Novel plug allows fieldbus agnostic motor control

An ABB Automation Tech (LV Products) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 9, 2003

FieldBusPlug motor controllers and starters feature a neutral fieldbus interface which can be combined with any current fieldbus system using a bus-specific plug interface.

ABB's new FBP (FieldBusPlug) concept is designed to bring simplicity and flexibility to fieldbus applications by allowing devices to be quickly connected to any bus for a "plug and produce" solution.

Instead of having to offer multiple variants to suit a large number of industrial fieldbuses, such as Profibus DP, DeviceNet, AS-i and so on, ABB is now able to offer control equipment such as its new FBP motor controllers and starters in one standard version, with a neutral fieldbus-independent interface.

All the installer has to do is attach the appropriate ready-made bus-specific FBP connection cable to suit the fieldbus.

The FBP FieldBusPlug establishes the connection of the individual switching and automation devices to the process controller.

The design of the plug is very simple - a fieldbus-neutral plug is fitted at one end of the cable and a plug with the fieldbus-dependent interface is located at the other end.

Intelligent electronics have been built into a compact plug to convert the neutral device data into a language which the process fieldbus (such as AS-i or DeviceNet) can understand.

ABB will offer plugs to suit all the major fieldbuses on the market.

A major advantage of the FBP concept is that ABB is not inventing its own additional bus, but is using the many fieldbuses already available.

Also, as it is an open system, the FBP can embrace any PLC system used by a customer.

Because ready-made plug-in connectors are used to attach the device to the fieldbus and the supply voltage, there is no need to cut, isolate and prepare cables.

The first family of ABB products to benefit from the FBP are motors and controllers.

These include: the MSD11-FBP compact fuseless motor starter unit with versatile mounting features for the operation of a motor in one direction, for line current from 0.1 to 12A; and the MSR22-FBP motor starter reverse, which switches and protects individual motors and their connecting cables in both directions of rotation.

The MF121-FBP motor fieldbus interface can be expanded to form a complete starter by coupling onto the MS325 motor protection switch up to 25A.

Integrated motor control functions and a preventative diagnostic function make it especially suitable for sensitive process areas and it incorporates three digital inputs at 24V DC and three digital outputs (relays).

The UMC22-FBP universal motor controller is the flagship of the fieldbus-compatible motor protection range for working currents from 0.2 to 62A, with six digital inputs at 24V DC and three digital outputs (relays).

The motor start data can be set directly on-site via a removable control panel.

Direct, reversing, star-delta and actuator start functions area available.

Electronic overload, phase loss and motor blocking are all integrated protection features of this device.