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Modules, Boards & Gateways · Hardware

I/O Carrier Boards (EC)

Coming soonModel code: EC-DIO8 / EC-AIO / EC-485 / EC-PLS

Plug in the module, wire the terminals — your wireless I/O box is ready.

Request information Specifications
EC-DIO8 carrier board: matte black PCB, green terminals, 8 relays and a mounted EM-G0L-433 module

Overview

The problem. In a wireless control project, the module is the small part of the job; most of the time goes into relays, opto-isolated inputs, 4–20 mA measurement, RS485 isolation, 24 V supply protection, terminal layout and the enclosure. In Elmes's existing products (Wireless Well & Tank Control System, Wireless Analog & Digital Data Transmitter, Wireless RS485 Modem), these blocks were redrawn on a separate PCB for every product; an external customer who buys a module has to do the same work from scratch and fights EMC, relay and power-supply problems in the first prototype.

The solution. The EC series separates the function circuitry from the module: the module carries the radio and MCU, the carrier board handles the field side. Five function boards (digital, analog, serial, pulse, gateway) and one wide digital board share the same module socket and the same common block (power, service connector, antenna path, LEDs). Elmes products — well/tank control, data transmitter, RS485 modem, Wireless Gateway / RTU, Wireless Digital I/O Link — 8 Channels and Wireless Meter Reading Node — are these boards loaded with application firmware; external customers use the same board with their own firmware or with Elmes's standard Modbus/I/O firmware.

Module and housing. The castellated members of the Elmes Module Series plug into the boards; for applications that need LoRa and Wi-Fi together, the EM-G0LW-433. Two housing options are available: a fast, economical DIN-rail housing or an industrial DIN-rail housing, with the same PCB in both.

EC board family: EC-DIO16, EC-DIO8, EC-AIO, EC-485, EC-PLS and EC-GW
Product family
Exploded view: RT-152 housing halves, the EC-DIO8 board inside and the EM module lifted from its slot
Exploded view

This product is in development or field testing. Contact us for technical information, pilot use and a preliminary quotation.

Features

  • One footprint: every castellated EM module fits every EC board (LoRa, Wi-Fi, LoRa + Wi-Fi, cellular, no radio).
  • Antenna path choice: u.FL pigtail, or on-board SMA via the antenna pin.
  • Service connector: SWD + UART for the programming/test fixture and field updates.
  • Two housing options: economical and industrial DIN-rail housings, same PCB.
  • Fail-safe table: per-relay timeout behavior (release / hold / last state).
  • EC-GW: one or more of USB, Ethernet and 4G depending on the build; the Wireless Gateway / RTU is built on this board.
  • TargetAutomatic board detection: an ID resistor lets the same firmware pick the I/O map for the board type.
  • TargetStandard I/O firmware profile: wireless I/O mirroring (point-to-point), Modbus RTU slave (wired) and gateway mode; product firmware builds on top of it.
  • TargetEC-PLS non-volatile counters: counter values kept in non-volatile memory; nothing lost on power failure.

Board family

Board family
Model codeFunctionI/OHousing (planned)Related Elmes productsRequest information
EC-DIO8Digital I/O8 × opto DI (12–24 V), 8 × relay NO/NC 5 A6-module DIN railWell/tank control, data transmitter, digital I/O linkRequest information: EC-DIO8
EC-DIO16Wide digital I/O16 × opto DI, 8 × relay (or 16 × transistor)9-module DIN railData transmitter (RT152-M16)Request information: EC-DIO16
EC-AIOAnalog4 × 4–20 mA / 0–10 V input (16-bit), 2 × 4–20 mA / 0–10 V output, 2 × DI, 2 × relay6-module DIN railAnalog data transmitterRequest information: EC-AIO
EC-485Serial bridge1 × isolated RS485 (Modbus RTU), 1 × RS232 (optional), 2 × DI, 2 × DO2-module DIN railRS485 modem (EL485L-S), gateway / RTURequest information: EC-485
EC-PLSPulse / counter4 × pulse input (S0/reed, 10 kHz), 2 × relay2-module DIN railData transmitter, meter readingRequest information: EC-PLS
EC-GWGatewayEthernet (optional), USB, 4G modem slot (EM-G0C), 2 × DI/DO6-module DIN railGateway / RTURequest information: EC-GW

Specifications

Values marked “Target” are design targets, next-generation values or chip-vendor data; they are updated as measurement and certification are completed.

Radio
RF characteristicsSet by the fitted EM module (e.g. EM-G0L-433); the board does not affect RF
Antenna connectorOn-board female SMA (antenna pin path) or u.FL pigtail → panel SMA; 50 Ω
RangeModule value; when housed, the antenna is mounted outside via SMA
Identity / encryptionProvided by the module; board type identified by an ID resistor
Performance & fail-safe
Input → wireless → relay latency< 150 ms (SF7; input filter 10 ms + RF < 100 ms + relay 10 ms)Target
Fail-safe on communication loss1–60 s adjustable; default: relays release
Power
Supply9–36 VDC; reverse-polarity diode, TVS, PTC fuse
Idle consumption< 30 mA @ 24 V (module included, RX)Target
Relay coil current~70 mA per relay @ 12 V coil
5 V coil relay option~40 mA per relayTarget
EC-GW peak current2 A class with modem @ 5 V
Inputs / outputs
Digital inputOpto-isolated, 12–24 V, ~3 mA, 10 ms software filter
Input groupingCommon GND or isolated groupTarget
Relay5 A / 250 VAC, NO/NC (SPDT), coil varistor/diode, LED
Transistor output (EC-DIO16 option)Open-drain, 0.5 A, 30 V, protected
Analog input (EC-AIO)4 × 16-bit (ADS1115 class), 4–20 mA (250 Ω) / 0–10 V selectable by jumper
Analog input accuracy±0.1 % FSTarget
Analog output (EC-AIO)2 × 12-bit (MCU DAC or external) + 4–20 mA driver / 0–10 V
Analog output accuracy±0.2 % FSTarget
Pulse input (EC-PLS)4 × S0 (DIN 43864) / reed / open-collector; 10 kHz max.; adjustable debounce; 32-bit counter
Interfaces
RS485 (EC-485)Isolated, 9.6–115.2 kbps, Modbus RTU, 120 Ω termination switch, bias
RS232 (EC-485, optional)3-wire, 115.2 kbps
Gateway (EC-GW)USB-CDC, Ethernet (optional, SPI Ethernet IC), 4G modem slot (EM-G0C), 2 × DI/DO
USB-CDC implementationOn the module MCU or via a bridge ICTarget
Service connectorSWD + UART, 6-pin 1.27 mm (shared with the fixture)
Mechanical & environmental
HousingEconomical or industrial DIN-rail housing; width 2 / 6 / 9 modules (36 / 108 / 162 mm, 1 module = 18 mm)Target
Mounting35 mm DIN rail (EN 60715)
TerminalsPluggable, 5.08 mm, 2.5 mm²
Ingress protectionIP20 (inside a cabinet)
Operating / storage temperature−25…+70 °C (relay/terminal limit) / −40…+85 °C
Humidity5–95 %, non-condensing
Warranty & service
Warranty2 yearsTarget
Spare-parts support5 years
ManufacturingAnkara

Applications

  • Pump and float control
  • Wireless digital I/O links
  • Machine and door/barrier receivers
  • Analog telemetry nodes
  • Wireless PLC I/O expansion
  • Water and electricity meter reading
  • Gateways and RTUs
  • Panel builders and integrators
BoardElmes product / application
EC-DIO8Wireless Well & Tank Control System (pump/float), Wireless Digital I/O Link — 8 Channels, Wireless Machine Start & Control receiver, Smart Door Control & Access door/barrier receiver, Wireless Irrigation Control System valve node
EC-DIO16RT152 refresh for the Wireless Analog & Digital Data Transmitter, Wireless Crane Control System receiver (split architecture)
EC-AIOAnalog transfer, level/pressure/flow telemetry node, joystick/potentiometer link
EC-485Wireless RS485 Modem, wireless PLC I/O expansion, serial end of the Gateway/RTU
EC-PLSWireless Meter Reading Node (water/electricity S0), production counter
EC-GWWireless Gateway / RTU (USB/Ethernet/4G), Firesens gateway, Telemetry & Process Intelligence cloud end

External OEM use: panel builders and integrators, water utilities, agriculture and building automation.

Compliance & documentation

There is no documentation for the EC boards yet. The CE declaration of conformity is prepared at product level, together with the RED status of the fitted module. The EC-DIO8 + EM-G0L combination (Wireless Digital I/O Link — 8 Channels) is documented first; the other boards are derived from the same common block.

  • EMC — EN 61000-6-2 / EN 61000-6-4 (industrial environment) or EN 61326-1
    Target
  • LVD — EN 61010-1 (relay contacts 250 VAC)
    Target
  • RoHS / REACH declaration
    Target
  • CE declaration of conformity (together with the RED status of the fitted module)
    Target

Frequently asked questions

Which modules can be fitted?

All castellated members of the series: EM-G0L (LoRa), EM-G0W (Wi-Fi), EM-G0LW, EM-G0C (cellular), EM-G0N (no radio) and EM-W5L. The pin-header MOD-M0 does not fit.

Does the module come soldered on?

Your choice: board and module soldered and tested, or the board on its own.

How does it communicate with a PLC?

Modbus RTU with EC-485; Modbus TCP/MQTT with EC-GW (Wireless Gateway / RTU). DIO boards connect directly to PLC inputs through dry contacts.

What happens to the relays if communication is lost?

It is defined per relay in the board profile: release (default), hold or last state; timeout 1–60 s.

Can the antenna stay inside the cabinet?

In a plastic cabinet and over short distances, yes; in a metal cabinet, an external SMA antenna via a pigtail is required (Industrial RF Antenna Series).

Which housing is used?

The economical option uses a locally made, quickly available DIN-rail housing; the industrial option uses a premium DIN-rail housing. The PCB is the same in both.

How many points can one board control?

EC-DIO8: 8 inputs + 8 relays. To expand, a second board is added to the RS485 chain or on a wireless address.

Can I write my own firmware?

Yes. EM-SDK Open (Apache-2.0) comes with EC I/O profile examples; board detection and the I/O map are part of the SDK (Module Programming/Test Fixture + SDK Package).

Get information about this product

Our engineering team replies within 24 hours.

Request information +90 (312) 395 85 86

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