Whats Knew

10-11-2011

New Brochure (PDF) 2.5 Mb
AutomationDirect’s new 2011 4th qtr brochure with a selection of our products

17-8-2011

New modules and cables added to the ZIPLink wiring system
AutomationDirect’s expanded ZIPLink™ connection system eliminates the normally tedious process of wiring between devices by utilizing prewired cables and DIN rail mount connector modules. ZIPLink cables reduce the time to wire Productivity3000 PAC, DirectLOGIC and CLICK PLC I/O modules to terminal blocks and third party devices. New cables including prewired connections for AutomationDirect’s controller, motion and drive products have been added, as well as additional 3rd party connection cables and two new 16-channel relay modules.

27-7-2011

Compact limit switches are only 35mm wide
Compact limit switches have been added to our extensive lineup of double insulated plastic (PBT) and heavy-duty metal IEC limit switches. The new AEM2G series compact limit switches feature 35mm wide die-cast housings and are equipped with one normally-open and one normally-closed contact; all units include a three-meter cable. The IP67-rated series utilizes standard 25mm hole spacing and a wide variety of head actuators is available. Almost all actuator styles are available in both snap-action and slow-make/slow-break contact versions. Prices for AEM2G series compact limit switches start at $24.00 .

10-5-2011

Modular Solenoid Control Valves with Manifolds and Pre-Wired Connections
NITRA™ pneumatic BVS series modular solenoid valves are body ported 3-port (3-way) poppet valves available in 2-position, normally open or normally closed configurations. Models are available with removable flying leads or with 8 mm Micro DIN connectors. Units are DIN rail mountable when used with the BVM series solenoid valve manifolds. The NITRA™ pneumatic BVM series modular solenoid valve manifolds simplify the mounting and wiring of BVS series solenoid valves. The manifolds are available in 4- and 8-station models with push-to-connect inlet and outlet connections and a 9- pin D-sub connector for quick and easy tubing and wiring. Backed by a 2-year warranty.

20-4-2011

Rectangular Photoelectric Sensors with 18mm (M18) Threaded Lens
The GX Series of rectangular non-metal photoelectric sensors features an 18mm diameter threaded lens with included mounting hex nut and a M12 quick-disconnect. The GX3 series is a diffuse photoelectric available with either NPN or PNP light-on outputs, background suppression and fixed sensing distances of 100mm or 150mm. The GXP series is a polarized reflective photoelectric available with either PNP light-on output or NPN or PNP dark-on output and feature fixed sensing distances of up to 20 meters. GXP sensors include one round reflector. . Through-beam GXR/E series photoelectric sensors are available with either NPN or PNP light-on or dark-on outputs and offer fixed sensing distances of up to 4 meters.

30-3-2011

KEPDirect OPC Server Software for easy data acquisition or control
KEPDirect OPC Server connects your favorite Windows client software directly to AutomationDirect DirectLOGIC PLC serial or Ethernet ports; Productivity3000 PAC; DL205, DL405, Terminator Ethernet I/O; or DURApulse AC drives and GS series AC drives by way of a GS-EDRV module. Any industrial HMI, SCADA, data historian, MES or ERP software package that includes an OPC client interface (most do) can connect to our PLC hardware for cost-effective data acquisition or control. Simply install the KEPDirect OPC Server software on the same PC (or on the same network) as your client application and enable the OPC client driver for direct access to your AutomationDirect device on the network. You can even use Visual Basic® to create data logging or simple HMI screens.

-16-2011

Safety Relay Modules for E-stop, safety gate, two-hand operation and light curtain applications
Safety relay modules from Dold consist of safety relays that are controlled by a variety of built-in monitoring functions. Single and dual channel safety relay modules are available for emergency stop and safety gate applications with single or dual channel monitoring and with or without time delays. Two Hand Control safety relay modules are intended for applications such as stamping where an operator must activate a separate button with each hand. Light curtain controller modules are used for monitoring light curtain applications. Each application group offers variations in operating voltage (24VDC; 110 or 230VAC) and output contact configuration. A relay extension module is available to increase the number of output contacts. All Units are RoHS, CE, UL Listed and tested by TUV for compliance.

29-12-2010

Interlock Switches and Limit Switches for Safety Applications
AutomationDirect now offers a superb line of machine guarding safety switches to detect unsafe conditions and isolate power. Normally closed contacts are used for a positive break and redundant N.C. contact and N.O. feedback outputs are available. The safety switches cannot be easily defeated and all units have CE, UL and CSA approvals. Four bases are available: 30mm plastic, 50mm zinc alloy, 40mm aluminum and 60mm aluminum. Four types of interlocks are available for common safety applications including tongue (key), shaft hinge, and lever hinge interlocks plus pull cord actuators with reset for emergency stop or without reset for simple stop. Don’t let price stand in the way of making your machine or process as safe as possible.

21-11-2010

IP69K proximity and photoelectric sensors rated for harsh duty / food and beverage applications
AutomationDirect’s new line of food and beverage sensor products includes 12mm, 18mm and 30mm DC proximity sensors with M12 quick-disconnect plugs; 18mm and 30mm series proximity sensors with half-inch micro AC quick-disconnect plugs; magnetic proximity sensors in 12mm and 18mm diameters; and 18mm photoelectric sensors. IP69K-rated sensor cables in five and 10 meter lengths with axial and right-angle M12 or half-inch micro connectors have also been added. The food and beverage industry is one of the harshest environments for sensors. Our IP69K-rated sensors and quick connection cables make our sensors compatible with such harsh environments. IP69K sensor prices start at $59.00 and IP69K cable prices start at $29 .

17-11-2010

New CPU units and AC/DC I/O modules for the CLICK Micro Brick PLC
The CLICK micro brick PLC family now includes "standard" CPU units. The new units feature eight discrete inputs and six discrete outputs, available in four combinations of built-in I/O types. In addition to two RS-232 RJ12 communication ports, the standard CPU units are equipped with one RS-485 communication port and feature real-time clock and battery backup for the internal SRAM. Sold separately, the battery allows data to be stored for up to five years. Also now available are two I/O modules with 8 and 16 points of 24 VAC/VDC (sinking/source) inputs. The new CLICK CPUs start at $150.00 and the discrete input modules are priced from $68.00 .

4-11-2010

4-inch C-more Micro-Graphic Touch Panel with TFT color LCD
4-inch C-more (r) Micro-Graphic Touch Panel with TFT color LCD, 320 x 240 dot, 32,768 color display with LED backlight. Five user-defined function keys with LED indicators. Two built-in ports (USB Type-B port and 15-pin D-sub RS-232/422/485 port). Display supports Portrait and Landscape modes. NEMA 4/4X, IP65 (when mounted correctly; for indoor use only). Panel mount conforms to standard ¼ DIN cutout.

26-6-2010

Low-cost DC Power Supplies added to RHINO line
The RHINO™ line of DC power supplies now includes low-cost panel and DIN rail mounted supplies for applications requiring basic DC voltage power supplies. The panel mount RHINO PSS series, with rugged aluminum housing, is available with universal AC or DC inputs and with output voltages of 12 and 24 VDC from 35 to 100 Watts. These supplies are UL recognized, CE marked and RoHS compliant. The DIN rail mount RHINO PSB series is available with universal single- and three-phase input and with output voltages of 12 and 24 VDC from 15 to 480 Watts. PSB power supplies are UL 508 listed, UL 60950 recognized, CSA certified, CE marked, RoHS compliant and have a three-year warranty. Both series have overload, overvoltage, and thermal protection.

25-5-2010

Cat5e Ethernet Patch and Crossover Patch Cables
Cat5e Ethernet patch cables are available in eight colors and in 3 to 50 foot lengths. Crossover patch cables in yellow and orange are labeled with "crossover" on both ends. These Ethernet cables support up to 1000 Mbps, and are designed to reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference by incorporating a single metal foil shield which wraps around the entire set of four twisted shielded pairs. The robust RJ45 connectors are also shielded against electrical interference. The 350 MHz cables exceed all Cat5e TIA/EIA standards, and drastically reduce both impedance and structural return loss (SRL) when compared to standard 100 MHz cables. With prices starting at $5.00 these patch cables help create solid, reliable industrial Ethernet connections.

22-4-2010

ProSense™ Phase Monitoring Relays
provide protection against premature equipment failure caused by voltage faults on 3-Phase systems. All ProSense 3 phase monitor relays are designed to be compatible with typical Wye or Delta systems. Phase monitoring relays protect against single phasing regardless of any regenerative voltages

20-4-2010

Smart speed & frequency monitor, user can set the measurement frequency, rotation rate, pulse, and the warning signal discretionarily

14-1-2010

Six-inch Color C-more Operator Interface Panels
AutomationDirect’s line of C-more operator interfaces now includes two new 6” TFT color panels with LED backlights. The base model EA7-T6CL-R panel is a 320x240 resolution QVGA display which supports up to 65,536 colors.

2-1-2010

Universal Isolated Signal Conditioners
The 884114 and 884116 programmable universal signal conditioners convert, scale, isolate and transmit signals from a wide variety of process sensors and controller I/O. Scalable input signal types supported include mA, VDC, thermocouples, RTDs, linear resistance or potentiometer signals. The signals are converted to isolated current or voltage outputs; model 884116 also has two relay outputs for alarming and control functions. Three-way isolation between input, output, and power is provided. The 884501 LCD programming/display module is sold separately and snaps on the front of either of the universal signal conditioners for configuration, programming, and to display input signal values, engineering units, output signal, and relay status. These DIN-rail/wall mount universal signal conditioners start at $290.00 and have a five-year warranty.

10-12-2009

C-more Micro-Graphic Full Color TFT Touch Panel
A new 6-inch touch screen panel with full color TFT display has been added to the C-more Micro-Graphic family of industrial HMI panels. The 6-inch panel features a 32K color TFT display with LED backlighting and 320 x 240 resolution. The panel has 5 function keys with LED indicators and supports horizontal or vertical mounting the same as the other 6-inch C-more Micros. The TFT panel supports 3.2MB of memory, a USB programming port, enhanced objects and graphics, and Windows fonts. Programming software is free. At $489.00 , the 6-inch TFT panel is one of the most competitively priced color touch HMI panels in the market. The C-more Micro-Graphic family includes 3-inch touch and non-touch screen panels and 6-inch touch screen panels. The 3-inch STN C-more Micro panels start at only $259.00 .

10-28-2009

AC Motor Solid-State Soft Starters
Danfoss™ MCD100 series solid-state soft starters offer a low-cost alternative to motor control and are ideal for applications such as pumps, blowers and conveyors or any applications where traditional across-the-line starting or wye-delta starting is appropriate. MCD 100 is a cost effective and extremely compact soft starter for AC motors up to 11 kW, due to a unique semiconductor design.
MCD 100 is a true “fit and forget” product.Selection can be made on the basis of the motor power – exactly as with traditional contactorsMCD 100 products provide timed voltage ramp up and down.
Ramp time can be individually adjusted with rotary switches from 0.4 to 10 seconds. The start torque can be adjusted from 0 to 85% of the direct on-line torque.

17-19-2009

New C-more TFT Color Operator Interface Touch Panels
Two new lower cost, base and full-featured 6-inch TFT color panels with LED backlights have been added to the C-more touch panel lineup. These panels have a 5.7" QVGA display with 320x240 resolution, 65,536 colors and a 50,000 hour half-life LED backlight. The analog resistive touch screen supports unlimited touch areas. Both panels have two USB ports, serial PLC interface (RS-232/422/485), and 10MB project memory. The base 6-inch C-more TFT color panel is priced at $895.00 . Additional capabilities on the full-feature panel include an Ethernet 10/100 base-T communication port, remote Internet access and data logging. The full-feature 6-inch C-more TFT color panel is $1125.00 . Both panels are NEMA 4/4X, IP65 rated and are backed by a two-year warranty.

20-4-2008

EMA Pressure Sensors

Pressure Switches
Using strain gauge technology, the PSD series electronic pressure switch is an ideal alternative to mechanical piston pressure switches. The PSD sensor features a gas-tight measuring cell that reliably detects gas pressure and liquid pressure.

18-2-2008

Foot Switches and LED Pilot Devices
New foot switches, in single and double units, are designed for machines such as shearing and spinning machines, lathes, wrapping machines and riveting machines and presses. Foot switches are available in two operational formats: free movement and foot switch locked in neutral position . The extensive line-up of AutomationDirect pilot devices now includes 24V and 120V LED illuminated 22mm metal pushbuttons, selector switches, and indicators.

18-11-2007

AcuAMP Current Sensing Transducers and Switches
AutomationDirect's high performance current transducers and switches are available in split-core or fixed-core models and offer outstanding features, flexibility and durability. All models carry a five-year warranty. ACT and ACTR current transducers have field-selectable current input ranges up to 200 A and industry standard 4-20 mA or 0-10 VDC outputs. The ACTR series combines a current transducer and a True RMS signal conditioner into one unit.

The ACS150, ACS200 and ACSX series of current operated switches combine a current transformer, signal conditioner and limit alarm in one package. Features include current input ranges up to 200 A and isolated solid-state outputs. The ACSX series has a field-adjustable time delay.

18-9-2006

C-more Micro-Graphic Touch and Text Panels
AutomationDirect has expanded the C-more family of operator interfaces with the C-more Micro-Graphic panels. These small (4.5 x 3.25 inches) yet powerful graphical panels are equipped with a 3-inch screen, have five user-programmable function keys with LED indicators and five backlight colors, and contain 768Kb of project memory. The offering includes both touch and non-touch models.

C-more Micro panels display both text and bitmap graphics, and offer data entry, recipe handling and alarm capabilities. All models are configured with FREE Windows-based programming software. Optional snap-on keypad bezels in 8-key or 20-key configurations are also available

15-3-2005

Non-fused switch disconnects

AutomationDirect has introduced a line of non-fused switch disconnects for breaking and disconnecting on equipment loads. The SD1 series non-fused disconnects allow breaking and disconnecting on equipment loads of up to 600 VAC, at a nominal current range from 16 A to 40 A. SD2 series non-fused disconnects allow breaking and disconnecting on equipment loads of up to 600 VAC, at a nominal current range from 63 A to 125 A. Both models are DIN-rail or panel-mountable and feature high breaking capacity (AC 22 A to AC 23 A), double break contacts, high electrical and mechanical endurance, and are resistant to damp heat.

The non-fused disconnects have an IP20 degree of protection and are HACR rated. Prices for the non-fused disconnects start at $36.00 . A complete line of standard accessories is also available, including an optional auxiliary contact (one normally open and one normally closed contact).

25-11-2004

Complete line of FUJI motor controls

AutomationDirect has partnered with Fuji Electric to carry Fuji’s DUO series line of motor contactors, overload relays, and manual motor starters (MMS), as well as their Odyssey line of large contactors and overloads featuring Super Magnet™ coil technology. These offerings provide complete motor control solutions up to 300 horsepower. The conventional starters in the DUO line can accommodate motors up to 75 Kwr at 415 VAC, while MMS combination starters can accommodate motors up to 30Kw at 415 VAC and are UL Type E listed. The Odyssey Series of contactors come in sizes up to 300 horsepower at 480 VAC. The DUO series contactors are available in 24 VAC, 24 VDC, 120 VAC, and 240 VAC coil versions. The Odyssey series of contactors is available with 24 V, 120 V, and 240 V Super Magnet coils that can be powered with AC or DC. A complete line of accessories is also available.

5-11-2004

New programming pack for DL205 WinPLC

A Think & Do Live! software programming pack for AutomationDirect’s DL205 WinPLC is now available. This package offers WinPLC users a low-cost development environment with the same control and connectivity features as the standard Think & Do Live! package for applications that don’t require separate PC HMI screens. The WinPLC programming pack features flowchart logic, simple I/O configuration, WinPLC MODBUS TCP Ethernet port and MODBUS RTU serial port drivers, and OPC Client and server. The PC-WPLC-LIVE package is priced at $1390.00 and includes one development system license on CD-ROM, a Certificate of Integrity, and user manual. See the “Entivity PC Control” product category in the Software Products section for further details.

2-10-2004

AutomationDirect has launched the SureStep™ family of products, an open-loop stepping system that provides simple and accurate control of position and speed and offers a solution for applications requiring lower power. The SureStep stepping system provides a low-cost, reliable, high quality solution to answer your positioning control needs.

Features of the stepping system include:

• Four standard, connectorized motors and a "one-size-fits-all" step motor drive
• Optional 20-foot extension cable with locking connector to interface the SureStep motors to the 2-phase microstepping drive
• Drive features standard +5 VDC optically isolated logic inputs for interfacing with DirectLOGIC PLCs and many other 3rd party controllers/indexers
• 9-position DIP switch for drive configuration; no software or add-on resistors are required
• A standard 32 VDC, 4-amp linear power supply

14-8-2004

AutomationDirect now offers general purpose industrial relays in cube and solid state styles for use in a wide range of applications. All relays feature LED indicators for easy troubleshooting. New models available include:

• The 78 series cube style 15 amp electro-mechanical relays are available in 24 VDC, 24 VAC, 120 VAC, and 240 VAC coil voltages. These relays are designed for applications demanding high power control in various factory machines and control panels.
• The 750 series 12 amp electro-mechanical relays are available in 24 VDC, 24 VAC, 120 VAC, and 240 VAC coil voltages. They feature an octal base design.
• The AD-SSR series solid state relays can handle 10 or 25 amp loads. Heat sinks are included on the product.
• The AD-70S2 series solid state relays can handle loads up to 4 amps. They can be DIN-rail mounted using the 782-2C-SKT socket. These solid state relays have a high resistance to shock and vibration, and an immunity to moisture and dirt

4-4-2003

Now shipping - a new line of Centsable 22mm metal pushbuttons, switches and indicating lights for your control panels. Several new pushbutton models, including flush-mount and extended pushbuttons, and 40 mm operator faces (a standard 22 mm device), are available in six colors. Flush-mount and extended models start at $11 complete with contact blocks.

Switchgear Information

5-12-2002

CUnet A Whole New Way of Networking for all DL-05, DL-06,and Terminator I/O.

PLC sometimes anthropomorphize that it is like a human,because it has the brain CPU ,the senses Input ,and the limb Output .Imagine that if you could control numerous numbers of PLCs as distributed autonomous system.That will bring the greatest reliability and flexibility into the control-systems. With CUnet,you are able to accomplish the most complicated control-system that you have always dreamed of. Up to 64 stations,4096 I/O points per 1 Network on a Super high-speed data communication network

Click here to find out more about what's new in DL-05, DL-06,and Terminator I/O.