smart Grids, power systems are getting more complicated in order monitor and avoid system down time. End users /operators require the ability to control everything from big substations to small hangover substations; even to each MV cabinet or recloser located in remote areas such as at a consumer site or along power lines.
So do you meet these requirement within a  reasonable cost especially in existing substations, MV cabinets where installation space is very limited.

Solution with ReSy 104 + PLC

The ReSy 104 remote control communication library is based on the IEC 60870-5-104 protocol.

The remote control system enables communication between the control center and substation via a standard TCP/IP network. You can also use transmission via DSL, SHDSL, GPRS, EDGE, and 3G.

With PLC for Fieldbuses and Ethernet, Phoenix Contact offers a flexible system structure that covers a wide range of application options in a centralized or distributed format. Thanks to a compact design and numerous supported protocols, Phoenix Contact PLC is ideal for applications where compact size and high-quality is required at a competitive price.

How Phoneix Contact's ReSy 104 RTU works.

Fig 1 : How Phoneix Contact’s 104 RTU works.

By combining ReSy 60870-5-104 + PLC Phoenix contact can offer possible applications for

  • IEC 60870-5-104 enables data transmission via a standard network, which can communicate with multiple devices and services simultaneously.
  • Full function PLC with able to communicate with field device via numerous built in protocol such as Modbus , Profibus, Profinet, etc…
  • High standard of security and encryption for reliable data transmission with the FL MGUARD series of security devices from Phoenix Contact
  • Smooth communication between devices from various manufacturers. The supplied interoperability list states which functions are supported.
  • The remote control station can be connected redundantly to two or more higher-level control systems or remote control heads via the ReSy+ library
  • Acquisition of basic data types, such as messages, commands, plus counter values with and without time stamp.
  • Event-oriented communication ensures the active transmission of current events.
  • Historical data backup ensures that data is logged with a time stamp.
ReSy Solution

Fig 2 : Possible solution with ReSy 104 + PLC

To find out more about our ReSy 104 solutions, just leave us your contact and we will get in touch with you shortly.

Data Exchange Between Enterprise and Automation Control Level

From |

Phoenix Contact's ILC for easy data exchangeAt present, control applications focus not only on reliability but also flexibility. Following current automation trends in automation 4.0, many vendors will need to improve market share in this market segment.

Interface data between third-party functions might be considered to develop parallel to improve the product quality. For controller device, we can classify its interface levels into field level and enterprises level.

Usually, there are no issues when various controller vendors need to transfer data between one to another at the field control level.  This is because there are many common protocols like MODBUS, PROFIBUS and etc to exchange data easily between third-parties. However, it is a different story when there is a need to exchange some data at a higher level like in an enterprise system.

A couple of constrains when designing interface system is the data exchange rate and also the time lag which occurs. In order to maintain a high quality data exchange rate, it is often deemed necessary to utilize high-end hardware and software, resulting in a very expensive solution.

Easiest Controller for Data Exchange between Enterprise and Automation Control Level

Phoenix Contact’s controllers, right up from our basic series, have a library which is able to connect directly to a RDBMS database by providing query string patterns like common SQL script. In comparison, other controllers require additional equipment or other APIs to collect data from controller first before sending it to the target database.

Easily enable data transfer from the sensor directly to a DB with Phoenix Contact’s Controllers.

Reference product

System overview

System overview

For more information on Phoenix Contact’s Controllers, leave us a message and I will get in touch with you soon.

Data Connector – RJ45

From |

As more factories go into automation, more networks and fieldbuses are used for communicating between machines and people.

RJ45 is one of the most commonly used connector.

What is this RJ45?

It is a type of standard connector for network cables, especially Ethernet.

RJ45 CableSome of the common issues faced with RJ45 connector include intermittent data. Most RJ45 connectors in the market come with a plastic clip.

RJ45 Connector clip

The plastic clip helps to form a secure connection between the connector and the socket. It also ensures that the connector stays seated on the socket.

You would need to exert some pressure on the plastic clip in order to unplug the connector. However, the plastic clip is usually fragile.

It breaks easily when bend backwards or when the connector is dropped on the floor. Without the plastic clip, the transmission of data is not guaranteed. The RJ45 would then be used with the nearest trash bin – if you know what I mean.

E-Waste in bin

Often times, even when the plastic clip is intact, intermittent data could occur due to vibration from the surrounding machines.

Other issues surrounding the RJ45

Moreover, the process of crimping a RJ45 can be tedious. In order for the connector to function properly, the cable (with as many as 8 cores) has to be crimped into specific standards, namely T568S and T568B, with a special crimping tool.

T568A and T568B wiring

Crimping is a manual process and depends very much on the workmanship of the person who is doing the job.

If it is not done properly, the crimp contact will not sit properly within the connector and the data transmission will be affected.

Crimping is an irreversible process. If the connector is crimped wrongly, it cannot be un-crimped (word of caution).

It has to be scrapped and the damaged cable has to be cut which causes wastage.

CAT 6 Twisted Pairs

Problems, problems and more problems. So what’s the solution?

At Phoenix Contact we build innovations based on issues that every day people, like you and me, have.

Phoenix Contact Industrial RJ45 is equipped with 2 springs at the top of the connector to ensure that the connector is sitting snuggly within the socket, even during high vibration applications (yes, even the extreme ones).

Phoenix Contact's RJ45 Connector

Phoenix Contact plastic RJ45 connector is made of special plastic. It could not only bend 180 degree without breaking but it could also resist the impact of dropping on the ground.

QUICKON RJ45 Connector

Phoenix contact QUICKON RJ45 connector allows you to terminate cable without the need to strip the cable and the use of expensive crimping tool.

The connector is colour-coded so there is no need to memorise the standards.

IDC Conenction

In addition, the connector is able to reconnect up to 10 times. Meaning to say, there is no need to scrap the connector if it’s connected wrongly. Just follow the simple steps below to terminate the cable.

RJ45 Quickon assembly step-by-step

Or alternatively, if reading is a chore, you can watch this video right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm2wNf9DUCk

See how easy that was? At this rate you’ll be producing thousands of RJ45 within seconds.

So if you’re looking for a reliable and problem-free RJ45 cable, look no further.

Leave us an email at marketing@phoenixcontact.com.sg to request a product demo today!