“Top Quartile Performance. Digital Transformation. IIoT.”
These are pillars on which Emerson operates. With “scalable, secure technologies and services that put the ROI in IIoT,” as the company says, Emerson recognizes the era that IIoT is ushering in. Thus, precisely putting organizations on the right paths via smarter industrial ecosystem solution is where Emerson invests its efforts.
Enter SolaHD, an Emerson brand. Today, SolaHD announced the launch of its next-gen power solution, one that brings network connectivity to its SDN-D, high-performance DC power supply. This enables it to serve as a high-functioning, IIoT-ready device that provides condition monitoring, asset tracking, and quicker troubleshooting capabilities (in addition to serving as a power converter, as well).
Per a SolaHD representative: “SolaHD offers the power quality solutions needed to run machines safely and efficiently.” This is super important, given how issues with power quality have the potential to damage equipment, corrupt valuable and even disrupt production lines entirely. Just as SolaHD and Emerson invest in IIoT, organizations that protect their own respective investments keep their workers, equipment setups, and information safe from harm, too.
With SolaHD’s new power connectivity solution (named the SolaHD Communication Module; SCM, for short) and connecting it to an SDN-power supply, plant operators can continuously monitor diagnostics over standard Ethernet/IP or HART 7 protocols and transmit said data to supervisory systems. With the SCM, IIoT operators and service technicians are able to monitor the health of each power supply remotely. Diagnostic information can also be sent to a designated historian for predictive maintenance; in doing so, this helps to ensure uptime and improve utilization of crucial resources.
A handful of additional technical notes: Considered to be slim and rugged, this DIN-rail mounted SCM provides network connectivity support for SDN-D Series power supplies that deliver high-power efficiency within an ultra-compact, slimline footprint. The SCM is available in 10A and 20A models with 24 VDC single-phase output and is ideal for IIoT manufacturers that require extensive, hazardous location certifications for operational conditions with a wide temperature range.
Overall, by adding more robust network intelligence to the SDN-D power supply, this SCM ensures greater reliability, lowers maintenance costs (and extends equipment life) and – perhaps even more importantly – reduced unscheduled downtime that can cost manufacturers billions annually.
“Rapid IIoT growth currently demands a newer type of power supply with enterprise-grade connectivity combined with industrial features to meet compliance and use case requirements," said Jay Hendrix, Product Marketing Manager-Connected Power at SolaHD.
"That,” Hendrix explained, “is what Emerson is bringing to the table with the SDN-D power supply and SCM module combination. This ‘drop-in’ upgrade is compatible with any current infrastructure, regardless of age or level of control sophistication. It starts diagnosing performance and monitoring key performance metrics the moment it is installed, so you can keep a check on what is happening in real-time, anywhere, and on any device.”
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
