24 V power supplies and ASi – a cost-effective combination for very small plants
Using ASi with 24 V power supplies
Do you intend on realizing ASi networks in a cost-optimized way through 24 V power supplies? Not a problem – only three requirements have to be met: it must be a very small system with only a few ASi nodes, the ASi cable length must be less than 50 m and suitable gateways with integrated decoupling coils need to be used. Bihl+Wiedemann offers a broad range of devices so that you can always choose between different gateway options to suit your requirements.
Please note that 24 V power supplies are not optimized for ASi-5 communication. Our 30 V power supplies are the ideal solution for this purpose. They have been specially developed for parallel ASi-5/ASi-3 communication.
Advantages of ASi with 24 V power supplies
If you realize ASi networks with 24 V power supplies, you will benefit from three advantages in particular:
- Save space in the control cabinet, as the existing standard power supply can be used for powering the ASi circuit.
- Less documentation and installation time, as the matching gateway only needs to be connected to the 24 V power supply.
- Save costs, as no additional ASi power supply is required and no back-up fuse is needed.
Gateways with decoupling coils required
To use ASi in combination with 24 V power supplies, you need ASi gateways with integrated decoupling coils. This applies to all ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways and to most ASi-3 gateways. Suitable ASi-3 gateways from Bihl+Wiedemann can be recognized by the fact that the criterion "Integrated decoupling, ASi current measurement in the gateway" is met in the technical data. Here you can find the corresponding gateways.
Which gateway option is the right one?
ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways are the best choice. They incorporate the state-of-the-art technology of ASi-5 and are at the same time the most powerful ASi-3 masters on the market. ASi-5/ASi-3 gateways also offer further advantages:
- Integration of ASi-5 nodes, e.g., for IO-Link devices or for drives solutions
- Field update capability for tamper-proof updates of firmware and security features
- Integrated OPC UA server for Industry 4.0 / IoT applications
- Integrated web server for fast system diagnostics
When a faulty gateway needs to be replaced, pure ASi-3 gateways can still be used: We always recommend to use a replacement device with the same item number. It is also important to know that there are also fieldbuses (e.g. PROFIBUS) that are still used in existing systems but do not provide the necessary bandwidth to support ASi-5. Even in this case, the use of a cost-effective ASi-3 gateway is still recommended.
Save valuable resources
With AS-Interface, you do not need expensive plugs or sockets and only a single cable. This significantly reduces assembly times and material costs. In addition, valuable resources such as copper or plastic, which are required to manufacture the components, can be saved on a large scale. And energy consumption during cable production is greatly reduced. There is also a positive environmental effect when it comes to disposal – less waste is produced.
Maximum ASi cable length of 50 meters
Generally, the resistance of a cable grows with its lengh. Therefore, when using 24 V power supplies, you should never exceed theASi cable length of 50 meters as otherwise the voltage drop across the cable could be too high, thus resulting in insufficient voltage at the end of the line.
This formula applies: U = R × I (voltage = resistance × current)
Starting from the first three modules, you benefit from cost savings compared to a comparable wiring system. IO-Link masters are a good example: in this case, from the third module onwards, the mere costs of the modules and gateway are almost 10 % lower than the module-related costs of Ethernet-based solutions. In larger installations with IO-Link masters, the savings can reach 50 %.
In addition, the simple, reverse-polarity protected and fast connection of the ASi modules, based on piercing technology, significantly reduces the effort required for installation and commissioning.
Above all, this concept can save up to 68 % of the pure material costs of the wiring.
How to extend the ASi-3 cable to, e.g., 1,000 m
Extend the range of the ASi circuit flexibly and cost-effectively. Learn more about the possibilities of cable extension.
AS-Interface
The standardized fieldbus system AS-Interface (ASi) helps you drastically reduce your wiring complexity. You also benefit from free choice of topology and cost-effective integration of safety features on the same infrastructure.
ASi cable
The yellow ASi cable represents the simplest connection technology and efficient power distribution. Discover how you can save around 68 % on wiring costs compared to round cable solutions.
