2024-01
EC-Z665

Remote I/O Series
24 years of successful sales, more than 1200 thousand units sold!

Freely communicateswith host devices
without needing extra
programming.

Compliant with major open networks
regularly used around the world.

Network redundancy
selectable.

See list on pages 6 and 7.

Line up of 10 series available.
Choose based on installation
location and specificnetwork needs.

Feel free to contact us
about customized
customer specifications.

Great variety in supported input
and output signals.

Isolation applied to
all input signals.

See page 8.

Multi-point
Remote I/O

Multi-channel, Scalable
Remote I/O

R3 Series

R30 Series

Expandable, Compact
Remote I/O

Slice Type, Scalable
Remote I/O

Slice Type, Scalable
Remote I/O

R9 Series

R7 Series
Compact,
Multi-point
Remote I/O

R1 Series

Compact, Scalable
Remote I/O

R8 Series
Compact,
Scalable
Remote I/O

R5 Series

R80 Series

Ultra-slim,
Scalable
Remote I/O

R6 Series

Plug-in
Remote I/O

R10 Series

What is Remote I/O?
Remote I/O, otherwise called distributed I/O, refers to electronic devices that use transmission technology to send
and receive input and output signals to/from master electronics like DCS, PLC and PCs often in the fields ofprocess or factory automation. Remote I/O communication uses open networks with open communication
protocols. We support our customers with a line up of Remote I/O solutions that use globally accepted major open
networks like Modbus, CC-Link, MECHATROLINK, PROFIBUS, etc.

MG CO., LTD.
(formerly M-System Co., Ltd.)
www.mgco.jp

6-0013Rev.

1

Applications of Remote I/O
1. Replacing I/O modules of PLC and DCS
BeforeRemote I/O

Reduce system wiring

After
Remote I/O

Wiring each and every sensor andactuator from the onsite panel to acontrol panel requires an enormous
amount of cables!
PC/SCADA software, etc.

PC/SCADA software, etc.

Network module

With Remote I/O…

Control
panel

Linking up the communication
network in daisy chain only takes one
cable and greatly reduces wiring.

Control
panel

PLC
/DCS

Only one cablerequired! Or just two cables
even with redundancy!

PLC
/DCS

Cable after cable!
Network redundancy
Wires
I/O I/O

I/O

I/O I/O

I/O

Onsite panel A Onsite panel B

I/O I/O

I/O

Signalconditioner

R3 Series

SensorOnsite panel n

Onsite panel A

2. I/O for PC based SCADA systems
BeforeRemote I/O

Onsite panel B

Onsite panel n

No programming required. Reduced costs.

After
Remote I/O

PLCs won’t operate without
programming. Signal conditioners areneeded at the input.

Using Remote I/O doesn’t requirea program. The technology has abuilt-in signal conditioning circuit thatallows the user to plug and play,
reducing cost and work load.

PC/SCADA software, etc.

PLC

Signal conditioner

PC/SCADA software, etc.

With Remote I/O…

PLC network
PLC

Network module

Open network (Modbus, etc)

R7 Series

PLC

R3 Series

R1 Series

Power
supplymoduleSensorSensorCPU

Signal input and output is configured
with just an address designatedby the host system. It’s simple!

Some program
must be built even for inputting
one signal point!

3. As I/O solution for IoT terminals
Using Remote I/O as
an I/O interface for IoT terminal devices like
Web Data Logger and Tablet Recorder has theadvantages listed in A through C.

PC/SCADA
software, etc.

Smartphone
RouterInternet
RouterA. Compatible with many types of input/output
B. Reduces system wiring needs
C. Reduces internet connectivity costs by collecting
all the signals from various I/O devices throughout
a site into a single network connection point.

Cloud
Ethernet(Modbus/TCP)

R3
SeriesWeb Data
LoggerDL30-G

It’s the IoT!

2

TabletI/O signal

I/O signal

Remote I/O Features Explained Using R3 Series
Structure of Remote I/O R3 Series

Redundant or two independent communication and power supply systems

As shown in the following image, the R3 Series is made from the combination of apower supply module, network module and input/output modules. The modules areinserted onto the base in basically any combination, with redundant or two
independent power/network system a standard feature of the series.
The input/output modules and network module can be replaced with the power
turned ON. This replacement method is called “hot swap.”
Network A

Network A

Network B

Network B

Structure
diagramBase
I/O
modulenInternal bus A

I/O
module2

I/O
module1

Network
moduleB

Network
moduleAPower
supplymodule 2Powersupplymodule 1

Conversion
circuitConversion
circuitNetwork
circuitNetwork
circuitPowersupplycircuitPowersupplycircuitPowersupply 2Powersupply 1

Internal bus B

I/O signal

Conversion
circuitPower supply 1
Power supply 2Power line bus

Dotted line shows configuration
for redundancy.

I/O signal

Redundant network or two independent network protocols

Redundant power supply or two independent power sources

Redundant network(example)

Redundant power supply(example)

Two network protocols(example)

Redundancy with twosame network modules

AC Power supply

Two independent network modules
communicating with eachmaster at once

Two power sources(example)

DC Power supply 2

Redundancy withtwo power supply modules

AC Power supply 1

Two independent
power sources

Many types of input/output modules are available

AnalogI/O module

64ch discrete
I/O module

32ch discrete
I/O module

CT inputmoduleMulti-powermonitoring module

Hot-swappable I/O modules
A line up of over 50 signal types and 120
models is available, which can be switchedout even while the power is still on (hot swap).

Analog input· Universal· DC voltage· DC current· Thermocouple· RTD· Thermistor· Potentiometer· 4-20 mA input with
2-wire transmitter
excitation supply· Strain gauge
Analog output· DC voltage· DC current

3

AC power input· CT· AC voltage· AC current· Zero-phase current
transformer· Multi-power monitoring· AC power

Discrete input· Discrete input· AC contact input

Pulse input· Speed/position· High speed pulse· High speed totalized pulse· Low speed totalized pulse· Totalized pulse

BCD input/output· BCD input· BCD output

Pulse output· Pulse output· One-shot pulse output

Discrete output· Discrete output· Remote control relay
Discrete input/output

Air conditioning· I/I positioner· Heat meterExamples of Remote I/O Applications
In-plant LAN (PC SCADA)

I/O for DCS (redundant communication network)
The made-in-Japan products comply
with the international PROFIBUS-DP
standard and can be used in redundantnetwork configurations.

Remote I/O system is used for SCADA
to monitor signals from a manufacturing
process. Cost per data input is still loweven with hundreds of data inputs using
R3 Series, and reductions in wiringneeds also helps push down costs.

SCADA for DCS
Ethernet

SCADA
DCS(redundant system)
In-plant LAN (Ethernet)

PROFIBUS(redundant system)

R5
SeriesR3
SeriesI/O signal

I/O signal

I/O signal

Manufacturing
process 1

Manufacturing
process 2

Manufacturing
process 3

Onsite panel
I/O signal

I/O signal

Plant

I/O for DCS/PLC

Wireless remote I/O

Here’s an example of using our R3
Series for providing PLC I/O for a motor
control application. The R3 Series
allows direct CT input which eliminates
the need for a converter. In addition,using CC-Link reduces the costs
associated wiring needs.

Device sensor signals are collectedusing a multi-hop wireless system using
920 MHz band and the data then sent
to a PLC.

PLC
Machine numbers control command
Ethernet

SCADA for DCS

ParentEthernet

Wireless gateway

PLC

DCS
CPU CPU

R3
SeriesI/O signal
I/O
modulesChild

900-920 MHz ISM Band
Multi-hop Wireless System

Plug-in typewireless I/O

For limited markets

Child

I/O
signal
Process input/output

Modbus-RTU

Wireless I/O

Ethernet
Onsite panel
CT Input
MCC(Motor Control Center)

I/O signal

Child

Device 1

R3 Series

I/O signal
Device 2

4

I/O
signalDevice 3

I/O
signalI/O for Tablet RecorderSuper high speed I/O for motion control

Here’s an example of using a
remote I/O for several testing devices
distributed in different locations tocollect measurement data by Tablet
Recorder over a LAN line.

Here’s an example of using remote I/O
for MECHATROLINK-III, network formotion control.

Controller
TabletTablet Recorder
TR30

R7SeriesWLAN router
Temperature(thermocouple)

Ethernet

RotaryencoderContact output
for control

R3
SeriesR7
SeriesI/O signal

I/O signal

I/O signal

Device 1

Device 2

Device 3

I/O for high speed data logger(two independent communication networks)

Internet connection
R3 Series or R7 Series
can be used as a remote I/O device
for Web Data Logger.
Data saved on Web Data Logger can beviewed remotely from a PC or mobile
device over the internet.

Smartphone

Contact input
for control

Remote I/O data
can be interfaced with two network
systems, CC-Link and Modbus/TCP.

SCADAHigh speed data logger

PC

RouterHigh speed scan

PLC
Ethernet

ISP

Internet
ISP
RouterPlant A

Plant B

R3
SeriesEthernet

R7
SeriesI/O
signalR3
SeriesWeb Data
LoggerDL30-GI/O signal

I/O
signalI/OsignalTesting equipment

I/O
signal5

I/OsignalOpen Networks in Terms of Communication
Origins

Bechoff Automation GmbH

Origins

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Origins

Mitsubishi Electric Co

Main sponsor

EtherCAT® Technology Group

Main sponsor

CC-Link Partner Association

Main sponsor

CC-Link Partner Asso

Number of participants 5,920

Number of participants 3,823

Number of participants 3,823

Transmission speed

Full duplex, 100 Mbps

Transmission speed

1 GbpsTransmission speed

1 Gbps / 100 Mbps

Number of nodes

65,535

Number of nodes

254 (total number of master and slave nodes)

Number of nodes

64,770 (total number of m

Network configuration,
total length

Up to 100 m
STP cables category 5/5eStar / line / tree

Network configuration,
total lengthMax. distance between nodes: 100 m
STP cable (category 5e)Line / star / ring configurations

Network configuration,
total length

Double shielded twist
Line / star / line-star /Maximum distance beOpen network that leverages the super high speed of Ethernet and has
functionality for high-precision synchronization between nodes, as well as
simple wiring configurations.

A comprehensive Ethernet based network that seamlessly
connects an information network to production sites.

Remote I/O

Remote I/O

R7 Series, R8 Series, R30 Series, R80 Series, JC Series

R3 Series, R7 Series, R30 Series

Remote I/O

Origins

Control equipment manufacturers

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

ODVA, Inc.

R3 Series
R7 Series

Number of participants Over 700
Transmission speed 10/100 Mbps

Number of nodes

Leading the world in combining gigabit Ethernet
Networking (TSN). Multiple network protocols censuring time-sharing, real-time communication
R30 Series, R80 Series

Transmission speed (bps)No limitations

Network config., total length Distance between nodes: up to 100 mm, STP cables category 5/5e, Star / line / tree
Network for industrial applications that has a control protocol on top of an Ethernet TCP/IP.
Other commonly available Ethernet devices can be mixed on the Ethernet network.

MECHATROLINK - III

1G

Origins

Yaskawa Electric Corporation

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

MECHATROLINK Members Association

R3 Series
R7 Series

Number of participants 3,381

Transmission speed 100 Mbps

Number of nodes

100M

Maximum 62 stations*Note

Cascade / star configurations, Max. transmission distance: 100 m between stations

Network config., total length Minimum distance between stations: 20 cm

Motion network that maintains synchronization between all slaves in a system. In addition to offering complete synchronization with the servo drives, can also be used for connecting actuators for inverters, stepping motors and sliders, and peripheraldevices for motion control applications such as other I/O, temperature controllers and image processing devices.

Origins

Control equipment manufacturers

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

PROFIBUS & PROFINET International

Pleasecontact us forfurther details.

Number of participants Over 1,400
Transmission speed 100 Mbits/s with copper wires, 1 Gbits/s (Option)

Number of nodes

No limitations

10M

1M

Network config., total length Copper wires: 100 m, Communication cables: copper wires, fiber optic cables, wireless
PROFINET is an Ethernet based network developed by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) for industrial automationthat is 100 % compatible with IEEE standard IEEE802.3 defining Ethernet.
Origins

Modicon Inc.

Main sponsor

Modbus-IDA

Remote I/O

R3 Series
R5 Series
Number of participants 682
R6 Series
Transmission speed 10 Mbps / 100 Mbps / 1,000 Mbps Number of nodes Max. 1024 (Max. numbered nodes supported: 248) R7 Series
Network config., total length Line / star configurations, Maximum 500 m (depends on cable type)R9 Series
R30 Series
Modbus protocol that operates with Ethernet TCP/IP.
Origins

Requested user specifications from Japan
Automobile Manufacturing Association

Main sponsor

JEMA (The Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association)

Remote I/O

100k

10k
9k 10

100

R3 Series

Number of participants Over 34
Transmission speed 10 Mbps / 100 Mbps
Network config.,
total length

Number of nodes

254 nodes

10BASE-T: 100 m when using twisted-pair cable, 10BASE5: 500 m when using thick type coaxial cable,
10 BASE-FL: 2000 m when using fiber optic cableOpen network originating from Japan’s industry for factory automation. Operates with Ethernet UDP/IP using acommunications protocol with token passing methodology so no master node is required.

MECHATROLINK - II*Note: Communication speeds and distances are with STP cables.

Client-Server Type Open Network
Origins

Industrial automation and other fields

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

OPC Foundation

R30 Series

Number of participants Over 680
Transmission speed --- (depending upon the connected network communication type) Number of nodes No limit (depending upon the server specifications)
Network config.,
total length

Client-Server configurations. The server specifications determine the number of connectable nodes.
Transmission distance depends upon the connected network communication type.

OPC UA (Unified Architecture) solves various issues recognized with the conventional OPC (OPC Classic).
Based on SOAP/XML/Web services, it realizes high-security data communication without depending upon the platform.

6

Origins

Yaskawa Electric C

Main sponsor

MECHATROLINK M

Number of participants 3,381
Transmission speed

10 MbpsNumber of nodes

Maximum 30 node

Network configuration,
total length2-core STP (dedica
Maximum 50 m (1Positioned as a motion field network among
control elements like I/O and actuators in a c
inputting control data.

Speeds and Transmission Distanceorporation

ociation

Origins

Step Technica Co., Ltd.

Remote I/O

Main sponsor---

R7 Series
JC Series

Number of participants --Transmission speed 3 Mbps / 6 Mbps / 12 Mbps

master and slave nodes)

Network config.,
total length

ted-pair cable (category 5e)/ ring / ring-star / mesh configurations
etween nodes: 100 m

Number of nodes

Maximum 63 nodes

Multidrop connection, Shielded twisted-pair cable (half duplex) or shielded 4-core twisted-pair cable(full duplex), Maximum 300 m (@ 3 Mbps)

Super high-speed, highly reliable open field network offered by Step Technica. Used in various control device networks infactory automation for applications like with semiconductor manufacturing or high precision machining.

t bandwidth with Time-Sensitive
can be mixed on the same trunk line whilens.

Origins

Step Technica Co., Ltd.

Remote I/O

Main sponsor---

JC Series

Number of participants --Transmission speed 3 Mbps / 6 Mbps / 12 Mbps
Network config.,
total length

Number of nodes

Maximum 64 nodes

Multimaster broadcasting, Multidrop connection (RS-485).
Shielded cable (cat. 3), Maximum 300 m (@ 3 Mbps)

Multimaster remote I/O control network offered by Step Technica, which supports discrete I/O, analog I/O and positioning
control.
Origins

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

CC-Link Partner Association

R1 Series
R3 Series
R5 Series
R6 Series
R7 Series
R8 Series
R9 Series

Number of participants 3,823
Transmission speed 156 kbps / 625 kbps / 2.5 Mbps / 5 Mbps / 10 Mbps
Network config.,
total length

Number of nodes

Maximum 64 nodes

Bus type network using shielded 3-core twisted-pair cable.
Maximum 1200 m (@ 156 kbps). Also has fiber optic repeater.

High speed network for device level and sensor level PLCs (by Mitsubishi Electric) widely used primarily forfactory automation.
Origins

Control equipment manufacturers

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

Modbus Organization

R1 Series
R3 Series
R5 Series
R6 Series
R7 Series
R8 Series
R9 Series
R10 Series

Number of participants 682
Transmission speed 300 - 115.2 kbps (RS-232-C), Max. 10 Mbps (RS-485)
Network config.,
total length

Number of nodes

Maximum 247 nodes

Has no physical layer standards and typically uses serial connections like RS-232-C or RS-485.
Maximum length of 1200 m when using RS-485 (depends on communication speed)

A versatile open field network that uses a simple protocol and can be used on multiple levels.
Used extensively around the world.
Origins

Control equipment manufacturers

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

PROFIBUS & PROFINET International

R3 Series
R5 Series
R6 Series

Number of participants Over 1,400
Transmission speed 9.6 k - 12 Mbps
Network config.,
total length

1k

10 k

Number of nodes

Maximum 126 nodes

Special copper wire (STP cable) or fiber optic cable with bus / ring / tree configurations.
Maximum 1200 m (@ 9.6 kbps)

A device level and sensor level network for PLC and DCS used around the world but heavily in Europe.
Comes in three types: DP, PA, FMS

Transmission distance (m)Origins

Echelon Corporation

Remote I/O

Main sponsor

LonMark International

R3 Series
R7 Series
R9 Series

Number of participants Over 850
Transmission speed 610 - 2.5 Mbps
Network config.,
total length

Number of nodes

64 nodes/subsystem (FTT-10)

For the network, uses media like twisted-pair cables, power line cables, coaxial cables and fiber optic cables.
Free topology, bus configurations. Maximum 2700 m (twisted-pair cables)

An autonomous distributed network used for the controller, device and sensor levels. Comes in a wide variety of
applications for building controls, factory automation and home automation.

Corporation

Origins

Control equipment manufacturers

Remote I/OMembers Association

Main sponsor

ODVA, Inc.

R1 Series
R3 Series
R5 Series
R6 Series
R7 Series
R8 Series
R80 Series

Number of participants Over 700
Transmission speed 125 kbp / 250 kbps / 500 kbps

es (1-30 nodes depending on transmission cycles)

ated cable), Bus connection,
100 m if repeater is used)

Network config.,
total length

Maximum 64 nodes

Widely used around the world primarily for factory automation applications as a device level network for PLC and DCS.

open field networks, this network drives final
control system and connects various devices for
Remote I/O

Number of nodes

Bus and tree configurations made with shielded 4-core twisted-pair cables.
Maximum 500 m (@ 100 kbps)

Number of participants as of August 2020

R7 Series

7Remote I/O Series Lineup
R3 Series

Compact,
Scalable Remote I/O

Expandable,
Compact Remote I/O

R5 Series

R7 Series

120 (4.72)

224 (8.82) (6 slots)

157 (6.18)

106.5 (4.19)

3
4
5
6
7

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

8

25

9

26

10

27
28

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

1

11

2

12

3

13

4

14

5

15

6

16

7

17

8

18

9

19

10

20

90 (3.54)

130 (5.12)

2

15

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

4
5
6

1
2
3

4
5

1
2

115 (4.53)
50 (1.97)(4/5 slots)
1

4

5
1

6
2

7

6
1

3

7
2

54 (2.13)

10

9

8
3

4

Remote I/O SeriesMulti-channel,
Scalable Remote I/O

Dimensions in mm (inch)

530 (1.18)

3

6

MECHATROLINK - III

Compact,
Multi-point Remote I/O

Ultra-slim,
Scalable Remote I/O

Slice Type,
Scalable Remote I/O

R1 Series

R6 Series

R8 Series

175 (6.89)

152.5 (6)116 (4.57)

72 (2.83)

55 (2.17)

5

6

7

8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

1

2

3

4

115 (4.53)

T5 T6 T7

99 (3.90)

105 (4.13)

T1 T2 T3 T4

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

40(1.57)

Multi-point Remote I/O

Compact,
Scalable Remote I/O

R9 Series

R30 Series

Slice Type,
Scalable Remote I/O

R80 Series

125 (4.92)

128.8 (5.07)

55 (2.17)

115 (4.53)

110 (4.33)

110 (4.33)

140 (5.51)
115 (4.53)

100 (3.94)

80 (3.15)

Plug-in Remote I/O

R10 Series
80 (3.15)

45 (1.77)

72 (2.83)

36 (1.42)

8Your local representative:

WebsiteRequest Info

MG CO., LTD.
(formerly M-System Co., Ltd.)
www.mgco.jp

Specifications are subject to change without notice. When ordering, use the latest data sheets available at our web site: www.mgco.jp

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