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 LC3000 module



Actel A1020    

































The control module LC3000 has been developed to replace redundant PLC's etc. for those process parts, where an extremely safe control is needed, but the application is too complex or reliability demanding to be implemented with relays. This is e.g. the case for systems with integrated manual control, alarm systems, safety systems etc. A relay is the only electrical component, which can perform a logical function without a supply voltage, and the only electrical component, which allows a mechanical lock-up. Therefore there is nothing, which can match a relay controller in regard to failure safety and failure tolerance; but with LC3000 we can get really close!

LC3000 contains 16 general inputs, 12 general outputs, one special input for lamp-synchronization and lamp-test and one alarm-output with status indication. The module further contains 3x6 programming switches for e.g. setting the timers, the type of control and the address (in case of fieldbus connection).

The heart of the LC3000 is a programmable gate-array, where the program is stored as individual logic for each function as in a relay controller. This gives the module some completely unique properties, which are not found on any other control system.

  • Far more function-safe that redundant PLC's, which are only failure-safe. With LC3000 it is possible to obtain a level of function safety, which corresponds to an electronic (not relay based) majority-voting system (2 out of 3).
  • Extremely failure tolerant, because the program cannot "go down" as a computer- or PLC-program, and because an error in one part of the chip do not influence on other circuits, which do not use signals from the erroneous part.
  • Extremely fast signal handling, which enables response times in the microsecond range if desirable.
  • Safe program storage for more than 10 years (in contrast to PLC and computer systems) because the program is not stored by means of tiny electrical charges, but by burning a lasting connection between two metal layers.
  • Extremely radiation tolerant, which makes the module very usable for safety systems and controllers in nuclear power plants.
LC3000 has a further row of properties, which also makes the module something very special.

  • -24 V contact loading on all inputs (total 48 V for a 24 V system) to ensure a stable contact function up to approximately 0,5 µm of contact coating.
  • Fused and supervised supply voltage for the inputs, so that the main supply voltage should not be feed out into the process plant.
  • Separate supply- or return clamp for all I/O channels, so that it is possible to use twisted pair cables.
  • Twin I/O clamps, so that it is never necessary with more than one conductor in each clamp (observes VDE 611, section 3.1.8).
  • Screw less cage-clamps (Wago) for maximum reliability.
  • Rail mounted clamps so that the mounting forces are not transferred to the printed circuit board.
  • Line voltage (230 Vac) protection on all inputs and outputs and on the input supply voltage.
  • Very powerful transient protection with long lifetime. Varistors age by use, therefore 20 mm varistors are standard.
  • Overload protection with fuses. This is easy to understand for the operating personnel, gives a perfect square current protection and protects the output stage against excessive heating in case of an overload.
  • Selectable current supervision with red/green LED indication on all outputs for e.g. lamp and fuse supervision.
  • No appreciable self heating, which contributes to ensure a very long lifetime (For each time the temperature is raised 10 °C, the lifetime is reduced to the half. A 40 °C raise in temperature therefore means a 16 times reduction in lifetime!).
  • No unreliable components like relays, blowers or optocouplers and no electrolytic capacitors for critical applications.
  • Big temperature range (<-20 °C to 135 °C in laboratory tests).
LC3000 is really industrial process control by fact - not just by name!
At Innovatic we have in view, that it is the customers, who comes back, not the products!

LC3000 may be mounted after customer wishes and may therefore be perfect adapted to the actual application. The module may e.g. be supplied with fewer channels and functions, and the input-delay may be chosen individually on each channel from a few microseconds to approximately 0.2 seconds.