Safeties within AS interface

Actuator Sensor Interface commonly known as AS-i around the globe. It is the simplest and easiest network system to work with. It is almost maintenance free network. It doesn’t need any sort of maintenance until any field device or cable gets damaged physically. The entirely network consists of a pair of untwisted and unshielded cable and that’s it. All field components are connected with a pair of cable only, either it is a sensor or it is an actuator and this is the beauty of AS-i network indeed. AS-i network works as a master slave hierarchy. One of the biggest advantage of AS-i is that It is not a sole supplier based whereas it has an association of number of companies. It makes AS-i association a prominent with respect to other networks around the world.?

I don’t have an intention to write an entire article about the advantages of AS-i network what I can do here but I want to write something about AS-i network safety related slave’s replacement issue. There is a safety monitor in safety networks and involvement of safety monitor makes safety related slaves such as safety gates and E-stops replacement a bit tricky. You have to keep in mind how to replace safety related slaves it is not a bed of roses until you inculcate its process.

As you know safety does matter in industries. Safeties are there for the we human beings. It is the safety what actually values our lives. If safety were not there in the industries, it would not be possible for us to survive in rough, hectic and robust industrial environments. We are not supposed to avoid any sort of safety anywhere. Safety belongs to us and vice versa. ?

Now come to the point. I am going to let you guys know how to replace defective AS-i safety related slaves such E-Stops switches, safety guard switches and curtain sensors. Those who are familiar with Actuator Sensor Interface could understand it easily what I am going to explain here step by step. This is a bit different and tricky process indeed with respect to other slaves in AS-i network. I am writing here with respect to IFM brand there are various other AS-i products available in the market and there could be more or less same process but with a little bit difference. I have been working with IFM brand since 2016 at Hess Block Making Machine.

How to Replace Defective Safety Slaves

• Remove defective E-Stop or safety guard switch from ASi line yellow cable
• Press the service buttons of all related safety monitors. Press service button for 1 second only
• Install new E-Stop or safety guard switch with correct address?
• Go to the Master link DP(AC1375, AC1376) and execute configure all
• At last press the service buttons for 1 second of all related safety monitors?

First of all, you have to remove defective slave from the AS-i network. If you want to replace more than one defective slaves simultaneously, it will not work. Once I did try it, but I couldn’t get the result what I wanted to get. We press service button for 1 second to change the state of safety monitor from protective mode to configuration mode. Sooner state will change so safety monitor’s LEDs start to glow from bottom to top. It means you are in right track go ahead. Press the service buttons of all related safety monitors gently. If you don’t press service button gently, you will break it because it is really sensitive. Once it gets damage, it will be useless for you. You cannot reuse broken service button safety monitor ever without the help of ASIMON software.?

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Keep in mind it could be one or more than one safety monitor connected with the defective slave programing wise. It depends upon how was it programmed so you ought to know it before replacing defective slave. If you don’t know in the worst case scenario that how many safety monitors are connected so, look at all safety monitors LEDs. Disturb safety monitors will let you know clearly. Then you have to set the correct address for new slave with the help of IFM Addresser AC1154. You should also have all cables what are essential for addressing different salves. At last you have to repress service button for 1 second to bring safety monitors back to protective mode. If safety monitors do not come to protective mode, safety network will not work. That is all about how to replace defective E-stops, safety guard switch etc. I hope it will be handy for you guys.