Common industrial network protocol – PROFIBUS
PROFIBUS is an acronym for Process Fieldbus. It is a standard protocol that can be used to connect sensors/transmitters, actuators, controllers, HMIs, VFDs, and more. Two-core twisted, shielded cables called PROFIBUS cables (Figure 13.8) are used for communication. A PROFIBUS connector (Figure 13.12) is used to connect to each device in the network. The PROFIBUS protocol comes in two forms, as follows:
- PROFIBUS DP (Decentralized Peripherals): PROFIBUS DP is among the most commonly used network protocols in the industry. It is an industrial network protocol that reduces the number of wires required to connect sensors and actuators by decentralizing the input and output (I/O) modules.
Before PROFIBUS DP, I/Os were centralized in the control room, as shown in the following diagram, leading to lots of cables being used to wire sensors and actuators (which could be far away from the control room) to the input and output...
