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Advantech Introduces New Fieldbus I/O

March 17, 2011

The ADAM-6100PN Supports Profinet and the ADAM-6100EI Supports EtherNet/IP for Communications

Advantech's ADAM-6100 series is a new line of Industrial Ethernet remote I/O modules that continues the very long tradition of the highly successful series of ADAM I/O modules. Advantech reports it recently sold the one millionth ADAM module in the series. "We are very proud of the long history of the ADAM series of I/O modules," said product manager Mark Lochhaas of Advantech. "As new technologies have become available we have continued to upgrade the series with new features and greater capabilities. While the ADAM series is old enough to have sold a million units, we continually upgrade the series to keep pace. So we are introducing the ADAM-6100."

The ADAM-6100PN supports the Profinet fieldbus protocol. When equipped with the EtherNet/IP protocol, ADAM-6100EI series modules also allow daisy chain connections, making it possible to transfer data much faster during process control and other industrial automation applications. Lochhaas said, "Advantech's customers have always found that the various ADAM families of remote I/O have offered robust solutions with a rich blend of digital and analog I/O to meet a majority of our customer's needs. However, listening to our customers, we recognize that the technology in the field changes, and we need to enhance our products to change with it."

Chaining daisies

Figure 1. The ADAM-6100PN supports Profinet and the ADAM-6100EI supports EtherNet/IP for communications

Lochhaas continued, "Two of the most significant of those customer requests have been to offer the most prevalent protocol in North America, EtherNet/IP, on an ODVA-certified module and allow it to be connected in a daisy-chain style over Ethernet. We listened, and we're introducing the ADAM-6100 series of modules to satisfy those requests."

Each ADAM-6100 module has two built-in Ethernet switches to allow daisy chain connections in an Ethernet network, making it easier to deploy, and helping improve scalability. Using fewer wires helps avoid interference common in factory settings. The ADAM-6100's isolated design helps to prevent the I/O module series from breaking down and helps resist harmful field interference.

The ADAM-6100 series is available in multiple configurations. These include the ADAM-6117EI/PN eight-channel isolated analog input module, the ADAM-6118EI/PN eight-channel thermocouple input module, the ADAM-6124EI/PN eight-channel analog output module, the ADAM-6150EI/PN 16-channel digital input/output module, the ADAM-6151EI/PN 16-channel digital input module, the ADAM-6156EI/PN16-channel digital output module, and the ADAM-6160EI/PN eight-channel relay module. Each of these modules can be supplied with either EtherNet/IP or the Profinet protocol.

ADAM.NET Utility comes bundled with each ADAM-6100 module. With ADAM.NET Utility, users can configure, set and test ADAM-6100 modules through the unit's Ethernet connections.

The ADAM-6100 series has triple isolation, including the power supply, input/output and Ethernet communications. This ensures I/O data can be controlled correctly and prevents devices from breaking down.
Like all ADAM I/O modules, those in the 6100 series are compatible with a very wide range of PLCs, PACs and controllers, including those made by Advantech, as well as all of the most commonly used PLC/PAC combinations available. "By supporting Industrial Ethernet and Profinet, ADAM is now able to cover over 80% of the market for I/O," Lochhaas said.

Advantech provides a variety of mounting methods for the ADAM series to fit various demands in the field. The ADAM-6100 series supports DIN-rail mounting, wall mounting and piggybacking. As with all the ADAM series, the 6100 has a wide temperature range: - 40 - 85 °C (-40 - 185 °F).

For information, visit www.advantech.com/eautomation, call 1-800-205-7940 or email [email protected].