Omron believes it has improved on an industry standard with the introduction of its next generation of E5CN temperature controllers. Significant enhancements have been made - and all the features of the previous model are retained.
The new E5CN model has a larger backlit LCD display. This display is bright and clear even under harsh lighting conditions - and the larger digits are easier to read from a greater distance. It incorporates a three-colour change PV display to provide green, red and orange characters for instant process status recognition. The new 11-segment display permits the displaying of easy-to-understand text. Being backward compatible, the display can be modified for 7-segment use in previous models.
Two main E5CN variants are available; a temperature input type (thermocouple and Pt100) and a process input type (analog mA and V). Both types feature improved sampling and control update time (from 500 ms to 250 ms). Built to the same high standards as the previous one, it offers the same easy programming and operation, so users can install it with confidence in their applications. It can be automatically tuned for maximum temperature control performance, thanks to Omron's unique 2-PID control. "Unlike standard PID, where it is only possible to optimise the controller's response to disturbance from a single source," explains Stanley, "Omron's 2-PID control allows tailoring to the PV load disturbance and to changes to set values independently," says Stanley Neilen, Omron's European product marketing manager for temperature controllers.
Customised menus make the E5CN very user-friendly: partial or complete menus can be hidden as required, which makes operation easier and reduces possible confusion for the operator. The password protection feature prevents unauthorised access to settings.
"What is unique is the three-phase heater alarm," says Neiler. "This can detect a (partial) broken heater or an SSR short circuit in a three-phase configuration." The E5CN also features an alarm delay timer that prevents unnecessary alarms by allowing for process disturbances, like an expected temperature drop, for example, when a new oven load has been inserted. "You can also select the alarm operation during set-point ramp to prevent unnecessary alarms during the start-up phase," says Stanley, "you can select the alarm to be set on 'target SV' or on 'ramp SV'."
The manual output feature allows the user to take over the control output manually so that if, for example, the sensor fails, the user can preserve or even safely finish their production run. The E5CN also offers the choice to force the output to a value other that 0% on a sensor error or when the control is stopped.
The new E5CN has a thinner front panel profile (reduced from 9,2 to 6,2 mm) than the previous model, making it compatible with other Omron panel-mounted products. The flat membrane keys prevent dirt from clinging to the surface. With its IP66 rating, the E5CN is particularly suitable for use in the food, pharmaceutical and biochemical industries, where regular wash-down is performed.
About Omron
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, Omron is a global leader in the field of automation. Established in 1933 and headed by president Hisao Sakuta, Omron has more than 25 000 employees in over 35 countries working to provide products and services to customers in a variety of fields including industrial automation, electronic components industries, and healthcare. The company is divided into five regions and head offices are in Japan (Kyoto), Asia Pacific (Singapore), China (Hong Kong), Europe (Amsterdam) and US (Chicago). The European organisation has its own development and manufacturing facilities, and provides local customer support in all European countries. Omron's website is www.omron.com.
For more information contact Dave Gould, Yelland Control, 031 240 0700, [email protected], www.yelland.co.za
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