Phoenix IBS Series Industrial Bus & Remote I/O Modules Selection Guide

Opening: Integrated Distributed Control Solutions for PLC & Field Device Interconnection

The Phoenix IBS series is a portfolio of industrial-grade bus interface modules, remote I/O (RL) units, and metering modules designed for seamless integration with Siemens S7/S5 PLC systems and distributed field control. Covering PLC bus coupling (IBS S7/S5 series), remote I/O (IBS RL series), and data metering (IBS RBC series), these products support LK bus, POF plastic fiber, Ethernet communication, and 24V DC field-level I/O, complying with industrial control standards (IEC 61131, PROFINET/Profibus). Widely used in factory automation, process control, and remote device monitoring, they enable flexible, scalable distributed control architectures in harsh industrial environments.

I. Core Advantages of the IBS Series

1. Multi-PLC Compatibility:
   • Seamless integration with Siemens S7-300/400 (IBS S7 series) and S5 (IBS S5 series) PLCs, supporting native bus protocols and plug-and-play configuration;
   • Ethernet variants (IBS S7 400 ETH) for high-speed data exchange between PLCs and upper-level management systems.
2. Distributed I/O Flexibility:
   • IBS RL series offers diverse I/O configurations (DI/DO/DIO/OC) with 4/8/16-channel counts, adapting to field sensor/actuator connection needs;
   • Support for LK bus (2MBD high-speed variant) and POF plastic fiber for anti-interference long-distance transmission (up to 500m for POF).
3. Industrial-Grade Reliability:
   • Wide operating temperature (-40°C to +70°C), anti-vibration (10g) and anti-shock (50g) design for factory floors and outdoor sites;
   • IP20 cabinet protection (I/O modules) and IP65 field protection (fiber connectors), ensuring stability in dusty/wet environments.
4. Modular Scalability:
   • DIN rail mounting for all modules, compatible with Phoenix control cabinet infrastructure;
   • Bus coupling modules (IBS RL 24 BK) support cascading of up to 32 I/O modules per segment, enabling system expansion without PLC reconfiguration;
   • Hot-swappable I/O modules for maintenance without system shutdown.

II. Product Classification & Detailed Parameter Table

The IBS series is categorized into PLC Bus Modules (IBS S7/S5), Remote I/O Modules (IBS RL), and Metering Modules (IBS RBC) with sub-variants based on function, interface, and I/O specification.

1. IBS S7/S5 Series (PLC Bus Interface Modules)

Bus coupling modules for integrating distributed I/O with Siemens S7/S5 PLCs, supporting direct communication with PLC backplanes or Ethernet networks.

2. IBS RL Series (Remote I/O System)

The core of the IBS distributed control system, including bus couplers, digital I/O modules, fiber accessories, and auxiliary modules for field-level signal/power transmission.

2.1 Bus Couplers (BK)

Master modules for RL bus segment management, connecting distributed I/O to PLC or upper-level networks.

2.2 Digital I/O Modules

Field-level I/O units for connecting sensors (DI), actuators (DO), and mixed devices (DIO), with 24V DC operation and LK bus interface.

2.3 RL Bus Accessories & Special Modules

Fiber connectors, bus protectors, and multifunctional modules for RL bus extension, anti-interference, and special function expansion.

3. IBS RBC Series (Metering Modules)

Data metering modules for field-level energy/process parameter collection, with T-bus interface and high-precision measurement.

III. IBS Series Nomenclature Decoding

IBS-[System Type]-[Voltage/Bus]-[Function/Module Type]-[Interface/Feature]

• IBS: Product series identifier (industrial bus & remote I/O system for PLC distributed control).
• System Type:
  • S7 300/400/S5 = PLC bus module (for Siemens S7/S5 integration);
  • RL = Remote I/O system (distributed field I/O);
  • RBC = Metering module (field parameter measurement).
• Voltage/Bus:
  • 24 = 24V DC (field-level power for RL/RBC modules);
  • 400 = 400V AC (motor protection module power);
  • ETH = Ethernet interface (for high-speed PLC communication);
  • LK/RL-T = RL bus type (LK=standard bus, RL-T=terminal bus, 2MBD=2MBaud high-speed LK).
• Function/Module Type:
  • BK = Bus coupler (RL bus master module);
  • DI/DO/DIO = Digital input/output/mixed I/O;
  • OC = Open-collector output;
  • MLR = Motor protection module;
  • METER = General metering;
  • METER/F = Flow-specific metering;
  • DSC/I-T = PLC backplane interface type.
• Interface/Feature:
  • LK/POF/POF-F = Bus/fiber interface (POF=plastic fiber, POF-F=extended-distance POF);
  • 2MBD = 2MBaud high-speed LK bus;
  • R = Relay output (DO modules);
  • T-T/LK-LK = Dual-port interface (for bus cascading/branching);
  • SYSKIT = Complete starter kit (coupler + I/O).

IV. 3-Step Quick Selection Technique

Step 1: Select Product Series Based on Control Architecture

• Siemens PLC Distributed I/O: Choose IBS S7/S5 series; select ETH variants (2731102) for Ethernet communication, DSC/I-T for native PLC backplane integration.
• Field-Level Distributed I/O: Opt for IBS RL series; start with bus couplers (BK) and match I/O modules based on sensor/actuator counts.
• Field Parameter Metering: Pick IBS RBC series; METER-T for general parameters, METER/F-T for flow measurement.

Step 2: Match Module Type to Field Requirements

• Bus Coupler Selection:
  • Small-scale/low-speed: IBS RL 24 BK RB-T-T (RL-T bus);
  • Medium-scale/standard rate: IBS RL 24 BK RB-LK-LK (LK bus);
  • High-bandwidth: IBS RL 24 BK RB-LK-LK-2MBD (2MBD LK bus).
• I/O Module Selection:
  • Sensor input: DI modules (2724850/2731584), choose 2MBD for high-speed data;
  • Actuator control: DO relay modules (2734170/2734507) for high-reliability switching;
  • Mixed sensor/actuator: DIO modules (2724847/2731571) for compact control;
  • Open-collector devices: OC modules (2819972/2732499).
• Long-Distance Transmission: Select POF fiber accessories (2731076/2734183) for anti-interference RL bus extension beyond 100m.

Step 3: Add Special Features for Environmental/Functional Needs

• Surge Protection: Integrate IBS RL PROT-LK (2819969) for outdoor/lightning-prone RL bus segments.
• Motor Protection: Use IBS RL 400 MLR R DIO6/1 LK (2734769) for motor-side integrated I/O and overload protection.
• Ethernet Upload: Deploy IBS RL AP (2731128) to connect RL bus data to upper-level Ethernet/SCADA systems.

V. Recommended Industry-Scenario Combinations

VI. Selection Pitfall Avoidance Guide

1. PLC Compatibility Mismatch: S7-300 PLC using S7-400 bus modules → Choose IBS S7 300 variants (2721316/2719975) to ensure backplane protocol compatibility and prevent communication failure.
2. Bus Rate Oversight: High-speed vision I/O using standard LK bus → Select 2MBD high-speed variants (2731597/2731584) to avoid data bottlenecks and image lag.
3. Fiber Distance Error: 1km POF transmission using standard POF modules → Pick POF-F extended-distance variants (2734183) to ensure signal integrity over long distances.
4. Motor Protection Neglect: Motor-side I/O using general DIO modules → Use IBS RL 400 MLR (2734769) for integrated motor overload protection and reduce independent protection device costs.
5. Surge Protection Omission: Outdoor RL bus using non-protected modules → Integrate IBS RL PROT-LK (2819969) to prevent lightning/surge damage to field I/O.

Conclusion: Select the Right IBS Module for Distributed Control Integrity

The Phoenix IBS series provides targeted distributed control solutions for Siemens PLC integration, field-level I/O, and parameter metering, covering PLC bus coupling, high-speed RL remote I/O, and precision metering with fiber/ethernet extension capabilities.