Update old, dated, and clunky PLCs with a modern Arduino/Pi based system. The Rugged Circuits 24V Industrial I/O Shield is designed to replace costlier PLC systems.

The New V2 includes revised components and offers additional clearances. A stacking header kit is no longer needed to stack multiple 24V Industrial I/O Shields for more control.

Many customers requested a ruggedized shield for the Arduino UNO/Ruggeduino and Rugged MEGA that could be used in an industrial setting as an alternative to PLCs.  We listened and constructed a shield that offers many of the features found on PLCs.  

The 24V Industrial I/O Shield allows Arduino users to enter into the realm of PLCs at a fraction of the price. and directly integrate with 24V sensors.  The feature set on the Rugged Circuits Industrial Shield is very similar to PLC offerings; 4 Analog Inputs, 8 ISOLATED Digital Inputs 3.3V-24V, 8 ISOLATED Digital Outputs 5V-28V, Status LEDs, and RS-232.

The design is very flexible offering numerous configurations of sourcing and sinking, isolation and non-isolation, configurable analog inputs, and stacking header construction with expander circuitry to double the number of I/Os.

"Been playing around with this shield and I really love it.  I've focused on the 4-20mA ADC inputs and the digital outputs."  Cliff F, CA.

BENEFITS OVER PLCs:

Cost

Flexibility

Processing power and speed.  No clunky ladder logic.

Modernized spin on PLC tech.

Rugged Circuits protection.

Integrate with Arduino Uno/compatible and Rugged Circuits microcontrollers.

24V Industrial Shield Technical Information Page

FEATURES

Analog Inputs: 

2x 4-20mA,

2x Configurable 0-5V or 0-10V

Jumper selectable between 0-5V or 0-10V

Overvoltage/overcurrent protection  

Digital Inputs:  8x Isolated Digital Inputs

2 groups of 4 inputs.  Each group of 4 may be configured as sourcing or sinking inputs. 

Operation from 3.3V to 24V.

Operating temperature -10C to +85C.

Digital Outputs:  8x Isolated Sourcing outputs (100mA each with a maximum sum of 750mA).  2x PWM capable.

8x Bright RED LED output indicators

Overcurrent and overvoltage protection

Operation from 5V-28V. 

Six of the eight outputs are driven by the I/O expander, while 2 of them are driven from the Arduino to enable native PWM functionality. 

Communication:  Terminal block RS232 signal levels connected to Arduino D0/D4 (RX) and D1/D5 (TX) depending on the position of the respective jumpers. 

Stackable:  Up to two 24V Industrial I/O Shields can be stacked on an Arduino/Rugged device.  

Isolation:  Digital outputs and Digital inputs are all Isolated for additional robustness and performance.  This isolation may also be defeated by the user if necessary. 

Compatible: 

Works with microcontrollers compatible with UNO based shields including but not limited to the Rugged MEGA and Rugged MEGA-ET, Arduino UNO, Ruggeduino-SE and Ruggeduino-ET.  

TECHNICAL PAGE

More information can be found on the 24V Industrial Tech Page.