AutomationDirect now offers EtherNet/IP protocol communication for the Protos X line of field I/O. The Protos X “Xpansion” field I/O system is a modular system consisting of a Bus Coupler and its associated input/output terminals. The Protos X slim design and various I/O configurations allow the exact I/O needed with the smallest footprint possible.

2 to 16-point discrete I/O terminals and 2 to 8-channel analog I/O terminals are available. Up to 64 terminals per assembly and 255 I/O terminals total are possible. The Modbus and EtherNet/IP Bus couplers provide connection options to hundreds of industrial control devices including the most popular PLCs and SCADA/HMI packages.

Bus couplers are now available in four configurations. PX-TCP1 and PX-TCP2 server bus couplers offer Modbus TCP protocol over Ethernet. The PX-MOD slave bus coupler utilizes Modbus RTU/ASCII protocol over RS-485.The new PX-EIP1 server bus coupler uses EtherNet/IP protocol over Ethernet. The PX-EIP1 module is priced at $244.00 and has one RJ45 Ethernet 10/100 Base T port for connection to an Ethernet client.

The Protos X Selector Tool is available online to easily build, specify and order a Protos X field I/O system.