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History
During my many years as a control systems engineer I often encountered situations where the output of the control unit (PLC or Computer) was one type of control signal and the unit being controlled required a different type of control signal. For example, the control unit may have put out a 4 to 20 milliAmp control signal and the Motor Drive Unit required a 0 to 10 Volt input signal. I was determined to develop a solution to this problem. Serious design and debug efforts resulted in the Springboard, Control Signal Converter the solution for which I was looking..


Rob Pryor at work on the signal converter

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About


The SPRINGBOARD Control Signal Converter is used to convert from one control signal range to another. The Control Signal Converter is capable of electrically isolating a control unit from the device being controlled by up to Two Thousand Volts. The device can also operate as a pass-through device (the output signal range is the same as the input signal range), providing electrical isolation only.

The Control Signal Converter will convert from any of the following common control voltage or current signal ranges to any of the following common control voltage or current signal ranges:
0 to 10 Volts, 0 to 5 Volts, 0 to 1 Volt, -10 to +10 Volts, -5 to +5 Volts, 4 to 20 milliAmps, 0 to 20 milliAmps.

Example:
If a 0 to 10 volt signal is selected as the input, the output has the option, through switch settings of having the following output signal ranges: 0 to 1 Volt output, a 0 to 5 Volt output, a 0 to 10 Volt output, a -10 to +10 Volt output, a -5 to +5 Volt output, a 4 to 20 mA output or a 0 to 20 mA output. The same holds true for any of the above when they serve as the input range (any input can be converted to any output).

Isolation:
With the removal of one internal jumper wire and the addition of a second power supply, the Control Signal Converter can achieve two thousand Volts of isolation between input signal and output signal.
NOTE:
In order to achieve two thousand volts of isolation the user-supplied power supplies must also have two thousand volts of isolation. UL and CAS approved wall plug-in transformer supplies are sufficiently isolated. When isolation is not required, only one power supply is required.

Power supply requirement (power supplies are user-supplied). The power supply current needed to operate both the input and output circuits is slightly less than 100 milliamps. Most wall plug-in transformer supplies with an output voltage of from 24 to 32 Volts DC are sufficient.

Why is signal isolation important?
Isolation is desirable when there is a difference of potential between the controller and the device being controlled (this is particularly important when voltage signals (0 - 10 Volts, for example) are used. Isolation also helps to eliminating electrical noise on the signal and to minimize the effect of
ground loops.

Current loop output:
The current output (4 - 20 mA or 0-20mA) uses the full power supply voltage range to source current. This is done for those cases in which there is a high resistance in the current loop. If a high resistance is sensed, the source voltage will increased in order to maintain the required current loop signal.
Note: When the 0 - 20mA or the 4 - 20mA current output is selected, the voltage output will be 0 -10V or 2 - 10V respectively. This enables the use of the voltage output as a Current Monitor.

Open Loop Indicator:
The Control Signal Converter contains a built-in L.E.D. indicator which monitors the output signal and, when a current loop output is selected, is illuminated when the current loop circuit is open. This provides an indication of open output wires.

Cautions:
When using a current loop output (4 - 20 mA, for example):
*If a common signal ground is used for both the controller and the device being controlled the Control Signal Isolator must be operated in isolated mode (two separate power supplies are required).
*If the output signal is a two-wire closed loop system, the unit can be operated in the non-isolated mode.

Input and Output Control Signal Selection:
A ten segment dip switch and an eight segment dip switch are used to select input/output combinations.The switches are internal to the device.

Contact us at info@controlsignalconverter.com for any special requirements.

 

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Specifications
Control Signal Converter Analog-to-Analog/Digital-to-Digital Signal Converter

A table illustrating the various input and output combinations is included below.

Table of Switch Settings for Selecting Input to Output

INPUT S1-A S1-B S1-C S1-D S1-E S1-F S1-G S1-H S2-A S2-B S2-C S2-D S2-E S2-F S2-G S2-H S2-I S2-J OUTPUT
0 - 10V     X         X     X   X           0 - 1V
0 - 10V     X         X     X     X         0 - 5V
0 - 10V     X       X       X X             0 - 10V
0 - 10V     X         X   X   X         X   -5V - +5V
0 - 10V     X         X X     X         X   -10V - +10V
0 - 10V     X       X       X X             0 - 20mA
0 - 10V     X         X     X X       X X   4 - 20mA
0 - 5V     X   X   X       X   X           0 -1V
0 - 5V     X       X       X X             0 - 5V
0 - 5V     X   X           X       X       0 - 10V
0 - 5V     X   X         X   X         X   -5V - +5V
0 - 5V     X   X       X     X         X   -10V - +10V
0 - 5V     X   X           X       X       0 - 20mA
0 - 5V     X   X           X X       X X   4 - 20mA
0 - 1V     X       X       X X             0 - 1V
0 - 1V     X     X         X     X         0 - 5V
0 - 1V     X     X     X           X       0 - 10V
0 - 1V     X     X       X   X         X   -5V - +5V
0 - 1V     X     X     X     X         X   -10V - +10V
0 - 1V     X     X         X       X       0 - 20mA
0 - 1V     X     X         X X       X X   4 - 20mA
4 - 20mA X X X       X       X   X           0 - 1V
4 - 20mA X X X       X       X     X         0 - 5V
4 - 20mA X X X       X       X       X       0 - 10V
4 - 20mA X X X       X     X   X         X   -5V - +5V
4 - 20mA X X X       X   X     X         X   -10V - +10V
4 - 20mA X X X       X       X       X       0 - 20mA
4 - 20mA X X X       X       X X       X X   4 - 20mA
0 - 20mA   X X   X           X   X           0 - 1V
0 - 20mA   X X       X       X X             0 - 5V
0 - 20mA   X X   X           X       X       0 - 10V
0 - 20mA   X X     X       X   X         X   -5V - +5V
0 - 20mA   X X   X             X         X   -10V - +10V
0 - 20mA   X X   X           X       X       0 - 20mA
0 - 20mA   X X   X           X X       X X   4 - 20mA
-5 - +5V               X     X   X           0 - 1V
-5 - +5V               X     X     X         0 - 5V
-5 - +5V               X   X   X             0 - 10V
-5 - +5V               X   X   X         X   -5 - +5V
-5 - +5V               X X     X         X   -10 - +10V
-5 - +5V               X   X   X             0 - 20mA
-5 - +5V               X     X X         X   4 - 20mA
-10 - +10V       X             X   X           0 - 1V
-10 - +10V       X             X     X         0 - 5V
-10 - +10V       X           X   X             0 - 10V
-10 - +10V       X           X   X         X   -5 - +5V
-10 - +10V       X         X     X         X   -10 - +10V
-10 - +10V       X           X   X             0 - 20mA
-10 - +10V       X             X X       X X   4 - 20mA
                                       
0 - 4V X           X       X X             4 - 20mA

CONNECTION DIAGRAM

 
Dimensions:
5" x 2.5" x 2.15"

Signal parameters (Input-to-Output)
Linearity (nominal) +/-2%
Accuracy +/-3%

Speed:
100kHz minimum in non-isolated mode, 2kHz when in isolated mode.

Signal and Power Connections:
3 each 2.5mm Phone Jacks for one input and two output (current and voltage) signals.
2 each 2.5mm Power Jacks

Input and Output Signal Parameters:
2.5mm Phone Jack (2 each)
Single voltage or current input
Independent voltage and current outputs (one voltage and one current output).

Input to Output Isolation:
2kV isolation minimum (optical isolation) in isolated mode.

Power Requirements:
24 - 32 Volt D.C., 4.0W user supplied single power supply (2 required for isolation mode), 3.2 Watts minimum for each. See list of possible power supplies). There are two power supply inputs. The device circuitry is divided into input side and output side. Each side requires an isolated power source in order to isolate the input signal from the output signals.
Note: With the addition of one internal jumper the same supply can be used for both input side power and output side power, in this configuration there will be no input-to-output signal isolation.

Conversions:
Any combination of the following; 0 to +1V, 0 to +5V, 0 to +10V, -5 to +5V, -10 to +10V, 0 to 20mA, 4 to 20mA (Any of these voltages or currents as inputs to the device can produce one or more of these voltages and currents as outputs from the device). Note: When the 0 - 20mA or the 4 - 20mA current output is selected, the voltage output will be 0 -10V or 2 - 10V respectively. This enables the use of the voltage output as a Current Monitor.

Open Loop Indicator:
Built-in L.E.D. indicator is illuminated when the current loop circuit (current output) is open or carries
no current.

Input/Output selection:

Selection of input/output combinations is done by means of switches which are located within the device. A table of switch settings and input/output combinations is provided with the device.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

*Disconnect the device and/or remove power from any equipment being controlled when making adjustments or changing switch settings. Care should be taken to disconnect the device before removing the device cover.
*Changing switch positions while power is applied will result in unpredictable
output signals.
Sources for Power Supplies:
Wall outlet plug-in supply:
GlobTek, Models: GT-A35, -A41, -A48 (28 to 30 Volts D.C. out at 4 Watts or better)
Note: Various world-wide A.C. input plug configurations are available for this model

E-mail info@controlsignalconverter.com for an EXCEL file that graphs move profiles based upon your velocity (max), Acceleration and Distance parameters.

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Contact Information

General Contact Info:
E/H Products, LLC
Robert F. Crumley
Email: crumley@snet.net
Phone: 203-879-4293

Power Supply Contact Info:

Contact Information: GlobTek, Inc.
186 Veterans Dr., Northvale, NJ 07647 (USA)
Tel: 201-784-1000
fax: 201-784--0111
e-mail:
sales@globtek.com
www.globtek.com

Marlin P. Jones & Assoc. Inc. Catalog# 12210-PD

Contact Information: Marlin P. Jones & Assoc. Inc.
P.O. Box 12685, Lake Park, FL 33403-0685
Tel: 800-652-6733
fax: 800-432-9937
www.mpja.com

Total Power International, Inc. Models: HEA-41-240030 (WM1), HEA-48-119 (WM1),
HES15-24006-00-S, HER-48-114 (WM1)

Contact Information: Total Power International, Inc.
481 Bridge St. Lowell, MA 01850
Tel: 978-453-7272
fax: 978-453-7395
e-mail:
sales@total-power.com
http://www.total-power.com

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