Did you know that Pepperl & Fuchs' intrinsically safe technologies and products are viewed as an industry standard?  K-System is now a recognizable brand.

The K-System,identified by its green housing, represents product reliability and brand confidence.  The K-System product family is an integral part of the application solution and is proven to be dependable.  Knowing that there are millions of K-System devices installed in the field helps put the customer at ease and helps brand acceptance. 

Single loop integrity and the simple architecture of the K-System make  this intrinsically safe technology an ideal choice for industrial projects.  Among its numerous unique features, the K-System uses a universal power rail, allowing easy power access and module expansion.

Pepperl & Fuchs also offers customized intrinsic safety barriers for specific I/O requirements including system connectors and terminal block types.

K-System products from Pepperl & Fuchs are available through Marshall Wolf Automation, your full-line industrial automation distributor.

Please visit our website at www.wolfautomation.com and view our expansive product selection.  Combine your automation purchases with Marshall Wolf Automation and enjoy extremely competitive pricing, quality products and excellent customer service!

You should take a look at purging systems:

• If explosion proof enclosures or intrinsic safety barriers do not provide enough protection
• If explosion proof enclosures or IS barriers are too expensive to use on your project

Intrinsic Safety Barriers are often used in intrinsically safe applications. Intrinsic Safety Barriers limit the current and voltage conducted through a device's power or signal wiring. This limitation prevents shorting and arcing of the wires or device, thus preventing ignition of the surrounding atmosphere. Intrinsic Safety Barriers are commonly used for protection of instrumentation that operates at extremely low power levels, and are suitable for exposure to the environment.

Advantages of intrinsic safety barriers:

• The Only Protection Allowed for Zone 0
• Eliminates Possibility of Explosion
• No Hot Permits
• Low Maintenance
• No Special Cables
• Ideal for Low-Power Devices
• Limits Energy to the Device

Disadvantages of intrinsic safety barriers:

• Requires Documentation of I.S. Circuits and Installation
• Can be Used Only With Low-Power Devices

Pepperl+Fuchs BebcoEPS Purge/ Pressurization units are designed to supply one or more protected enclosures with a clean instrument air or inert gas. This process removes flammable gases or prevents the accumulation of ignitable dusts within the protected enclosure(s).

This method of protection is not limited by the quantity, configuration, power requirements, or location of the protected equipment.

These systems are commonly used for all applications involving basic electronics, electrical equipment, motors and switchgear. BebcoEPS products meet the demands of rack-mounted instrumentation, video displays, programmable controllers, computers, printers, recorders, measurement, gas analyzers and calibration equipment.

One of the best benefits is the continuous flow of protective gas, which can be specifically used to eliminate problems like heat increase, moisture buildup, dust and corrosion.

Advantages of purge/pressurization units:

• Reduces Heat Build up
• Inhibits Metal Corrosion
• Low Maintenance
• Increases Equipment Longevity
• No Special Enclosures Required
• Allows Fast Access to Equipment
• Reduces Moisture & Dust Build up
• Reduces Classification Within the Enclosure
• Continuous System Status Indication
• Protects Enclosures up to 450 ft³
• Allows use of any Enclosure Shape
• Cost of Protection per ft3 Decreases With Enclosure Size
• No immediate danger if system failure occurs

Disadvantages of purge/pressurization units:

• Contains Moving Parts
• Requires Instrument Air Supply
• Some Systems Require Electronics
• Hot Permits Required

Need more help? Not a problem! In-house technical support is always available. Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized industrial automation distributor for the complete line of Pepperl+Fuchs!

Pepperl+Fuchs has been recognized by Control Design magazine as the 2012 Reader's Choice for technology excellence in the Intrinsic Safety Components and Industrial Enclosure Purge System categories! Congratulations!

Who votes? Subscribers take a survey where they indicate the single best vendor for the products they have experience with. Pepperl+Fuchs received 22% of the reader vote in intrinsic safety and 41% in the industrial enclosure purge system category!

Intrinsic safety barriers are the core of Pepperl+Fuchs product portfolio. They offer the widest selection of intrinsic safety solutions to delivery safe, reliable and efficient transmission between field devices and the control system.

Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco EPS purge/pressurization products offer a safe approach to installing electrical equipment in hazardous locations.

Interested in learning more? Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor!

Search Pepperl+Fuchs intrinsically safe solutions now!

The self-contained Pepperl+Fuchs F65 ultrasonic sensor is a ready-to-connect, complete device.

This series is ideal for small container fill level applications because of its low-profile housing. The ultrasonic transducer is slightly recessed in the housing for protection and has an integrated gasket that enables an airtight seal.

These ultrasonic sensors have two fully adjustable switching outputs (S min and S max) which can each be assigned a range. This allows you to measure both the minimum level and maximum level in the tank.

The values are set on the 3RX4000-PF programming unit using the SONPROG software package or a potentiometer. Again, this series is ideal for ultrasonic level control. 

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor for their complete line of inductive and capacitive proximity sensors, photoelectric light sensors, ultrasonic sensors, intrinsically safe barriers and much more.

Pepperl+Fuchs EXTA3 Division 2 keyboards are available as industrial panel mount or stand-alone keyboards for use in Class I, Div. 2, Groups A, B, C or D environments.

These IP66 rated keyboards offer a stainless steel desktop housing, anodized aluminum polyester foil faceplate and anti-microbial finish that will inhibit bacterial growth. They are also compatible with standard cleaning fluids and procedures.

The Pepperl+Fuchs EXTA3 keyboards offer multiple connectivity options with a long 5 foot cable with no mouse, touchpad mouse, joystick mouse or optical trackball mouse.

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor and offers you their complete line of intrinsically safe safe barriers, hazardous location products and more.

Intrinsically safe systems have energy levels that are so low that they cannot cause an explosion.

How do you achieve this? You can use zener diode barriers or isolated barriers to limit energy to a hazardous or potentially flammable area.

What are the difference between zener diode barriers and isolated barriers?

Zener diode barriers provide a simple method for implementing intrinsic safety. They must be connected to a dedicated intrinsic safety earth ground - which can be a problem for certain applications.

If you do not have a proper ground system in place the cost to install and maintain one maybe outweigh the savings of this inexpensive solution.

Isolated barriers do not require a dedicated ground and provide a galvanic isolation for anything connected to them. These do usually require a separate power supply. 

Intrinsic safety is the safest, least expensive and easiest to install method of hazardous area protection available!

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized distributor for the full line of Pepperl+Fuchs products, contact us for more information!

Bebco purge/pressurization products create a safe area inside an enclosure.

When should I use purge systems?

• When explosion proof enclosures or intrinsic safety barriers do not provide enough protection.
• If explosion proof enclosures or IS barriers are too expensive to use on your application.

Type X Bebco Purge System - protects general purpose equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 1 hazardous area. The X series reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Division 1 to non-hazardous. General purpose equipment can be operated within the protected enclosure.

Type Y Bebco Purge System - protects division 2 rated equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 1 hazardous area

Type Z Bebco Purge System - protects general purpose equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 2 hazardous area

Non-Hazardous Area Bebco Purge System - Enviro-Line^TM environmental pressurization enclosures are designed for use in Non-Hazardous areas.

As your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor we are also your authorized Bebco EPS distributor. Please contact us for assistance on Bebco purge systems!

It's National Safety Month - and we want to help you help your customers be and stay safe!  We offer a large array of products to help ensure that goal, along with great customer service and technical support to assist you! 

Take a look at some of what we can help you with:

Schmersal develops and produces a range of about 25,000 different switchgear and control devices. They are one of the largest suppliers of safety switching devices in the world and specialize in the design and manufacture of industrial switches, machine safety products, position sensors and related control accessories: safety switches, safety interlock switches, machine guard safety interlock switches and much more!

As one of the premiere Pepperl + Fuchs distributors, we can help with magnetic door safety switches, intrinsic safety barriers, safety controllers and HMIs for harsh environments.  Did you know that their intrinsically-safe technologies and products are viewed as an industry standard?

Leuze Electronics offers light curtains, perimeter guarding, laser scanners and more.  The case often arises in which Single Light Beam Safety Devices have to be integrated into very tight installation areas. In this instance, Leuze's SLS 318 Light Beam Safety Devices are the preferred choice. Because of their slender cylindrical construction they can be mounted quickly and easily, even in areas where space is restricted. Leuze proudly presents the fastest delivery of made-to-order safety light curtains in North America. Their production facility in New Hudson, MI is highly flexible and understands the meaning of URGENT. Their same day shipment (available on request) of custom length/configuration of safety light curtains “Made in the USA” is unique in the marketplace.

We can also help with safety mats, E-stops, capacitive level sensors, rugged full-sized interlock switches, wireless safety sensors for industrial doors and presence detection mats!

Contact us at 800-325-9653 (WOLF) or email us: sales@wolfautomation.com.  We're happy to help!

In this blog I'm going to focus on the Pepperl+Fuchs K-System of intrinsically safe products.

What does the K-System offer you?

• An easy identifiable green housing!
• Reliability and brand confidence
• Single loop integrity
• Simple architecture
• Universal power rail - easy power access and module expansion

There are literally millions of Pepperl+Fuchs K-System devices installed in the field which helps your customers feel confident they are using a dependable product.

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized industrial automation distributor for the full line of Pepperl+Fuchs. We have safety specialists on staff to assist you with your applications.

Take a look at all of our Pepperl+Fuchs intrinsically safe barriers and products!

Intrinsically Safe Barrier solution of keypads for AC frequency drives... a little known fact of the AC Tech ESV drive keypads! 

This application came up recently from an end user.  The goal was to utilize a high performance AC drive in the application where an exhaust fan in a paint booth was being used. 

The issue was the explosion proof environment.  What the end user was originally thinking was a drive with a remote on/off button and remote potentiometer in the booth and the drive outside the booth. 

The only problem with this scenario is that the potentiometer would invalidate the explosion proof rating, since the potentiometer is over 8 mA to comply with the rating. The solution was that the AC TECH ESV series of drives with a NEMA 4X rating.   This unit has an option for remote key pad, which can be used in the explosion rated area, thereby avoiding having to use intrinsically safe barriers, saving added capital.

Simple 4 wire connection between the SMV vector drive and the remote keypad provides for drive operation (start, stop, direction and speed) and programming. Includes 4 digit LED display. Measures only 3.4in (H) x2.2 in (W). It includes gasket to meet up to NEMA 4X rated environments.