Product category:
Weighing systems, Strain gauges
News Release from: Status Instruments | Subject: MEDACS
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 February 2003
Configurable DIN rail signal
conditioning modules
MEDACS modules from Status Instruments are cost effective Human/Machine Interface (HMI) panels, capable of interfacing to a wide range of industrial sensors: they are IP65 and have back-lit displays
Low cost, flexible process control at your fingertips: Status Instruments are introducing a cost effective range of Human/Machine Interface (HMI) panels, compatible with their highly successful 'Future Proof' MEDACS signal conditioning modules The MEDACS (Modular Expandable Data Acquisition and Control Systems) series represents a totally new and revolutionary concept in DIN rail signal conditioning modules, offering a high degree of functionality and configurability, together with the capability of interfacing to a wide range of industrial sensors
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 24 Jan 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
DIN rail signal conditioning modules
The MEDACS 2000 series from Status Instruments represents a totally new and revolutionary concept in DIN rail signal conditioning modules, offering a high degree of functionality and configurability
IP65 back-lit industrial HMI panels
A new cost effective range of Human/Machine Interface (HMI) panels from Status Instruments is compatible with their highly successful 'Future Proof' MEDACS signal conditioning modules
The HMI panels have a back-lit LCD display and are sealed to IP 65, making them suitable for use in harsh environments.
A variety of configurations are available, ranging from a relatively simple 2 line by 20 character display with 128K of flash memory up to one with 8 lines by 40 characters and 512K flash memory.
Versions offering different user key and LED status indicator combinations can be selected to suit specific applications.
Further reading
Low cost process control flexibility with MEDACS
MEDACS signal conditioners offer a totally new concept in sensor and process monitoring, interfacing to a diverse range of industrial sensors, providing configured outputs or web-based remote access
Data logging helps improve food quality and safety
The Signatrol SL700 powerful and flexible, fully self-contained portable data loggers have up to eight channels, ideal for monitoring and recording parameters in food manufacturing and storage
Tests on eight temperature transmitter heads
Baxter Healthcare subject their temperature sensors to the same test regime as their products: their 'Total Confidence' now applies to Status Instruments head mounted transmitters.
The HMI acts as a local Modbus master, collecting data from, and sending data to, a network of MEDACS slave devices to produce a local system with operator input.
In order to increase the flexibility of the MEDACS modules, Status have pioneered the development of their Transfer Function Module Library (TFML), which is embedded into each MEDACS unit.
As Brian Turner, MD of Status, explains: " A conventional signal conditioner connects to a sensor and measures the sensor parameter, converting this to an industry standard output such as 4-20 mA.
TFML offers the capability of inserting a transfer function between the input and output to provide a special control function.
This gives customers the ability to configure the units to accommodate unusual or custom applications directly within the signal conditioning module".
Each HMI unit has a number of dedicated keys which can be allocated to a particular function.
The operation is defined within the HMI using the 'Configuration Manager' software supplied and the program stored in flash memory.
Versions are also available with an in-built BASIC scripting language to offer a greater degree of flexibility in development of the HMI application.
This, together with the versatility of TFML, enables multiple MEDACS units to be used together to create a powerful process control system.
Systems can be built up which take data from a wide range of sensors within a process, with individual MEDACS units processing specific groups of parameters, all coordinated within the HMI environment.
This can provide a highly cost effective and easier to program alternative to PLCs in many applications.
The lower cost versions have a single RS232/RS485 port, which is used to programme the HMI and then uses the same port to communicate with the MEDACS units, thus enabling the development of a stand-alone system.
More sophisticated versions have two ports which can be used to create a system that can communicate with a remote station as well as the MEDACS devices making it suitable for distributed control applications.
In this instance, the HMI can act both as a local Modbus master to the MEDACS slaves and as a remote Modbus slave to SCADA/DCS systems. Request a free brochure from Status Instruments ...
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