I had someone mention this to me again recently so I said I'd check in on it...
Geospark said:
Last I remember reading "somewhere?", the 5069-OW16 modules are due an "upgrade" December 2019.
What a shame they had to go back and perform proper noise immunity testing, after not providing suppression, just to figure..."I think we should've added suppression?".
I can only assume, but would also hope, that they're just biting the bullet and providing built-in suppression? That, or else each module will now come in a lead-lined box...
Latest date on their "TechConnect" only article for this, which still says no internal snubber, is 11/04/2020. I've heard nothing more since on the matter?
ID:
QA38430 | Access Levels: TechConnect
5069 Relay Output Modules with Red Status LEDs
However, another small piece of information which I have found, relates to the "update" I thought I had read at an earlier date (circa Dec 2019). As it turns out, what I had recalled was incorrect and it was in fact an updated Product Design Assessment (PDA) for the 5069 family of components. It was carried out by a third-party assessor (ABS) for the products manufactured in Singapore.
I have a copy of the summary and it states the PDA certificate is valid until October 2022. There was also a Manufacturing Assessment (MA) which was carried out in July 2019 which is certified until July 2024. What is of interest is the distinction in the tests carried out specifically for the following when compared to most of the other products -
412195-2-5069-OB8_OW16 - ABS-Connector YO3163419R1
412195-5069-OB8_OW16 - Test Report #817721
412195-1-5069-OB8_OW16 - Environmental Test Report Programmable Logic Controller I/O
module
412195-3-5069-OB8_OW16 - EMC Test Report 5069-OB8 and 5069-OW16
Very few of their products had a specific Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test carried out at this time. I suspect these modules were singled out for testing for EMC as at that point there were likely many reported incidences of apparent electromagnetic interference for user applications. While each Test Report is catalogued and numbered, I do not, alas, have a copy of the actual EMC report. That may have made for interesting reading?
Confirmation of Product Type Approval
It seems, though, that they still passed and were certified for use for the foreseeable. So it looks like we've still got to add our own suppression.
p.s. In the specifications for these relay output modules, for "off-state leakage current per point", they now make a distinct reference to having "no onboard snubbers".
So we are still being snubbed on the issue, or not?
Regards,
George