The Beckhoff Bus Terminal System - Beckhoff BC3150 Documentation

Product overview
2.4

The Beckhoff Bus Terminal system

Up to 256 Bus Terminals, with 1 to 16 I/O channels per signal form
The Bus Terminal system is the universal interface between a fieldbus system and the sensor / actuator
level. A unit consists of a Bus Coupler as the head station, and up to 64 electronic series terminals, the last
one being an end terminal. Up to 255 Bus Terminals can be connected via the K-bus extension. For each
technical signal form, terminals are available with one, two, four or eight I/O channels, which can be mixed
as required. All the terminal types have the same mechanical construction, so that difficulties of planning and
design are minimized. The height and depth match the dimensions of compact terminal boxes.
Decentralised wiring of each I/O level
Fieldbus technology allows more compact forms of controller to be used. The I/O level does not have to be
brought to the controller. The sensors and actuators can be wired decentrally, using minimum cable lengths.
The controller can be installed at any location within the plant.
Industrial PCs as controllers
The use of an Industrial PC as the controller means that the operating and observing element can be
implemented in the controller's hardware. The controller can therefore be located at an operating panel, in a
control room, or at some similar place. The Bus Terminals form the decentralised input/output level of the
controller in the control cabinet and the subsidiary terminal boxes. The power sector of the plant is also
controlled over the bus system in addition to the sensor/actuator level. The Bus Terminal replaces the
conventional series terminal as the wiring level in the control cabinet. The control cabinet can have smaller
dimensions.
Bus Couplers for all usual bus systems
The Beckhoff Bus Terminal system unites the advantages of a bus system with the possibilities of the
compact series terminal. Bus Terminals can be driven within all the usual bus systems, thus reducing the
controller parts count. The Bus Terminals then behave like conventional connections for that bus system. All
the performance features of the particular bus system are supported.
Mounting on standardized mounting rails
The installation is standardized thanks to the simple and space-saving mounting on a standardized mounting
rail (EN 60715, 35 mm) and the direct wiring of actuators and sensors, without cross connections between
the terminals. The consistent labelling scheme also contributes.
The small physical size and the great flexibility of the Bus Terminal system allow it to be used wherever a
series terminal is also used. Every type of connection, such as analog, digital, serial or the direct connection
of sensors can be implemented.
Modularity
The modular assembly of the terminal strip with Bus Terminals of various functions limits the number of
unused channels to a maximum of one per function. The presence of two channels in one terminal is the
optimum compromise of unused channels and the cost of each channel. The possibility of electrical isolation
through potential feed terminals also helps to keep the number of unused channels low.
Display of the channel state
The integrated LEDs show the state of the channel at a location close to the sensors and actuators.
K-bus
The K-bus is the data path within a terminal strip. The K-bus is led through from the Bus Coupler through all
the terminals via six contacts on the terminals' side walls. The end terminal terminates the K-bus. The user
does not have to learn anything about the function of the K-bus or about the internal workings of the
terminals and the Bus Coupler. Many software tools that can be supplied make project planning,
configuration and operation easy.
BC3150 Version: 2.1.0 13