Modular remote I/O systems transmit process data from safe or explosion hazardous areas by connecting binary and analog sensors and actors to the control system via a bus interface. Remote I/O is the right choice when you want to put I/O modules close to the field devices. Due to the reduced wiring effort, you not only save cables, but also time, money, and work effort. Hence, remote I/O field units can be installed in a decentralized location inside hazardous areas while you easily control and monitor sensors and actors from the control room.
You can connect 4 mA … 20 mA devices to remote I/O, including water flow transmitters, valve positioners, pressure transducers, or temperature transmitters. Devices such as thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), mechanical contacts, and visual or audible alarms may also be connected.
Our remote I/O systems are compatible with network protocols like:
PROFIBUS DP
PROFINET
MODBUS RTU
MODBUS TCP/IP
Pepperl+Fuchs offers two types of remote I/O systems for different explosion-hazardous environments:
FB (Zone 1)
FB remote I/O is certified for mounting in Zone 1, placing the remote I/O system close to field devices. This modular signal conditioning system allows you to interface signals from the field with a control system located in the non-hazardous area via Ex i or Ex e field connections. The FB remote I/O system is installed in an enclosure. Standard enclosure options are glass fiber reinforced polyester (GRP), fiberglass, or stainless steel. Pepperl+Fuchs offers complete remote I/O solutions, including fully certified enclosures with built-in systems and components.
FB Remote I/O stations are mounted in Zone 1 hazardous areas. They form a modular signal conditioning system to interface signals from the field to a control system in the safe area. FB Remote I/O connects conventional sensors and actuators to the DCS using a single standardized fieldbus connection (PROFIBUS, Modbus, Ethernet, etc.).
The plug-in input and output modules can be hot swapped in a running system without the need for a hot work permit.
There is a wide spectrum of single and multi-channel I/O modules available—ensuring that engineering is easy and adaptable to the needs of your plant concept.
Analog Input
Whether you want to connect 2-wire and 3-wire transmitters, or active signals coming from externally supplied field devices and 4-wire transmitters, as part of our remote I/O solution “FB system”, we offer analog modules with Ex i or Ex e terminals. They are available in 1-channel or 4-channel versions.
Digital Input
For processing input signals from binary sensors or mechanical contacts from the field, digital input modules feature Ex ia or Ex e terminals. They are ideally suited for connecting NAMUR proximity switches, optocouplers, or volt-free contacts. FB system remote I/O digital inputs are available in 2-channel, 3-channel, or 8-channel versions.
Frequency Input
Frequency measurement is used to detect several process variables on rotating machines and flow transmitters. Frequency input modules feature Ex ia or Ex e terminals and are available in 1-channel versions, making them the right choice for users who value system granularity and easy commissioning.
Temperature Input
Temperature measurement is one of the most safety-critical applications in process automation—especially in explosion-hazardous areas. These temperature input modules with Ex i terminals allow connection of different resistance thermometers (2-, 3- and 4-wire Pt100 ... Pt1000), thermocouples, and mV signals and are available in 1-channel and 4-channel versions.
Voltage Input
For applications like controlling industrial cranes, or drilling derricks with joystick controls, Pepperl+Fuchs offers voltage input modules. They feature Ex ia terminals and are available as 1-channel versions, supporting high system granularity.
Analog Output
Whether for control of proportional valves, positioners, actuators, local display units or I/P converters—analog outputs from Pepperl+Fuchs FB system remote I/O solution are a fixture in process automation applications. They feature terminals in type of protection Ex ia or Ex e and are available in 1-channel and 4-channel versions.
Digital Output
For control of intrinsically-safe solenoid valves, LED clusters, beacons, horns or other standard switching functions, Pepperl+Fuchs provides digital output modules, featuring terminals in type of protection Ex i or Ex e. Digital Outputs are available with different channel numbers to cover diverse application requirements.
Relay Output
Many applications include basic ON/OFF switching routines. For instance, simple status and alarm indication is noted via beacons, flashlights, sirens, or horns. To control these indicators, solenoid valves, or other switching functions in Zone 1 explosion-hazardous areas, Pepperl+Fuchs provides relay output modules with Ex e terminals. They are available in 2-, 4- and 8-channel versions.
Power Supply
Remote I/O power supplies are available in 24 V DC, 115 V AC, and 230 V AC versions and feed the I/O modules and com units/gateways that are mounted on the corresponding backplane. The FB remote I/O power supplies feature galvanic isolation to mains power and can be operated in redundancy mode.
Com Units
For easy connection of I/O modules from FB system remote I/O solution to a DCS, SCADA system, or PLC, Pepperl+Fuchs offers com unit modules (gateways). They are available for various industrial communication protocols and feature Ex e terminals for end-to-end bus connection between mounting backplanes and higher-level process control.
Field Units
Field units ensure protection of all electronic components from harsh ambient conditions. There are two types of enclosure materials available: enclosures made from lightweight glass fiber reinforced polyester and enclosures made from electropolished 316L stainless steel. Both enclosure types meet degree of protection IP66. An integrated return flange prevents water ingress at the one-piece seal.
Accessories
Pepperl+Fuchs offers many accessories to enable custom-fit remote I/O installations. Various bus termination modules and a fiber optic coupler and repeater are available, as well as cables to connect base and extension backplanes used for module mounting. Multiple terminal blocks, protective covers, cold junction modules, and placeholder modules are also part of this portfolio. The range is rounded out by multifunction terminals suitable for fusing solenoid valves, alarm indicators, sounders etc, as well as diode decoupling of power supplies.
LB (Zone 2, Class I/Div. 2)
LB remote I/O is certified for mounting in Zone 2, Class I/Div. 2 explosion-hazardous areas. This modular signal conditioning system allows you to interface signals from the field with a control system in the non-hazardous area via Non-Ex or Ex i connections. Both circuit types can be mixed in one system. The LB remote I/O system is plugged into a backplane. Alternatively, our Solution Engineering Centers (SECs) can provide the system pre-mounted into a fully certified custom enclosure.
LB remote I/O stations are mounted in Zone 2, Class I/Div. 2 hazardous areas. They form a modular signal conditioning system to interface signals from the field to a control system in the safe area. LB Remote I/O connects conventional sensors and actuators to the DCS using a single standardized fieldbus connection (PROFIBUS, Modbus, etc.).
A wide range of single- and multi-channel I/O modules is available—ensuring that engineering is easy and adaptable to the needs of your plant concept.
Universal Input/Output
The 4-channel, universal input/output module with Ex i terminals is a highly flexible solution for applications such as operation of pressure transmitters, flow transmitters, differential pressure transmitters, level transmitters, and proportional valves, I/P converters, or local indicators. Each of the four channels can be independently parameterized and operated as either AI or AO.
Analog Input
Analog input modules not only power the connected transmitter, but also digitize the measured current for bus communication. Multiple transmitter power supplies can be used for connection of 3-wire transmitters up to 23 mA. The LB system remote I/O analog inputs are available in 1-channel and 4-channel versions with Ex i inputs.
Digital Input
Digital input modules process input signals from binary sensors or mechanical contacts from the field. The modules feature Ex i terminals and are ideally suited for connecting NAMUR proximity switches, optocouplers, or volt-free contacts. Digital inputs are available in 2-channel, 3- channel, or 8-channel versions.
Frequency Input
Supplied with passive signals from NAMUR sensors, optocouplers, or volt-free contacts, the frequency input modules in our LB system remote I/O solution enable measurement of parameters and detection of rotational direction. Our frequency input models feature Ex i terminals are available in 1-channel versions.
Temperature Input
Temperature measurement is one of the most safety-critical applications in process automation—especially in explosion-hazardous areas. These temperature input modules with Ex i terminals allow connection of different resistance thermometers (2-, 3- and 4-wire Pt100 ... Pt1000), thermocouples, and mV signals and are available in 1-channel and 4-channel versions.
Voltage Input
For applications like controlling industrial cranes or drilling derricks with joystick controls, Pepperl+Fuchs offers voltage input modules. They feature Ex i terminals and are available in 1-channel versions, supporting high system granularity.
Analog Output
Whether for control of proportional valves, positioners, actuators, local display units, or I/P converters—analog output modules from Pepperl+Fuchs LB system remote I/O solution are a fixture in process automation applications. They feature terminals in type of protection Ex i and are available in 1-channel and 4-channel versions.
Digital Output
For control of intrinsically-safe solenoid valves, LED clusters, beacons, horns, or other standard switching functions, Pepperl+Fuchs provides digital output modules, featuring terminals in type of protection Ex i. Digital outputs are available with different channel numbers to cover diverse application requirements.
Relay Output
Many applications include basic ON/OFF switching routines. Simple status and alarm indication is noted via beacons, flashlights, sirens, or horns. To control these indicators, solenoid valves, or other switching functions in Zone 2, Class I/Div.2 explosion hazardous areas, Pepperl+Fuchs provides relay outputs with Ex nA terminals. They are available in 4- and 8-channel versions.
Power Supply
This 24V remote I/O power supply module in type of protection Ex nA feeds the I/O modules and com units/gateways that are mounted on the corresponding backplane. The power supply features galvanic isolation to mains power and can be operated in redundancy mode.
Com Units
For easy connection of I/O modules from LB system remote I/O solution to a DCS, SCADA system, or PLC, Pepperl+Fuchs offers com unit modules (gateways). These modules are available for different industrial communication protocols and connect the internal bus of the mounting backplane to the higher-level bus system.
Backplanes
For mounting the various interface modules of the LB system remote I/O solution, Pepperl+Fuchs offers backplanes that are available with 8, 10, 12, 16, 22, or 24 single-width slots and can carry any combination of single-width and dual-width remote I/O modules.
Field Units
Field units ensure protection of all electronic components from harsh ambient conditions. There are two types of enclosure materials available: enclosures made from lightweight glass fiber reinforced polyester and enclosures made from electropolished 316L stainless steel. Both enclosure types meet degree of protection IP66. An integrated return flange prevents water ingress at the one-piece seal.
Accessories
Pepperl+Fuchs offers a variety of accessories to enable custom-fit remote I/O installations. Various D-sub connectors and cables link the base and extension backplanes used for module mounting. Terminal blocks, protective covers for terminal blocks, cold junction blocks, and a watchdog plug are also part of the portfolio. The product range is rounded out by a separation wall that is used to maintain the 50 mm clearance between intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits.
