Eliminate wiring looms in panels and cabinets

Save time and costs by networking panel switches and indicators using AS-Interface: see how to do it in the AS-Interface UK Expert Alliance website

The AS-Interface UK Expert Alliance has launched a new section of its web site dedicated to the advantages of networking panel switches and indicators, instead of individually hard-wiring them using expensive cable looms.

AS-i SW eliminates the need for complicated looms connecting each device to the system controller.

Photographs on the website show the dramatic comparison between the two methods.

Because power is also supplied on the cable, separate power cables can be eliminated using AS-i SW, saving further on costs.

The Expert Alliance is the official association of AS-Interface vendors and users in the UK marketplace.

The SW specification has been developed by a consortium led by Japanese company IDEC.

It uses a low cost chip based on standard AS-Interface technology but simplified even further to bring costs down to competitive levels for this market.

SW is fully compatible with the standard AS-i specification, and can be controlled by any standard AS-i master.

However, the chip provides a 2 bit transmission protocol instead of the standard 4-bits.

Like standard AS-Interface, power is supplied on the same cable.

"SW can make building a panel a pleasure instead of a chore," said Hodgkinson.

"In addition, the intelligence of AS-i can be utilised to offer more functionality.

For example, it can allow for the on-line brightness control and it can ease the diagnosis of faults," commented Geoff Hodgkinson, Chairman of the UK Expert Alliance.

The biggest savings arise when an AS-i controller is already being used, because then it is very simple to extend the AS-I cable into the cabinet using SW.

Savings of up to 40% are possible.

AS-Interface, sometimes known as the 'intelligent cable', is the world's most popular networking technology for low level sensors and actuators.

"AS-i is simple, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it is limited in application.

As well as conveyors, mechatronics systems, pneumatics and the like it is extensively used by the process industries for ON/OFF valve flow control.

It's ideal as a partner for fieldbuses and its special Machine Safety profile has taken the functional safety world by storm.

A new Version 3 specification will widen our applications coverage dramatically in the coming 2 years.

Now, with SW, we even have a solution for the simplest devices of all - switches and indicators - where low cost is the major driving force," remarked Hodgkinson.

The partnership between AS-Interface and fieldbuses will be demonstrated at the forthcoming Profibus International Conference in June in the UK, where the Expert Alliance will be exhibiting AS-i technology and giving a paper explaining how the two protocols work together in harmony.

Conference Organiser and Profibus Chairman Bob Squirrell said: "Having the two protocols together will offer a compelling attraction for delegates.

Where else today could you go to see these two world beaters in action together?".

AS-Interface has an installed base of around 12-13 million devices and dominates the device level networking arena.

Members of the UK Expert Alliance are: Belcom, Burkert Fluid Controls, Bihl + Wiedemann, Controlled Lubrication, LCA/Functional Safety Engineering, IDEC Electronics, IMI Norgren, Johnson Mathey, Kinetrol, Kuhnke UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, Siemens A and D, Sigmapi Systems, Tyco International, and Wago.

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