Need for terminal strips?
Need for terminal strips?
(OP)
We are designing the installation of a DCS in a very tight spot.
The existing DCS cabinets, and every one I've seen, has terminals inside the same DCS cabinet to which the field wires are terminated. Then from the terminal strip, wires continue to the DCS cards.
What is the reasoning for the terminal strips? Can we take the field wiring directly to the DCS cards to save cabinet space (no terminal strips)?
We have a marshalling panel located in another room where the field wires already terminate. We were going to come off the marshalling panel terminals and run to the new DCS cabinet (straight to the DCS cards).
Am I missing something?
The existing DCS cabinets, and every one I've seen, has terminals inside the same DCS cabinet to which the field wires are terminated. Then from the terminal strip, wires continue to the DCS cards.
What is the reasoning for the terminal strips? Can we take the field wiring directly to the DCS cards to save cabinet space (no terminal strips)?
We have a marshalling panel located in another room where the field wires already terminate. We were going to come off the marshalling panel terminals and run to the new DCS cabinet (straight to the DCS cards).
Am I missing something?
______________________________________________________________________________
This is normally the space where people post something insightful.





RE: Need for terminal strips?
If you transfer any strain to those cards...pfffft!
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Need for terminal strips?
RE: Need for terminal strips?
If you are doing it for your employer. Same thing.
If you do it for your own use only. Then do what you find convenient. But do not forget code.
Strap the cables to internal structure of cabinet for strain relief. Do not use self adhesive anchors. They do not stay more than months.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
RE: Need for terminal strips?
Think very carefully before doing what you are currently considering. Your customer will rightly blame you for the resultant mess, plus knowingly designing something which is unfit for purpose is hardly what a professional engineer should be aspiring to.
----------------------------------
Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: Need for terminal strips?
1.) Let's say an input module has 16 points but you are only using 12 of them and the rest are spare. Having the terminal strips you are able to (neatly) wire all 16 points to the terminals now. In the future when you need to use up some of the spares you are able to complete the job quicker. Trying to add a wire into the the bundle going up to the wiring arm of the input module can never be done as neatly later on as when orignally installed.
2) When your company wants to upgrade to a newer version of the I/O modules you will not need to disturb and field wiring. All that need's to be done is change out the I/O chassis.
In short, pay me now or pay me later.
RE: Need for terminal strips?
RE: Need for terminal strips?
Also, you can use sliding link or disconnecting-type terminal blocks to allow isolation of the I/O cards for testing/troubleshooting.