R. STAHL has expanded its range of ISbus products for fieldbus installations in hazardous areas, adding new Field Device Couplers (FDC) designed especially for zone 2 applications. In addition to zone 1 4- and 8-channel fieldbus barriers, couplers and non-Ex field device couplers, which have been available for some time, a special model for 4 or 8 field devices in zone 2 applications is now available. This model meets the functional and price requirements of zone 2 applications while maintaining all proven features (diagnosis LED per spur, switchable terminator, shield connections, easy assembly and installation). The zone 2 field device coupler features an integrated short circuit limiter (spur protection), thus ensuring feedback-free operation of field devices on the fieldbus.
With the new field device coupler and suitable fieldbus power supply systems, such as the new ISbus 9412 series, field devices on the fieldbus in zone 2 can be operated as hot-swappable components with “Ex nL” (EN/IEC 60079-15), “Ex ic” (EN/IEC 60079-11) or “ic FISCO” (EN/IEC 60079-27) protection. The field device couplers are installed on DIN rails or mounting plates in enclosures suitable for zone 2.