WIRELESS NETWORK PROVIDES MONITORING AND CONTROL
OF SENSORS, PUMPS AND OTHER DEVICES AT UP TO 56 REMOTE LOCATIONS
New DX80 from Banner Engineering replaces costly wiring in wide area installations

A scalable wireless network that can monitor and control I/O functions or provide serial communication at up to 56 locations has been introduced by Banner Engineering. The new SureCross DX80 product line replaces costly wiring in a wide range of industrial, agricultural, power generation, water supply and waste disposal applications. Discrete, serial and analog devices that can be controlled by the network include ultrasonic and photoelectric sensors, pumps, counters, thermocouple and RTD temperature sensors.

The remote nodes gather data and/or transmit control commands between the sensors or other devices and a central Gateway. The Gateway maps inputs from the remote nodes and interfaces with a PLC or HMI via RS-485 modbus or Ethernet/IP.

Designed for applications where wiring is impractical or unaffordable, DX80 nodes and the devices they monitor can be powered by 10 – 30V dc, battery or solar panels. This capability can eliminate the need for power wiring as well as control wiring, providing significant cost reduction and ease of installation in situations that cover wide areas. Banner’s unique power management capability and low power consumption enable a node and sensor to operate for years on a single battery power supply.

All units have industry standard robust IP67 housings. Models with Intrinsically Safe and Class I Division 2 approvals are available for extreme environments. Node to gateway transmission range using license-free radio is 3 km at 2.4 GHz or 10 km at 900 MHz (line of sight). The signal range can be extended or rerouted around natural obstacles by adding DataRadio modules as repeaters.

Banner Engineering is one of the world's leading manufacturers of vision sensors, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, fiber optic assemblies, indicator lights, machine guarding systems, precision measurement and inspection systems and wireless network products. The company provides local application support worldwide.

A. New DX80 Industrial Wireless Network from Banner Engineering includes one Gateway (left) and up to 56 remote nodes (right) for I/O monitoring and control.

B. Remote nodes on the Banner Engineering DX80 Wireless Network can have many different configurations including battery or solar power that can operate the devices they monitor.

C. In municipal water systems, the DX80 Wireless Network communicates tank level sensor readings and controls pump operation to assure maintenance of proper level.

D. Continuous sensor data on tank fill levels is transmitted over DX80 Wireless Network to controls that maintain materials at desired quantities.

E. Soil moisture probe and battery-powered DX80 Wireless Node combine to monitor temperature and moisture for irrigation control.

F. FlexPower wireless node transmits continuous data from thermocouples buried in compost windrows to assure turning at the optimum temperature for efficient production.