Connect Your Microcontroller to the Industrial World

Microcontroller platforms such as Arduino are fantastic for prototyping. More recently, they’ve even started to find a role in the control of production and test equipment. But if you’ve ever attempted to use an Arduino for automation, you’ve likely discovered that the high-voltage sensors of the industrial world are far from compatible.

The PL1-0 is an 8-channel universal sensor interface board designed to tackle this incompatibility. It allows you to safely connect your 5 or 3.3 volt microcontroller to almost any discrete sensor.

Use It with Almost Any Discrete Signal

The PL1-0 uses a switched voltage comparison circuit, making the board compatible with both sourcing (PNP) and sinking (NPN) sensors operating at up to +30 V DC. Each channel operates independently and is individually configurable, meaning you can run any sensor on any channel at the same time.

The board also has a built-in 1 ms debounce filter, making it ideal for mechanical switches and buttons.

Safe and Power Efficient

The PL1-0 uses RF-based isolation instead of legacy optical isolation techniques. These isolators perform the same function as traditional optoisolators but instead of using visible light as the signal carrier they use a modulated RF signal. This has many advantages including much lower power consumption, better noise immunity, and better operating characteristics over the device’s service life.

These isolators keeps your microcontroller safely separated from field power up to 1 kV DC.

DIN Rail Mountable

DIN rail mounting is the industry-standard method of securing electronics for use in control cabinets and enclosures. It allows you to quickly attach and remove electrical components from a steel or aluminum rail with a standard profile. DIN rail is cheap and useful in both industrial automation and hobby electrical projects.

The PL1-0 comes with a DIN rail mounting option, making it an easy drop-in for any electrical cabinet. Alternatively, you can use the M2.5 through-holes located in the four corners to fasten it to custom panels.

Features & Specifications

• Input Specifications
  • Channels: 8
  • Type: Sourcing / Sinking (selectable)
  • Voltage Range: 0 – 30 V DC
  • Debounce: 1 ms
• Output Specifications
  • Type: Sinking
  • Voltage: 3.3 / 5 V DC (selectable)
  • Pullup: Built-in pullup to VCC
• Electrical Isolation
  • Isolation Voltage: 1 kV DC
  • Isolation Technology: RF modulation
• Power Input (Sensor Side)
  • Voltage: 5 V DC
  • Current (Maximum): 50 mA
• Power Input (Output Side)
  • Voltage: 3.3 / 5 V DC
  • Current (Maximum): 20 mA
• Weight:
  • Standard: 40 g
  • w/ DIN Rail Mount: 90 g
• Dimensions:
  • Standard: 70 x 72 x 15 mm
  • w/ DIN Rail Mount: 72 x 87 x 37.5 mm

Use Cases: Expand Your Sensor Options

Many advanced sensors are just not available in a voltage level usable by microcontrollers.

Color comparators, fiber optic breaklines, contrast sensors, and many laser sensors are only sold in a 10-30 V DC package. In addition, industrial sensors are almost always more reliable, higher quality, and better performing than a 5 V option of the same technology.

The PL1-0 allows you to combine the proven technology of industrial sensing with the convenience of microcontroller platforms.

Pinout

Comparisons

Support & Documentation

The PL1-0 is a fully open source project. All aspects of the board’s electrical design, including the schematic and PCB design files, will be made available in the project’s GitHub repository.

In addition, the PL1-0 will have a complete user manual and full mechanical documentation including 2D dimensioned drawings and a 3D STEP file.

Manufacturing Plan

The PL1-0 uses name brand components that will be sourced from Mouser in the United States.

PCB fabrication, assembly, and testing will be done by PCBWay in China.

DIN rail carriers will be manufactured by Dinkle in China.

Fulfillment & Logistics

All finished boards and DIN rail carriers will be distributed by Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service, based in the USA. Domestic orders within the US will ship for free, international orders will incur a surcharge applied at checkout. You can learn more about Crowd Supply shipping in their Guide.

Risks & Challenges

The coronavirus epidemic has presented unique challenges for the electronics industry. Long lead times and supply-chain complications have made PCB manufacturing more difficult than usual. In order to ensure reasonable delivery dates, components for the PL1-0 have been sourced from multiple vendors for redundancy. PCB fabrication and assembly is back to full-time production in China and 100 DIN rail carriers have been pre-purchased and delivered for the first batch of order fulfillment.

We will communicate any significant delays with backers through project updates.