Roadtesting the easyE4 Nano PLC: AC or DC, What's Your Preference?

The AC unit is easier for more people to test as mains supply is readily available.

The UC is the preferred way to go in real life applications as it can connect 12/24V DC or 24V AC power.

For roadtest I guess the best choice for most users will be AC as they can test in any regular office.

Here's the application guide:

AP05013001E EZ Application Guide.pdf

Here's a link to the user manual:

https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/industrialcontrols-drives-automation-sensors/easye4-nano-programmable-logic-controllers/easye4-user-manual-mn050009-us.pdf

To all,

Thanks for your feedback. I will move forward with the 24V version with the 8A relay outputs.

I highlighted the units I am looking to get for the roadtest: Easy-E4-UC-12RC1

How many of you would be interested in roadtesting this? The sponsor will give me up to 6. I normally have been doing 3 or 4.

Randall

I put my vote for the DC type. Reading the datasheet one can see that the DC version has more features than the AC one. For example some of the digital inputs (4 inputs) can be used also as analog inputs. In addition, to some of the digital inputs can can be connected absolute or incremental encoders as they have associated counters (incremental or rapid counters) useful in some motor control or positionining applications. Not the last, transitor outputs can be switched at a higher frequency than relays. The drawback is that they can be used only in DC circuits, compared to relays that can be used both in DC and AC circuits.

I put my vote in for DC, because it's usually easier to throw in an additional DC power supply if necessary and easier to sort things out on the bench using DC. It also makes it more versatile - e.g. depending on consumption, you could probably even run it off batteries using a step-up converter. It also means that perhaps those who aren't as confident in wiring up AC don't have to tackle that challenge just to get the controller powered up and for those who want higher reliability, perhaps they can maintain the PLC powered on backup via batteries or with a diode-isolated power supply from multiple redundant AC feeds.

The downside, perhaps is that the prospective RoadTester should have a suitably beefy and clean 24V supply to run the unit. In the AC case, the RoadTester probably just needs a scrap of flex with a plug on the other end.

In practical application, however, the AC unit seems to be universal input so it might be a neater setup using a direct AC input. However, I suppose it will depend on how reliable the internal AC/DC supply is whether there are any reliability differences between the AC or DC versions - there are some very "low end" timeswitches on the market that have capacitive dropper style power supplies which can fail due to the metallised film capacitor "burning" up the film and changing value.

- Gough

Thank you for the clarification.

I assume that the AC model is just powered by a wall outlet?

hugohu  You power it with something like this: https://www.newark.com/xp-power/dnr120ls24-d/power-supply-ac-dc-24v-120w/dp/29T3276

For many applications I work with, we literally have two 12VDC starting batteries in series as station power batteries and run the 24VDC through a DC to DC converter.  We keep the batteries topped off with a simple 24VDC charger.

I've seen other systems where they use connections to multiple 24VDC starting battery systems isolated by a simple diode on each feed.  It's a rudimentary redundant, best battery system.

For experimentation, I have a 24VDC wall wart purchased from an online retailer.

Lots of options.

If you use DC, how do you power it? Do you use a bench power supply or something, most power plugs are rated for 7-15V only.

Okay, I'll be the outlier here.  AC.  Much of what I work with is in the mains voltage range so AC would make integration into a system easier.