Specialty Industrial Process Controllers

Specialty industrial process controllers are used in unlisted, specialized or proprietary applications. They receive sensor inputs, provide control functions, and output control signals. There are several form factors for specialty industrial process controllers. Some devices are printed circuit boards (PCB) that can be attached to an enclosure or plugged directly into a computer backplane. Others are designed to attach to a panel or bolt onto a chassis, wall, cabinet, or enclosure. Rack-mounted industrial process controllers include hardware such as rail guides, flanges, or tabs, and may fit a standard 19-in. telecommunications rack. Benchtop or floor-standing units have full casing or cabinet and an integral interface that includes either a digital front panel or analog components such as knobs, switchers, jumpers, or meters.   

Specifications for specialty industrial process controllers include number of inputs, number of outputs, input types, output types, and number of zones (if applicable). The number of inputs equals the total number of signals sent to the controller. The number of outputs equals the total number of outputs used to control, compensate or correct the process. Input types include: direct current (DC) voltages, current loops, analog signals from resistors or potentiometers, frequency inputs, and switch or relay inputs. Output types include analog voltages, current loops, switch or relay outputs, and pulses or frequencies. Specialty industrial process controllers can also send inputs or receive outputs in serial, parallel, Ethernet or other digital formats which indicate a process variable. Some devices send or receive accept commands and inputs from information converted to an industrial fieldbus protocol such as CANbus, PROFIBUS^®, or SERCOS. PROFIBUS is a registered trademark of PROFIBUS International.  

Specialty industrial process controllers that are designed for international markets should comply with the RoHS and WEEE directives. Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is a European Union (EU) directive that requires all manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment sold in Europe to demonstrate that their products contain only minimal levels of the following hazardous substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ether. Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) is an EU directive that is designed to encourage the reuse, recycling and recovery of electrical and electronic equipment, and to improve the environmental impact and performance of this equipment. WEEE regulations also set the requirements and criteria for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of equipment such as specialty industrial process controllers.

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