Product Description:

The BC3150-0018 is a compact programmable fieldbus coupler produced by Beckhoff as part of the BC Bus Terminals series. Designed for DIN-rail installation, the device combines a CPU, power distribution, and fieldbus communication so that up to 64 terminal modules can be addressed from a single node. Its role in industrial automation is to translate local I/O signals into the PROFIBUS process image and to execute small control tasks independently when higher-level controllers are offline.

The unit exposes a PROFIBUS DP interface that exchanges up to 128 input and 128 output bytes per cycle, and it sustains line speeds of 12 MBaud to match high-performance master stations. Physical connection to the bus is made through a D-sub, 9-pin plug, while a separate COM1 port provides RS-232 diagnostics. Internally, a 16 bit micro-controller executes user logic stored in 48 kbyte of program memory and manages 2,048 input and 2,048 output data bytes available to the PLC environment. Power is supplied at 24 VDC, and an integrated feed-through delivers up to 10 A on the power contacts so that field devices can share the same supply rail without external breakers.

At the terminal side the coupler handles 1024 I/O analog channels and 2040 I/O digital channels that are distributed across the first 64 plug-in Bus Terminals. These signals are protected by a dielectric strength of 500 V relative to the system voltage, and the assembly can pass up to 10 A through the power contact without voltage drop to downstream modules. The electronics reside in a housing that measures 44 × 100 × 68 mm, meets the IP20 ingress rating, and mounts directly on a grounded DIN rail to ensure reliable shielding. Overall, these mechanical and electrical provisions let the BC3150-0018 operate as a compact edge controller that bridges PROFIBUS segments with modular Beckhoff I/O.