Tidal Engineering today announced the addition of Modbus TCP, the open standard for sending Modbus messages using TCP/IP, to their TCweb 16-channel thermocouple monitoring system. With this latest enhancement, the instrument is now optimized to support the industrial and process control markets in addition to test and measurement, and data acquisition applications. In addition, by employing Tidal Engineering’s PC-based TCweb data logger capabilities, an unlimited number of data points can be served to such Microsoft(R) Windows-based products as Wonderware and Genesis employing OPC and DDE servers respectively.
The TCweb, with Modbus TCP, is ideal for use in the broadest range of applications for interfacing plant floor devices in manufacturing, continuous process and batch processing. Included among the industries for which it is designed are paints and coatings, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, biological repositories, HVAC, food, gas processing, refinery, chemicals, petrochemicals, polymers, automotive, and aerospace. With these new enhancements, the TCweb can be easily employed with HMI/MMI (Human Machine Interface/Man Machine Interface) applications, PC-based control, real-time data management, and remote application viewing tools.
Among the most flexible and functional temperature acquisition instruments available, the TCweb connects to the Internet via its built-in 10BaseT Ethernet communication port or optional 56K fax modem. It is therefore configurable to automatically send e-mail reports and alarm messages, as well as create and serve HTML report pages to any browser with its built-in Web server. By employing the built-in modem, reports and alarms may be transmitted via e-mail. In addition to offering the power to acquire, analyze, and rapidly furnish precise data, up to 16 units may be connected in a master/slave RS-485 daisy chain arrangement allowing 256 sensors to be monitored on a single Web server. Temperature alarm limits, thermocouple type and logging may be set for each individual channel to facilitate unequalled versatility in the configuration of the instrument.
Tidal’s monitor supports J, E, K, R, S, T, B, N, and C-type thermocouples, and boasts a display resolution of 0.1oC. Temperature measurements can be made up to 16 times per second with values reported in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. The TCweb incorporates built-in cold junction compensation and provides two digital-to-analog output channels to transmit two analog voltages for charting. In addition, a Form C alarm relay can be programmed to operate under specified conditions to energize an audible or visual annunciator. Further specifications include an operating temperature range of 32o to 140oF, and a power requirement of 3.5 W at 9 to 28 VDC. Measuring only 7.00” (L) x 5.00” (W) x 1.625” (H), it features a backlit LCD, and may be ordered with up to 8 MB non-volatile flash memory for data logging.
Pricing for Tidal’s TCweb with Modbus TCP starts at $765.00 each, in single unit quantities. Delivery is from stock to 4-6 weeks.
About Tidal Engineering
Headquartered in Randolph, NJ, Tidal Engineering Corporation has been designing and building award-winning embedded hardware and software for test and measurement and data acquisition applications since 1992. The company further provides product development services together with engineering support, and is recognized for technical expertise in such areas as Embedded IEEE 488, and turnkey SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems. Tidal’s products are available exclusively through ADI American Distributors Inc., an ISO-9002 certified distributor of electronic and electro-mechanical components and assemblies.