Connections: How Weidmuller LUF 10.00 series interconnects help Dolby suspend your disbelief

Connections: How Weidmuller LUF 10.00 series interconnects help Dolby suspend your disbelief

Now that we can go to movie theaters (sort of) and immerse ourselves in a full sight and sound experience with all the fixins’, the rogue engineer might wonder what it takes to deliver the perfect sound palette as the action unfolds onscreen. The audiophiles amongst us will focus on the sound, but it is the engineer that queries as to how a theater’s sound system delivers a perfect cacophonous symphony for each showing without the proverbial wheels coming off.

Most of us know that speakers vibrate as they emit sound, and the louder and lower sounds they emit in turn vibrate just about everything they can within their zone of influence including their very enclosures. Over time, the sustained barrage of sound vibrations will work fittings loose and wire connectors ajar.

So, how do we ensure critical speaker components stay connected for repeated movie showings? This is the very question Dolby Cinema Technology Engineer, Jerry Sommerfeld put to the engineers at Weidmuller.  Sommerfeld and his team at Dolby were in the process of evaluating connectors for two new high performance loudspeaker series, which require reliable, easy-to-use, and rugged interconnects. Not missing a beat, Weidmuller ultimately recommended their high current, battle tested LUF terminal blocks (part of Weidmuller’s extended OMNIMATE family), which would grant Dolby’s systems years of service.

In a nutshell, the LUF system is a PUSH IN direct-insert connection system where the connections have a “pusher” or lever. Wire ends are simply plugged into the contact point without a fuss. In turn, conductors can be easily removed by pressing the “pusher” or actuating the lever. In comparison to conventional connection systems, the direct-insertion system reduces wiring times by up to 80%. I do not know about you, but I would take an extra 48 minutes on the hour to attend to other tasks whether personal or project related.

To meet Dolby’s reliable connection during periods of heavy use (heavy vibration) requirement, the LUF PCB terminals maintain a securely closed contact point via the “Connection Safety Concept*” - where the conductor is always clamped firmly. This is how the proverbial wheels DO NOT fall off when the action packed movie soundtrack crescendos.

Sommerfeld has the final word on the project, “The balance of rugged mechanical & electrical design, ease-of-use, wire compatibility, and cost made the Weidmuller LUF 10.00 a great fit for our new high-performance System 133 & 136 loudspeakers, which will be sold into venues all over the world.”

Closer to home at URS Electronics headquarters in perpetually sunny Portland, Oregon USA, we oft get the concerned query from our customers about ways to hold wires fast in place on PCB boards. Whether it be the board of a fire alarm panel to a “it was due yesterday” robotics project to the control board of their nightmare inducing Furbie – we whole heartedly endorse the sturdy chomp of Weidmuller’s LUF series and extended OMNIMATE interconnects family to address their needs.

Should your project ever be “hanging by a thread”, in this case by wire, make sure it is fastened with a little bit of LUF.

Checkout more on Weidmuller’s LUF 10.00 here, and the full OMNIMATE family here. In addition, feel free to reach out to your friendly, URS Electronics sales representative by calling (503) 233-5341 or reach out by emailing sales@ursele.com for a LUF of interconnection.

*Connection Safety Concept is a method of connection developed by Weidmuller whereby their terminals shut automatically (and remain so) to prevent connection errors. 

A pair of Weidmuller promos! TERMSERIES FG Relays and Rockstar® Moduplug

Order $400 or more from Weidmuller's TERMSERIES FG Relay line and they will send you a free Stripax tool!

”Why should I care, let alone spend $400” - Tom, 42 - Beverage Wrangler, Portland Bottling Co.

Well, Tom. Two words, FUNCTIONAL SAFETY! Weidmuller's force-guided relays provide synchronous switching at both contacts ensuring the signaling contact maintains the same switching status in the event of an error. (No simultaneous conditions!)

“Yeah, I still don’t care…”

Tom, I hear what you are saying. What does this all mean to you…so, let my touch on that. I drive by your loading dock every weekday morning around 7:15am. You have been up since the wee hours loading and unloading palette after palette of tasty beverages. I’m in my Subaru blasting some tunes to get pumped for the day, Perhaps, I am sipping some coffee as I pass. I barely notice that your loading doors are open, and I most certainly cannot hear the courtesy honk that all certified, well-seasoned, all-pro forklift surgeons like yourself give as a warning to passersby. I have no way of knowing that a heavy motorized object, lifting another heavy object is moving into my thoroughfare with all the mass and inertia of a rogue black hole. Except! For our sakes, a capacitive sensor is tripped sending a little blast of voltage to a waiting relay that closes a circuit attached to lifesaving safety equipment - light curtains. The light curtains flash on, thus, alerting me that something may be barreling toward me! My head snaps toward the doorway of the now lit loading dock. I have seen the light, and now I see you, Tom! I slow my roll and let you pass. We wave and part as friends. Two lives and hundreds of premium beverages are saved because of the action of a reliable, FG relay, and you, Tom. FUNCTIONAL SAFETY.

“Take my money!”

I will, Tom. See you tomorrow, and maybe we will have a little less drama this time. For my Ted Talk, please see my youtube channel.

Suggested usage for FG Relays: light curtains, interlock and e-stop switches, and other critical safety circuits that require synchronous signaling contact.

MORE INFO on TERMSERIES FG relays.

And now for something (not so) completely different…

Weidmuller's RockStar® ModuPlug sets new standards for modular connector systems. To put it simply, they solve the omnipresent space problem by offering increased functionality over reduced installation space requirements. These features in turn reduce the overall weight and by extension, cost!

Read our full overview here. Grab a FREE sample by clicking HERE (Give me my free sample!)

Two must-have Crouzet products for your automation toolbox

As mentioned a few months prior, URS is now a vendor of Crouzet products. While some of our readers are familiar with Crouzet, we want to circle back around to highlight a couple of products we think are particularly useful.

Crouzet's SYR-Line Universal Digital Timer lives up to its moniker with a wide time range (0.1s to 100-day delay), universal voltage input (12 to 240 VUC), and universal mounting connection. Furthermore, it includes ALL the classic TDR functions with such hits like: OFF-Delay, ON-Delay, and REPEAT-cycle. For anyone in the world of industrial automation, the SYR-Line Universal DT is a must have. 

In addition to the timer, we highly recommend checking out Crouzet's phenomenal Millenium 3 series of logic controllers. To say that it "slices, dices, and purees" would be a gross understatement (despite the humorous pop-culture hyperbole), as the M3 combines monitoring, timing, counting, temperature control, level control, and countless other functions in one easy-to-use logic controller. Besides the astounding array of functions, the other aspect we like about the Millenium 3 is that it sheds the myth that powerful and complex logic controllers must be a pain to program and use. Even better, one can download the M3 software for FREE via the Crouzet website, and start working out logic control functions on a theoretical basis before applying them in the real world.

Crouzet is an independent company manufacturing electromechanic and electronic components providing: Switches and Sensors, Electromechanical Actuators, Electrical Protection Equipments, and Automation Controllers and Relays. For more information on Crouzet logic controllers, time delay relays, and other products, please reach out to your URS representative. No rep, no problem - call us at (503) 233-5341 or email inquires to sales@ursele.com.
 

Weidmuller RockStar® Moduplug "Great performance in the smallest of spaces"

Weidmuller's RockStar® ModuPlug sets new standards for modular connector systems. To put it simply, they solve the omnipresent space problem by offering increased functionality over reduced installation space requirements. These features in turn reduce the overall weight and by extension, cost! 

If you are unfamiliar with the term modular connector system - it is a system consisting of individual modular connectors - each modular connector either an input or output - that connects electrical devices within a network. Sometimes these connector systems have limited space requirements while needing to maintain a large number of connections - picture a maintenance shed loaded with water pumps, relays, temperature controls, gate controls, and other equipment miles from the main pumping station. In this case, the RockStar® ModuPlug is well-suited to work within tight spaces due to its high density of contacts within a smaller form factor compared to the industry standard.

Bottom line: When you have those modules populated then make that final connection in a shed miles from nowhere and all of the machinery whirs ON for a job a well done …you are truly a RockStar®, and the plug is pretty cool too!

Here are some of the ways the RockStar® lives up to its name:

1. The Pitch size is halved thus doubling the number of module spaces and therefore increasing functionality.

2. Power to weight ratio – the 100 A module is available in a “Single Plus 1.5” width which is narrower than the market standard. This allows for more modules over the same space versus the standard size. In addition, there are even smaller frames and enclosure sizes to save additional space and weight.

3. More signals over less space/weight – Higher contact density. The double HD 36 has 36 signal contacts (rated at 250 V), 50% more than the market standard.

And all this with more convenient installation!

In-depth analysis and product information on the RockStar® ModuPlug can be found here.

For more information on Weidmuller products, please contact your inside sales representative or give us a call at 503-233-5341.

Coming soon: the Eaton 9PX UPS - Best-in-class online UPS with Lithium-Ion technology!

With the introduction of the 9PX Lithium-Ion models you get a constant power conditioning solution for your mission-critical equipment, and an expanded battery life of 8-10 years while seeing a significant weight reduction. No longer will you be tasked with maintaining and updating a system with lead-acid batteries; simply set it up and let it run. For further peace of mind, the 9PX comes with an all-inclusive (electronics and battery) 5-yr warranty package.

Suggested applications: Education (Universities, K-12), Industrial Automation (manufacturing, oil and gas, harsh environments), Medical/Healthcare, Edge networks, and Commercial (network closets, remote locations, branch offices).

Advantages: Long life, Scalable deployment, Cut energy usage, lower total cost of ownership vs valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) UPS systems, longer run-times holding loads for critical equipment.

For more information on the Eaton 9PX series or other products, please reach out to your URS account representative. No rep? No problem! Call us at (503) 233-5341 or email sales@ursele.com, and we will assist you.

Weidmuller Wednesdays: Timing Relays + smokin' Crimp & Strip Tool Promos!

WEIDMULLER Timing Relays

We have some new hotness coming in from Weidmuller with two timing relays from their TFI-Series hitting our shelves soon.

Optimized for building and factory automation, these two timing relays will cover most critical applications in industrial environments including compensating for errors in high clock rates.

Here are the details:

7-function relay (part no. 2697250000) - TFI-SERIES, Multifunction timing relay, with separate control input, Number of contacts: 1, CO contact, AgNi, Rated control voltage: 12...240 V UC -10 % / +10 %, Continuous current: 8 A, Screw connection.

On-Delay only relay (part no. 2697280000) - TFI-SERIES, On-delay timing relay, Number of contacts: 1, CO contact, AgNi, Rated control voltage: 24...240 V UC -15 % / +10 %, Continuous current: 8 A, Screw connection.

Reach out to us at 503-233-5341 if you would like to know more about Weidmuller timing relays, or you can email us at sales@ursele.com at your convenience.

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In addition to the time delay relays, we still have a couple of hot Weidmuller tool promos popping off...

The PZ 10 HEX + VT LCL voltage tester kit (part no 2523440000) going for an insane low price of $159. Designed to work with 26-8AWG (0.14-10.0mm²) ferrules, the PZ 10 Hex crimp tool is easy on your hands whilst still making an incredibly secure and reliable connection.

Also ready for it's forever home is the Stripax Ultimate + VT CL voltage tester promo kit going for $59 (part no. 2523420000). The Stripax Ultimate is a self-adjusting wire stripper and cutter that strips 24-10AWG wire like a dream. Unique V-shaped blades lower the hand forced required to strip insulation and makes easy work of wires with tough insulation such as those certified by UL as SIS, THHN and halogen-free.

Weidmuller deals extended!

We have extended the following Weidmuller deals through the end of this week (offers valid through 9/18):

25% off list on all Weidmuller push-in terminal blocks we have in stock! – reduces connection times for solid wires and wires with crimped on ferrules by up to 50%.

25% off list for Weidmuller’s Stripax Plus 2.5 – cutter/stripper/crimper – part no. 9020000000 Cutting, stripping and crimping tool, Crimping tool for wire-end ferrules, 0.5mm², 2.5mm², Trapezoidal crimp

CALL one of our highly knowledgeable sales team members at 503-233-5341, or email us at sales@ursele.com for more information. Visit our main website at www.ursele.com to see past specials and get caught up on the latest news at URS!  

Check out what else we have in stock by browsing our B2B shop at www.urseleshop.com

Stay tuned for more specials coming at you every Tuesday from your friendly neighborhood electronics disty, URS Electronics. 

As always, take care out there!