Diagnostic Tools

PROFIBUS Diagnostics and Measurement

InduSol America supports maintenance engineers with a wide range of diagnostic tools to ensure the optimal functioning of networks and minimize downtimes.

In addition to our specialized test kits for PROFIBUS DP and PROFIBUS PA, we also offer stand-alone devices such as the PROFIBUS-INspektor® NT, the PROFIBUS tester PB-Q ONE and the PROFtest II XL. These instruments enable precise analysis of time-critical communication processes and help to identify potential problems at an early stage. Our tools cover both cyclic and acyclic data communication and provide advanced features for parameter setting and fault diagnosis. This leads to a significant increase in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and thus increases productivity.

PROFIBUS Diagnostic tools by application

Installation

Cable Testing

> PROFtest II XL PROFIBUS DP

Signal Quality

Physical quality inspection

> PROFIBUS Tester PB-Q ONE PROFIBUS DP + PA

Protocol

Logical quality inspection

> PROFIBUS Tester PB-Q ONE PROFIBUS DP + PA

> PROFIBUS INspektor® NT PROFIBUS DP

External Disturbances

Measuring equipotential bonding and shield currents

Check your system for shield currents and optimize equipotential bonding with our EMC products >>>

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PROFIBUS Decentrailzed Periphery (DP)

Of the three compatible variants of the Process Field Bus or PROFIBUS for short, DP is the most widespread. Developed for time-critical communication in industrial process automation, DP enables a central control unit to control several field devices such as actuators or sensors. Hence the term "decentralized periphery." Communication in classic PROFIBUS DP is always cyclical, meaning each field device exchanges data with the control unit within a fixed cycle time.

Thanks to a function extension known as PROFIBUS DP-V1, however, acyclic data can also be communicated, including, for example, parameter settings, alarm messages, device diagnostics or setting, and optimization instructions. So that the acyclic data does not impair ongoing operation, it is given a lower priority than the cyclic data. In this way, DP-V1 expands the diagnostic options of PROFIBUS DP. Various status information can be transmitted and summarized centrally, allowing you to conclude the status of individual participants, as well as segments or even individual inputs and outputs.

PROFIBUS Process Automation (PA)

In a PROFIBUS DP system, PROFIBUS PA can appear as a segment. So-called couplers ensure that the different transmission technologies harmonize with one another. You convert the RS-485 signals from DP for the signal range 61158-2 from PA, offering a decisive advantage for the process technology. The connected devices receive their power supply via the common communication line, meaning that the entire PA segment from the coupler to the bus termination can be set up intrinsically safe.

After appropriate certification, e.g., using the Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO model), installation in potentially explosive production areas is also possible. The fundamental advantages of PROFIBUS technology remain unaffected: Also achieving stable communication, extensive interoperability, measured value accuracy, and high system availability with PA.

In terms of transmission speed, however, this PROFIBUS variant has a disadvantage compared to DP. It is less suitable for time-critical automation processes. However, the speed difference for the data exchange between actuators, sensors, and control units in process engineering is usually not absolute. We recommend checking the communication quality during operation with the PB-Q ONE PROFIBUS tester.