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Input / Output

Published:
January 19, 2024
Updated:
January 19, 2024
From:
Waldemar

Table of Content

In this article you will learn how to switch the 10 digital inputs and outputs of the SWA5 Client WiFi (Smart Work Assistant).

Technical Requirements

To use the digital inputs and outputs the following hardware is required:

  • SWA5 Client WiFi

Note: When purchasing a SWA5 Client WiFi, two plugs for the designated sockets are included in the scope of delivery.

General Safety Instructions

This article is addressed to persons with sound knowledge of electrical engineering. The assignment of the individual cable cores should therefore always be carried out by qualified personnel.

Current and voltage must always come from an external source so that the inputs and outputs can be switched. The integrated board for the inputs and outputs is galvanically isolated. Thus, the wires for the primary circuit do not come into contact with the secondary circuit.

I/O-Controller Installation

The IO controller is automatically installed on a SWA5 client WiFi. This appears as a tool in the Administration on the tool overview page.

Note: The IO-Controller can only be installed automatically. A manual creation of the IO controller on the Tools page is not intended and possible. If your IO controller does not appear in the system, contact our support.

Functionality

You can connect external devices to the provided inputs / outputs, which can be switched via the ELAM system. In ELAM you can make the following configurations in the IO step in the flowchart:

Configure bit mask for inputs, with the following states:
  • 1 = On
  • 2 = Off
  • Nothing = Ignore
Configure bit mask for outputs, with the following states:
  • 1 = On
  • 2 = Off
  • Nothing = Ignore

Note: Generally the inputs are checked first by the ELAM IO controller when the IO step becomes active in the ELAM Assistant. If the input check is OK, the outputs are switched immediately and the step continues.

Input Assignment

The following figure shows the assignment of the inputs. A total of 10 digital inputs (pin 1 – 10) can be used. Pin 11 is for 0VDC (ground) and pin 12 for 24VDC (voltage). To switch an input, the SWA is connected to ground and the desired input is connected.

Safety Instruction

Please note the maximum voltage of 24VDC. Exceeding the voltage or reverse polarity will destroy the device. Liability and warranty claims are void for improper connection.

Connect Inputs

A plug for the input socket of the SWA is included in the scope of delivery. The cable cores are not included in the scope of delivery as standard and must be provided.

Place the cable wires on the corresponding socket of the plug. Make sure that the polarity of the wires is not reversed. Then plug the connector into the input socket.

Output Assignment

The following figure shows the assignment of the outputs. A total of 10 digital outputs (pin 1 – 10) can be used. Pin 11 is for 0VDC (ground) and pin 12 is for 24VDC (voltage). To switch an output, supply the output strip with 24 volts and ground. It is important that the output is loaded with a maximum of 500mA.

Safety Instruction

Please note the maximum current of 500mA. Exceeding the current or reverse polarity will destroy the device. Liability and warranty claims are void for improper connection.

Connect Outputs

A plug for the output socket for the SWA is included in the scope of delivery. The cable cores are not included in the scope of delivery as standard and must be provided.

Place the cable wires on the corresponding socket of the plug. Make sure that the polarity of the wires is not reversed.

Advantages

With the IO-Controller feature you can easily control all kinds of devices via digital inputs and outputs. These include as an example:

  • Cameras
  • Screwdriver
  • Collaborate Robots
  • Sensors
  • Actors

Use Case Example

In our example we used the following hardware for switching the inputs and outputs.

  • SWA5 Client WiFi
  • Universal Input / Output Test Device

The following figure shows a device diagram. The SWA5 Client WiFi is connected to 230V as standard and connected to the Internet via an Ethernet RJ45 cable. The universal test device is supplied with 24V via a power supply unit and is connected directly to the SWA5 Client WiFi via input and output connectors.

The universal test device is equipped with 10x LEDs and toggle switch each. The LEDs can each have the state “switched on” or “switched off”. The toggle switches can be used to manually “switch on” or “switch off” the inputs. This makes it very easy to illustrate the functionality between hardware and software right away.

Flowchart Editor Setup

In the flowchart editor we use the IO step. Our goal is to activate the outputs (1; 3; 5; 7; 9). However, these must not be activated until the inputs (1; 10) have been switched. We ignore the other inputs and outputs:

Expected behavior: When we activate the IO step in the wizard, all LEDs from the universal test set must be off. When we turn on the input switches 1 and 10, the LEDs for the outputs (1; 3; 5; 7; 9) must be activated.

Switching Inputs and Outputs in the ELAM Assistant

We are in the ELAM assistant and start our flowchart. The IO step becomes active and we see the previously defined bit mask of the inputs and outputs.

The LEDs on the universal test set are all switched off.

We switch the input 1 and 10 to “Switched on” and see that the LEDs for the outputs are switched on.

The step is automatically advanced after the input check.

If we take a look at the product history, we can see in the log which inputs and outputs were switched on with the overall status OK.

FAQ

Are switched outputs automatically switched off?

No, when you switch on outputs, they remain switched off until they are switched off again. You must define in the flowchart active in a step that the outputs are switched off.