The compact SX8R Bus Coupler from IDEC Corporation bridges a wide range of proven I/O modules with major industrial networks—such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and CC-Link—supporting adaptable automation designs.

The new module,empowers users to easily deploy I/O modules throughout equipment and systems. This supports the industry design trend of using smaller, decentralized control panels to simplify installations and reduce wiring complexity, resulting in overall cost efficiency.

The SX8R Bus Coupler is a way to design distributed remote I/O systems, or to expand the I/O count for controllers with limited base unit I/O points. For example, the SX8R works natively with IDEC PLC FC6A I/O modules, which are available in over 40 models encompassing a variety of discrete and analog signal types and counts. Each SX8R supports up to 7 I/O modules on the base unit, and up to 8 additional modules with the use of an expansion power supply, for a total of up to 15 I/O modules.

A single SX8R can therefore support up to 480 discrete points (input and/or output), 120 analog inputs, and/or 60 analog outputs, depending on the configuration. The maximum number of SX8R nodes possible on a network is dependent on the host unit and the protocol—for instance, this means 255 nodes for Modbus TCP, 32 nodes for EtherNet/IP when using an IDEC FC6A Plus PLC, and 16 or 8 nodes for CC-Link when using specific Mitsubishi PLC models.

IDEC