Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads toward a defined safe state under real‑world faults.
Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads toward a defined safe state under real‑world faults.
Part 1 of a 2-part series. A practical look at the failures that plague motor drive systems, even those that are rated to…
Part 1 of a 2-part series. A practical look at the failures that plague motor drive systems, even those that are rated to be fail-safe.
Learn a few tips and solutions to promote long-lasting electric motor health, explaining why some maintenance practices…
Learn a few tips and solutions to promote long-lasting electric motor health, explaining why some maintenance practices are a better fit for certain devices and situations.
Although ‘HMI’ has become synonymous with a durable, rugged touchscreen measuring 7 to 21 inches and mounted in a…
Although ‘HMI’ has become synonymous with a durable, rugged touchscreen measuring 7 to 21 inches and mounted in a control cabinet door, the reality of the interface extends far beyond this device.
A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in…
A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in motor circuits.
This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the…
This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the FX3U-485-BD. You can control speed and monitor the system using ladder logic.
Why do "forever" LEDs fail? A technical guide on L70 standards, multi-voltage IC drivers, and a comparison of…
Why do "forever" LEDs fail? A technical guide on L70 standards, multi-voltage IC drivers, and a comparison of industry-leading LED manufacturers.
Control.com chats with Weidmüller to get some insights about data center automation, learning about security,…
Control.com chats with Weidmüller to get some insights about data center automation, learning about security, environmental impacts, regulations, and more.
Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed…
Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed values, digital or analog signals, or communication networks.
Learn the difference between common and individually isolated PLC I/O modules; how do we know when isolation might be…
Learn the difference between common and individually isolated PLC I/O modules; how do we know when isolation might be helpful or required for outputs, inputs, and analog signals?
Learn about precharge circuits, inrush current, and understand why VFD and servo drives may trip during power-up.
Learn about precharge circuits, inrush current, and understand why VFD and servo drives may trip during power-up.
Learn how to integrate fail-safe logic and explosion-proof design to keep your processes running safely and smoothly.
Learn how to integrate fail-safe logic and explosion-proof design to keep your processes running safely and smoothly.
It’s easy to obtain I/O values for local and remote modules and network nodes. But what about system data that’s…
It’s easy to obtain I/O values for local and remote modules and network nodes. But what about system data that’s built into the PLC? How can we access and use that information?
Learn about electrical signalling systems for process control. What advantages may be provided by choosing analog systems…
Learn about electrical signalling systems for process control. What advantages may be provided by choosing analog systems vs. advanced modern fieldbus protocols?
MQTT and OPC UA are very different, but they accomplish essentially the same thing: push data from one device to another.…
MQTT and OPC UA are very different, but they accomplish essentially the same thing: push data from one device to another. Which method to use relies on understanding how each process is accomplished.
This guide shows you how to create a simple Inovance HMI project and connect it to a Mitsubishi PLC using serial and…
This guide shows you how to create a simple Inovance HMI project and connect it to a Mitsubishi PLC using serial and Ethernet methods, including practical setup steps and common mistakes to avoid.
Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent…
Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent protection layers, or a part of the safety instrumented function loop.
When setting up a new program in a Rockwell PLC, task scheduling is an important and often overlooked issue where errors…
When setting up a new program in a Rockwell PLC, task scheduling is an important and often overlooked issue where errors appear as inconsistencies, often incorrectly attributed to random faults.
This article provides an overview of the OSI models, IT/OT industrial protocols, and key applications behind the…
This article provides an overview of the OSI models, IT/OT industrial protocols, and key applications behind the networking capabilities that drive modern industrial and process automation systems.
You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC…
You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC such a versatile voltage, and what about the other voltages in control cabinets?