Controller moves into hazardous environments

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 15, 2006

The MC600 multichannel controller from General Monitors is now available for Class I, Division 2 applications in hazardous environments.

With its breakthrough modular design for monitoring combustible and toxic gases, the MC600 multichannel controller from General Monitors is now available for Class I, Division 2, applications in hazardous environments.

Featuring a microprocessor-based design, the modular MC600 multichannel controller offers reliability, flexibility and value-added economy in gas detection systems.

The six-channel MC600 provides continuous gas monitoring when equipped with General Monitors' gas sensors/transmitters and is designed to protect people, equipment and facilities in hazardous environments.

The MC600 controller is designed with a rugged, corrosion and weather-resistant, Type 4X housing that is configured with mounting brackets.

An optional onboard 115/230 VAC power supply is also available and provides Class I, Division 2 classification.

Signal conditioning boards for H2S/hydrocarbon sensors and a 4-20mA interface for intelligent detectors are easily installed or removed from plug-in slots.

The MC600 is compatible with General Monitors' hydrocarbon and H2S sensors and intelligent transmitters, as well as their infrared detectors and TS-Series toxic gas detectors.

It is a scalable solution that can be used as either a local gas detection system or networked to provide a large plantwide distributed safety system.

Designed with dual redundant Modbus communications, the MC600 provides complete status and control capability.

Due to its modular design, the MC600 offers easy installation, a long life span, and an attractive return on investment.

Typical applications include chemical and petrochemical plants, compressor stations, gas processing, pulp and paper mills, refineries, steel, utilities and wastewater.

The MC600 comes preconfigured from the factory, saving installation time with minimum setup required.

Removable terminal blocks allow for easy installation and wiring.

A front panel user interface includes six independent LCD channel displays and keypad for setup, calibration and gas reading functions as well as ready, alarm and fault indicators.

Six user-configurable 8-amp relays with selectable zoning and voting are included.

The MC600 features six backlit LCD modules that each have two lines, with eight characters available per line.

Large multicoloured LED ready, alarm, warning and fault indicators (that are easy to read in daylight) supplement the digital displays, and keypad controls are provided for setup, calibration and gas reading functions and self-test.

The MC600's six auxiliary 8A relays are user-configurable to activate external devices such as horns or beacons on any of the six channels' alarm or warning setpoints.

They feature independent user-configurable options for zoning, warn, alarm low or alarm high activation set points, energised/de-energised, latching/nonlatching and timed delay.