RADIOLINE - The Cordless Terminal Block
Instrumentation cabling costs in process automation make up a significant percentage of overall project costs, ranging from $10 to $40 (or more) per foot.
Permits, labor, excavation, cabling, trays, and conduit can also contribute days, weeks, or months of effort to add a single measurement point.
This can be so cost-prohibitive that manual readings present the only practical solution, bringing a whole new set of challenges and uncertainties regarding the accuracy of the data.
Further, in cases where new regulatory compliance monitoring is required, manual readings are insufficient as sampling intervals are generally specified.
In other instances, signal cabling may be impractical where instrumentation is mobile, temporarily installed, or prone to damage due to moving equipment or even rodents.
Therefore, a reliable alternative to signal cabling is needed.
Lose the wires, not the signals
RADIOLINE makes it possible to transmit analog, digital, and serial I/O signals over distances of up to 20 miles with up to 250 stations in a single wireless network. Choose from the DIN rail-mount modular version to customize the I/O for your unique application, or use the NEMA4 version for a simple “plug-and-play” experience.
RAD-900-IFS
Start with the RAD-900-IFS wireless module and build a wireless I/O station with up to 32 I/O expansion modules. All of the power and communication between the modules is handled by the DIN rail bus connector. Simply snap them together!
RAD-900-DAIO6
The RAD-900-DAIO6 is a NEMA4-rated device with “onboard” I/O: one analog input, one analog output, two digital inputs, and two digital outputs. The RAD-900-DAIO6 is ideal for installations that do not require a control cabinet for other equipment.
The cordless terminal block
When used as a cordless terminal block, analog and digital input signals from one station are recreated as output signals at other stations in the network. Mapping of the I/O signals is accomplished using the I/O map thumbwheels on the I/O expansion modules. Each input module in the network must have at least one corresponding output module in the network. Simply set the thumbwheels to matching values and I/O signal mapping is complete!
Edge I/O connectivity
When used as edge I/O, RADIOLINE converts I/O signals from the field into a bus protocol, eliminating the need for corresponding I/O modules on the base station. Collect I/O signals and Modbus data from up to 250 sites. Connect to any popular Ethernet-based controller using PROFINET, Modbus, or Ethernet/IP (requires the use of a gateway).
Serial cable replacement
RADIOLINE can also be used to replace RS232/422/485 cabling. Protocols are connected transparently, eliminating distance limitations on serial signals.
Reliable as a wire
Trusted Wireless technology was developed by PHOENIX CONTACT specifically to meet the needs of industrial “cordless terminal block” applications. It is as reliable as a wire.
- Powerful: The 900MHz transceiver has 1W output power (the maximum allowed by the FCC) and -112dBm receiver sensitivity for long range (20+miles)
- Secure: All transmissions are 128-bit AES encrypted
- Reliable: Trusted Wireless technology utilizes Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) to avoid interference
- Robust: RADIOLINE features a unique super-heterodyne radio design with multiple stages of radio frequency filtering to reject interference
- Flexible: Build networks with repeaters and self-healing capabilities