Oct. 31, 2014 – Banner Engineering’s XS26-2 expandable safety controller has the capability to add up to eight expansion I/O modules. The XS26-2 platform was designed to adapt to diverse automation requirements and address a wide range of safeguarding applications. The base controller models have 26 input terminals, four terminals for two redundant safety PNP outputs and a USB connection for loading configurations. Base models are available with an optional on-board display or an embedded Ethernet IP/Modbus TCP capability for access to live I/O status and system diagnostics to assist in troubleshooting and commissioning. According to the company, the safety controller’s complementary PC graphical user interface configuration software is uncluttered and easy to navigate for configuring and documenting safety functions and assessing the status of connected input or output devices. The system configuration tool uses a function block diagram format that consists of pre-engineered and pre-tested safety function blocks, as well as a set of Boolean functions. As the function block configuration is created, a corresponding logic ladder reference diagram and a text-based summary are created.
