The present invention relates to an apparatus for connection between power transmission system field equipment and control and protection equipment and comprising at least one input/output module ( 24 ). The module ( 24 ) comprises a box ( 34 ) enclosing a circuit board with at least one signal handling unit, at least one bus connector ( 36, 38 ) that stretches through a first side of the box, and a set of terminal blocks ( 40 ) for connection of field wires to the field equipment, where the terminal blocks are placed on a second side of the box. The at least one signal handling unit includes at least one unit for conversion of input and output signals to and from the field equipment and bus communication according to a bus communication protocol.
1. Apparatus for connection between power transmission system field equipment and control and protection equipment and comprising at least one input/output module,
said input/output module comprising
a box enclosing at least one circuit board with at least one signal handling unit,
at least one bus connector that stretches through a first side of the box, and
a set of terminal blocks for connection of field wires to the field equipment, the terminal blocks being placed on a second side of the box,
on the second side of the box there is provided fastening means for fastening the set of terminal blocks on the second side, wherein said at least one signal handling unit includes at least one unit for conversion of input and output signals to and from said field equipment and bus communication according to a bus communication protocol, and wherein the set of terminal blocks is connected to the circuit board via interconnecting wires stretching through a side of the box.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second side is placed adjacent the first side.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the box is shielded.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the side is the first side.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the set of terminal blocks is provided as separable movable units slidingly attached to the second side of the box.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each terminal block is adapted to receive only one field wire.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one unit on the circuit board includes a field connection unit having signal conversion capability and a bus communication unit having bus communication capability.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the field connection unit and bus communication unit are provided on separate circuit boards.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bus communication protocol is a process control bus communication protocol, like IEC 61850.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bus communication protocol is a field bus communication protocol.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising more than one input/output module being interconnected via bus connectors.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a gateway module having process bus communication capability and being connected to the input/output modules via their bus connectors.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a cubicle, in which the interconnected devices are placed regularly around the edges of at least one inner side.
14. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the box is shielded.
15. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the side is the first side.
16. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the side is the first side.
17. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one unit on the circuit board includes a field connection unit having signal conversion capability and a bus communication unit having bus communication capability.
18. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one unit on the circuit board includes a field connection unit having signal conversion capability and a bus communication unit having bus communication capability.
19. Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one unit on the circuit board includes a field connection unit having signal conversion capability and a bus communication unit having bus communication capability.
20. Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one unit on the circuit board includes a field connection unit having signal conversion capability and a bus communication unit having bus communication capability.