The Difference Between PROFINET and PROFIsafe
PROFINET and PROFIsafe have very similar names and were both created by PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI). Besides the similarities in origin and name, PROFINET and PROFIsafe are different technologies. PROFINET is an open industrial Ethernet standard that offers real-time data exchange while maintaining openness for flexible plant and machine concepts. Aside from the standard…
What Is the Difference Between PROFIBUS DP and PA?
There are two flavors of PROFIBUS: PROFIBUS Decentralized Peripherals (DP) and Process Automation (PA). Each type targets different applications. PROFIBUS PA is used in process automation. The physical layer of PROFIBUS PA is Manchester Encoded Bus Powered (MBP), and the physical layer for PROFIBUS DP is RS-485. Even though a different physical layer is employed,…
How Many Nodes Can Be Connected on a PROFIBUS Network?
“How many devices or nodes can be on a PROFIBUS network?” is a common question for PROFIBUS beginners. This information is critical when designing a PROFIBUS network. In PROFIBUS networks, each segment can have a maximum of 32 nodes, counting master and devices. The maximum number of nodes with addresses in the overall network is…
Fieldbus vs 4-20 mA – A Comprehensive Comparison
This blog post explains one of the most dramatic evolutions in Industrial Automation: The transition from 4-20 mA to digital Fieldbuses. It compares the two and highlights key benefits and new business models arising from the implementation of fieldbuses. The Difference Between 4–20 mA and Digital Fieldbuses The factory floor has evolved dramatically over the…
10 Reasons to Choose PROFINET
PROFINET is the leading and most advanced communication protocol for automation. Currently, in 2020, there are over 32 million PROFINET nodes installed. This article contains 10 reasons or highlights to choose PROFINET for your product or automation project. 1.- Flexible Topology and Media With PROFINET, you can implement various topology options such as line, star,…
PROFINET Development FAQ
This month, we hosted a webinar on PROFINET Development: 7 Steps to Develop a PROFINET Device. There are many choices of ways to add PROFINET to an automation device. This webinar gave developers an overview of the seven steps to embed PROFINET in a product. In this article, I will expand on some questions we…
PROFINET Cables: Requirements, Specifications, and Types
In this article, you can learn all about a crucial piece of infrastructure in PROFINET networks: the Cabling. A PROFINET network is based on standard IEEE 802.3 Ethernet. Therefore, you can utilize standard Ethernet cables to build your PROFINET network. You might have heard the term: PROFINET cable before. We will reference this term through…
How does PROFIBUS DP work?
The communication basis for PROFIBUS lies in the cyclic data exchange between PLCs (masters) and devices (slaves). PROFIBUS components communicate using the PROFIBUS DP (Decentralized Periphery) communication protocol, which is the same for all applications and which allows cyclical and acyclical communication. The core of the communication process of PROFIBUS DP is the master-slave method….
PROFIenergy: Energy Management for Industrial Networks
The motivation for PROFIenergy, the energy management Application Profile… Energy is one of the most significant cost burdens in many manufacturing facilities. Automation components consume a large amount of energy during production. Additionally, energy consumption can also be significant during production-free periods, as shown in orange in the diagram below. PROFIenergy offers energy-saving capabilities in…
PROFINET vs Ethernet: Definitions and a Comparison
What is the difference between PROFINET and Ethernet? Can you give us a PROFINET vs Ethernet comparison? We get these questions quite often. And they are kind of difficult to answer because PROFINET and Ethernet are complementing technologies, not competing technologies. This short post will illustrate the comparison between PROFINET and Ethernet. Let’s start by…