In addition to the ISbus Fieldbus Power Supply System, R. STAHL introduces a new, innovative power supply for FOUNDATION™ fieldbus H1 applications. The Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply features a wide range of additional diagnostic functions for monitoring fieldbus segments. The power supply generates a warning message if the transmission quality in the bus deteriorates, thus allowing users to intervene in time before the segment fails. Due to attractive pricing just approximately 10% above the simple Fieldbus Power Supply, the high-performance type enables complete, continuous plant monitoring without considerably raising the investment costs.
The Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply continuously reads the physical parame-ters (physical layer) of the fieldbus, such as voltage and current on the trunk, communication level, noise level, asymmetries and jitter. If these parameters deteriorate by a value that can be freely adjusted on the device, the system will signal a warning via a yellow LED and simultaneously transfer the warning message to the control system via a potential-free relay contact. Situations which completely exceed or fall below the fieldbus specification are signalled via a red LED and the relay contact. The Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply can be connected to a PC via a serial interface in order to read out data if detailed in-formation about physical layer parameters is required. Just like the basic version, the Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply System supplies the fieldbus with 28 V and 500 mA and enables a 1 A supply via a parallel connection of two devices in “Boost” mode. An additional advantage: the optional redundant supply also ensures redundant diagnosis. The units, which can be installed on a DIN rail or on bus-Carriers, can be operated in mixed installations with basic models. Featuring the completely new integrated physical layer diagnosis concept, the Advanced Fieldbus Power Supply System allows for integrated, cost-efficient monitoring of fieldbus installations, rendering complex and costly separate diagnosis modules unnecessary.