Product Description:

B&R Automation's 0GH-EX301 belongs to the 0GH PLC Modules series and is identified as an I/O module that extends a controller's local backplane. Mounted next to the CPU, it receives power from the rack and provides a deterministic expansion channel so remote sensor and actuator modules can be polled in real time. This arrangement brings additional process signals into the programmable logic environment without changing the base processor configuration. Because the module works on the rack backplane, the expansion path stays integrated with the controller rather than relying on a separate communication gateway.

A dedicated backplane connector, the BP202, locks the module to the system bus while maintaining signal integrity. The housing measures 285 x 40 x 185 mm and fits within a single slot, leaving side clearance for airflow inside the rack. Configuration codes and error states are shown on a 7-segment display, which supports basic local diagnostics without a separate terminal. The module provides 1 high-speed expansion interface. That port operates as the Expansion Master, issuing the timing and addressing cycles required by downstream stations. Even under maximum load, the unit draws only 3 W, so passive convection cooling is sufficient.

Node numbering follows an address step of 10, and the architecture allows 10 bus segments to be daisy-chained through the expansion cable. Within one segment, the master can support up to 20 direct I/O modules, while a remote branch may include 9 separate expansion stations before another master is required. Across the complete installation, the system can support as many as 99 I/O modules, allowing the network to scale from small machines to multi-cell systems. Transfer activity is indicated by the TRANSFER status LED, and all cyclic data moves through the shielded expansion cable used as the transfer medium.