Bluetooth connectors monitor cable and contact condition

Turck's M12Plus connectors monitor voltage drop in the cable to prevent costly plant downtime and unscheduled maintenance work

With the new M12Plus connectors, Turck is shifting condition monitoring of heavy-duty cables directly to connection technology. The connectors, which feature voltage and current monitoring and a Bluetooth chip, allow measured voltage and current values to be sent wirelessly to a controller.

By comparing input and output values, problems such as cable kinks, cable breaks or power outages can be detected early. Through the individual MAC address of each connector, the user can identify in advance any cable at risk of failure and replace it immediately. The Turck Automation Suite (TAS) visualizes the measurement values of the M12Plus via the Cable Monitor app, enabling condition monitoring and other IIoT applications.

The latest design of the M12Plus features a four core cable (4 x 0.34 mm²) from the TXL series with a rugged polyurethane outer jacket and is designed specifically for use in drag chains. At both ends of the cable are A-coded M12Plus connectors. The measured values are transmitted to the data interface via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The maximum range of this is 40 m indoors and up to 100 m outdoors. When bolted on, the M12Plus is protected to IP69K and offers excellent resistance to chemicals and oil. It is flame-resistant and resistant to welding sparks and particularly wear-resistant.