PLC Data to MQTT
Passive methods to stream PLC tags to MQTT brokers and cloud platforms without touching ladder logic or stopping the line.
Industrial Automation · Reference Library
News & Insights
Selection guides, head-to-head comparisons, and field-tested configuration notes for control engineers, integrators, and maintenance teams.
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1
Dual Generator ATS Control & Duty Cycling
Two generators in duty-standby means one engine accumulates all the hours while the other sits idle. Duty cycling alternates lead-lag weekly, equalizing runtime.
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PLC Data to MQTT
Passive methods to stream PLC tags to MQTT brokers and cloud platforms without touching ladder logic or stopping the line.
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Modbus Serial-to-Ethernet Migration
Modbus RTU devices speak RS-485, not Ethernet. A protocol gateway bridges the gap. When a simple serial-to-Ethernet converter works and when an edge device with store-and-forward buffering is the safer choice for legacy networks.
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Fanless Industrial PC Selection Guide
The fan is the only moving part in an industrial PC and the component most likely to fail first. Fanless PCs eliminate this failure point but limit processor TDP.
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Conductive vs Capacitive vs Ultrasonic Level
Conductive sensors need conductive liquids. Capacitive sensors work with any liquid but are coating-sensitive. Ultrasonic sensors are non-contact but blinded by foam and vapor.
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Cable-Pull vs Push-Button E-Stops on Conveyors
A practical comparison of cable-pull and push-button E-Stops for conveyor safety — when each device type is appropriate, cable tensioning requirements, false trip risks, and how to combine both on long belt installations.
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Servo vs Pneumatic Valve Gate Actuation
Pneumatic actuation delivers simple open-close with no mid-stroke positioning at low cost. Electric servo actuation provides programmable pin position, velocity, and acceleration.
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Servo Motor Selection Framework
Frame size sets torque density, winding type shapes the speed-torque curve, and feedback resolution determines positioning accuracy.
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Wired vs Wireless Tank Gauging
An ATG sensor in ATEX Zone 0 requires IS wiring, armored cable, and barriers — cost dominated by the cable run, not the sensor. A wireless ATEX-certified radar gauge eliminates the cable entirely, deployable in days instead of weeks.
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VersaMax Micro Family Comparison
The VersaMax Micro family spans multiple CPU tiers, I/O counts, and comm options — from a 14-point relay unit for a pump panel to a 64-point Ethernet controller for a packaging module.