G3 Series HMIs offer serial ports and web access

New G306 HMI operator interface panel supports up to five serial ports simultaneously, and provides a host of remote control and data logging features, at very low cost

The G306 operator interface panel, the latest addition to Red Lion's G3 Series HMIs, offers the unprecedented ability to support up to five serial ports.

And an integrated protocol converter makes the G3 HMIs the first to deliver web-enabled access, monitoring, data logging and control of their machines and attached devices across a LAN or the Internet.

Despite these innovations that have never before been available in any HMI, the G3 Series panels are available starting at USD599.

But the value and innovation doesn't stop there.

The G306 offers a host of built-in features that typically cost extra on other HMIs including built-in Ethernet, CompactFlash, and USB ports, powerful free software with drag-and-drop programming and HMI graphics, a free web server, and more.

The full technical description is as follows.

The Model G306 touchscreen panel features a 5.7" 256-color QVGA Ultra-STN LCD display with 320 X 240 pixel resolution, and a five button keypad for on-screen menus.

The G3 HMI Series is the first to offer up to five communications ports and a built-in gateway to web-enable any device connected to the panel.

This unprecedented capability delivers remote access, monitoring and virtual operation - either via company LAN or the Internet - facilitating real-time operational access and data logging from a remote PC.

"Legacy devices communicate with their own protocol," said Jesse Benefiel, Product Manager.

The G3 HMI is the first to feature an integrated protocol converter that allows it to function as a centre point of data gathering, converting disparate protocols while relaying all the data to a remote location.

This makes the G3 an ideal tool to collect and move data, or control multiple devices including PLCs, PCs, drives, PID controllers and others, from anywhere in the world," added Benefiel.

As with all G3 panels, the G306 arrives standard with a 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX Ethernet port, USB connection, 4MB of on-board Flash memory, integrated web server, Type I /II CompactFlash card reader, and one-click, MS-Excel compatible data logging activation.

One RS422/485 port and two RS232 ports are standard (expandable to five) and each port is format and baud rate programmable up to 115,200 baud.

G3 HMIs also feature popular and innovative options such as the ability to communicate to GPS receivers for positioning and tracking, plus GSM/GPRS modem support for alarm notification via email and SMS text messages, as well as pass-through programming of PLCs and other devices remotely.

The G306 HMI joins the G303, G308 and G310 operator interface panels, which start as low as USD599.

Each G3 HMI model is configured via Red Lion's powerful and intuitive Crimson 2 software at no extra charge.

The feature-packed, user-friendly software includes an extensive library of device drivers to quickly establish communications between the G3 and virtually any device, integrated web server, drag-and-drop data mapping and "virtual panel" that mirrors the HMI display to any web browser.

Crimson 2 also features a comprehensive symbol library with a selection of over 4,000 industrial and manufacturing images including pushbuttons, tanks, motors, and machinery-plus over 60 other categories-allowing users or OEMs to easily add professional-quality graphics to G3 display pages.

The software supports Russian, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and any other language supported by the Unicode character set so OEMs can use a single database to customise the device for multiple geographic markets.

The software is downloadable and freely available, with free upgrades and support by Red Lion - the only company to offer such a solution.

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