Electricity + Control April 2017

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ELECTRICAL PROTECTION + SAFETY ROUND UP
Control Applications, which has set a high
standard in precise electrical metering (1 600
samples per cycle), has recently unveiled
an advanced multi-meter which allows the
monitoring of earth leakage current in an
electric panel, alongside all other standard
measured parameters of voltage, current,
frequency, power-factor, harmonics etc., all
accessible through a user-friendly menu, in
high resolution colour graphics. Leakage cur-
rent is your best indicator as a safety check-
up of your electric facility. A facility in which
measured leakage current is greater than
allowed in regulations requires a thorough
inspection. Using the ELNet LT, it is possible
to constantly monitor leakage current in
an electric panel utilising the power-meter
function, normally present in every electric
panel, all locating the source andmagnitude
of the leakage at relative ease.Earth leakage
monitoring is usually performed with port-
able leakage current clamp meters through
which all power lines involved are passed,
which feature an infamously inaccurate out-
put (inaccuracy up to 15%). These leakage
current detectors do not provide any addi-
tional measurements as those mentioned
above (VIP, PF etc.).
Conversely, leakage current detectors
tend to be more expensive than the ELNet
LT solution which includes in it all measure-
able parameters, including earth leakage
current. Rather than require external active
periodic check-up, the ELNet meter enables
your power-meter function, already located
in your electric panel, to provide permanent
leakage current monitoring as well.
Along scores of features, full Modbus/
BACnet supported communication via
RS485 andTCP/IP ports, the unit provides all
standard measurements, and includes a
digital output (DO), enabling activation
of command relays or the activation of
an alarm when leakage current exceeds
allowed limit. Due to the extraordinarily
high sampling rate (1600 SPC), accuracy
is maintained also in face of distortions
caused by extreme harmonics.
Enquiries: Control Applications Ltd.,
Israel.Tel +972-3-6474998 or
email
Smart linear guide makes maintenance easy
With the smart plastics igus has
developed intelligent machine
components, which monitor
themselves during the opera-
tion. An early warning system
consisting of sensors and digi-
tal communication expands the
world's largest modular system
for lubrication-free and maintenance-free linear guides. The smart
drylin guide is easy to retrofit and increases the customer's safety
against failure. Digitised and networked process sequences in drive
technology promise a high potential for reducingmachine downtimes,
particularly when combined with high-performance plastics for the
motion.The smart plastics from igus combine both and expand the
customer's ability to provide predictive maintenance.Through con-
tinuous measurements and the calculations using the parameters of
the system as well as the thousands of test data from the igus test
laboratory, it is possible to also reliably predict the smooth function-
ing of the smart plastics in the future while in real operation. Part of
this comprehensive range is the intelligent drylin linear guide, which
can be very easily retrofitted.
To make the products ‘smart’, the dry operating drylin bearings
are equipped with sensors and a special module, the isense DL.W.
This constantly monitors the abrasion of the dirt-resistant and
dust-repellent plain bearings and determines the wear limit by
which a bearing must be replaced. The status data are passed on
via wireless to the user, who is able to intervene at the right time
from anywhere.The isense DL.W as a lightweight and robust plastic
element is ideally suitable for retrofitting as well as for a variety
of moving applications in which linear guides are used, from the
packaging machine to the machine tool. Furthermore, the icom
module, which collects, processes and relays the data, serves as a
central communication unit.The user can take over the monitoring
with the terminal device of his choice and can thus always carry
out maintenance, repair and replacement at the optimummoment.
Enquiries: Ian Hewat. Email
Server supports redundancy controllers
The PCWorx UA server from Phoenix Contact enables you to access all variables of PCWorx program-
mable controllers via the OPC UA (Unified Architecture) communication protocol. With the release
of server version 1.10, redundancy controllers (RFC 460R) are now also supported. In the event of a
redundancy switch-over, the server automatically accesses the new controller handling the process
without variables being lost.The server is designed for high volumes: it can forward data from up
to 200 controllers to a visualisation or production control system. Variables are mapped via the
PLCopen profile.The OPC UA server uses the binary protocol for communication, resulting in high
data transmission speeds. A security concept based on certificates protects against unauthorized
access, tampering, and operating errors. In addition to authentication based on certificates, the server
also offers the option of encrypting communication. Detailed diagnostics and easy to understand
security configuration were a particular area of focus. Using the supplied configurator, users can
easily configure the security settings and diagnose the current communication connections to the
clients and the controllers, and they can also do this remotely.
Enquiries:Tel. +27 (0) 11 793 4403 or email
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