
Sensor-Actuator Cable Assemblies

Circular M12 and M8 connectors are used in industrial automation to securely connect devices. These connectors have evolved as industrial factories moved from parallel wiring systems to connect communication devices and machinery to a more secure form of distributed control. The growth of Fieldbus led to a greater demand for connections between industrial components and PLCs that would resist environmental interference while still securely transmitting data.
Phoenix Supply’s sensor actuator cable assembly consist of sensor and actuator cables already assembled with M12 push-pull connectors for easy and secure installation in tight spaces. Sensor cables are designed to optimized data and electrical signal transmissions from a sensor to a control device. Actuator cables are used to supply power and send or receive signals from a sensor to the actuator.
Phoenix Contact has a number of products offering sizes from M8 to M12 for connecting actuators and sensors. All number of positions and codings are available with one standard pin connector pattern. The M12 push-pull connectors lock into place simply by plugging them in. The fast-locking systems allows easy, tool-free device connections. With pluggable sensor and actuator cabling, laborious single wiring in the field is eliminated. Standardized interfaces ensure convenient and fast installation.
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Digital signals are represented in either a true or false. There is no gray area with digital signals. An example of this might be a light switch. A light switch is either on or off. Another example of this might be a motor that is running or not running. Digital signals can be generated with both AC and DC circuits with varying voltages, currents and resistance. Some practical examples of using digital signals in an industrial environment might be if a pump is running or not running or a whether a valve is open or closed.
Analog signals convey information in the form of a range. A light switch might be on or off as a digital signal, but a dimmer switch would be an analog signal. It can be on or off, but it can also be somewhere in between. A practical example of using analog signals in an industrial environment would be if there is a need to measure the level of a tank; whether it's full, empty or somewhere in between. Analog signals can take many different forms with some of the more common being a 4 to 20 milliamp signal or a 0 to 5 or 0 to 10 volt signal.
Communication in a device can either be sent or received. Whether that data is sent or received depends on the type of information. Is there a need to monitor the status of something? If so, an input needs to be received about that information. Is there a need to control something? If so, an output needs to be sent about what needs to occur. Receiving inputs and setting outputs are both things that can be accomplished by using both digital and analog signal types. Therefore, the signals are referred to as analog outputs (AO), analog inputs (AI), digital inputs (DI) or digital outputs (DO).