Electronics Weekly Electronics Design & Components Tech News
New products include sensors, enclosures, relays, switches, connectors, DIN rail terminal blocks, pushbuttons, panel meters, bearings and seals.
“We are seeing automation being deployed in more and more industries to handle a variety of different tasks,” said RS Pro range president Jerry Abraham. “This is a significant bolstering of the range that will enable RS to react quickly to customer needs with high availability all in one place.”
Electronics Weekly asked for examples from the expanded range
A 15inch touch-screen display was the first that the team picked, saying: “The touch screen interface replaces the need for dials and switches with simple, easy to understand software streamlining processes and reducing the possibility of human and mechanical error.”
The 1,920 x 1,080 pixel display includes a 1.2GHz Arm Cortex A35 processor running Linux 4.4 QT based software and can handle over 300 PLC (programmable logic controller) serial protocols, said RS.
Next was an inductive proximity detector: “Designed to provide a safe and reliable non-contact detection specifically targeted for metallic object detection,” said RS. “This sensor provides an extended sensing distance, IP67 ingress protection and reverse polarity protection, all housed within stainless steel.”
The output is normally-open ‘PNP’ (open collector to the positive rail), nominal range is 1.5mm, and a LED is included as a local indication when it has been triggered.
Operation is from 10 to 30V (reveres polarity protected), and the cylindrical body is surrounded by an external M12 x 1.4mm thread.
Example three was a VDE approved 88 piece electricians tool kit in a case “for professionals who work on or around electrically live circuits”, said the company. “A versatile tool kit with screwdrivers and pliers individually tested for use on systems up to 1,000V.”
On top of there are non-VDE extras including sockets, spanners, bit sets, extension bars and hex keys.
