Friend & Subscriber,
I'm not sure there's anything more mind-numbing than TV in late January. Post-New Year, Pre-Super Bowl, this is the season when they feed us programs that barely deserve mention on cable. But there's one exception:
American Idol.
I've thought about being a contestant on American Idol. Seriously, I figure if I'm so raging popular with my e-connections subscribers and catalog buyers, surely I can get some love on Network Television too. I can see it right now... Simon Cowell is speechless, Randy Jackson doesn't even dare call me a 'dawg', and Paula Abdul assures me I have a wonderful gift to share.
Only problem is, my boss, Don, heard me singing in the lunchroom the other day. He swears if I even attempt such a thing, I'll find the contents of my desk dumped out in the parking lot when I come in the next day.
Well, I do kinda need this job...
Besides, reality is no match for a good fantasy, is it?
So when you open the brand new January 2006 catalog and see my mug on page 94, I want you to *imagine* me singing. Singing a love song for Simon, Randy and Paula.
And listen up, 'cuz that's not the only thing you need to pay attention to. (Oh, and if you didn't get your catalog already, it ain't coming and you need to request one at http://bb-elec.com/catalog.asp?s=e013106.) This is our first 100 pager, with lots of cool new stuff.
On pages 9 and 10 you'll find our popular Vlinx serial servers in their industrial and commercial flavors. Our crew here has put in a major performance upgrade to the Vlinx line, they now meet or beat the fastest serial servers out there. That means they're virtually transparent to your windows application. You're data will be zipping across the LAN and the software application won't have any idea that the serial device isn't wired directly to the PC's serial port.
Industrial Vlinx http://www.bb-elec.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=120&s=e013106
Commercial Vlinx http://www.bb-elec.com/product_family.asp?familyid=2&s=e013106
Got Gigabit? Check out page 20. If you're the type that likes to push the envelope, you're gonna be all over Gigabit Ethernet. IP video and voice data zip across subnets, right along with your control and scada bits and bytes. To pull it off without a hiccup requires serious networking hardware that was hard to come by outside of the IT world. Now we've got a truly industrial Gigabit Ethernet switch from Moxa that will stand up to applications outside of the posh corridors of the IT department. It's Class 1 Div 2 rated for hazardous locations. IP30. DIN rail and panel mount. Redundant DC power inputs. 0-60 degree C temperature range. Modular, with up to 26 ports.
http://www.bb-elec.com/product_multi_family.asp?MultiFamilyId=37&s=e013106
We're not done yet! The deals on control equipment starting on page 66 will turn more heads than Paula Abdul's latest attempt at fashion:
Industrial Temperature Controllers - universal inputs work with any temp sensor, give you bunches of output options. RS-485 MODBUS communications, ramp and soak, full PID control, dual displays and software make these controllers an amazing buy:
http://www.bb-elec.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=246&s=e013106
Nothing's more frustrating than realizing that you've got a sensor with a mV output and you've only got a 4-20mA input available on your controller. Isolate your signals and eliminate struggle to match input and output types with the signal converters and isolators on page 67:
http://www.bb-elec.com/product_family.asp?FamilyId=247&s=e013106
Need a really simple programmable control? Check out the spread on pages 68 - 71. These programmable relays are so powerful they'll have you looking for more and more applications for them. You can get real PLC level capabilities starting at $99 (and there's no expensive programming software to buy). I'm looking forward to putting these gutsy little controllers to work myself:
http://www.bb-elec.com/product_multi_family.asp?MultiFamilyId=39&s=e013106
While we're talking relays - if you use mechanical or solid state relays in your panels, your purchasing agent will buy you lunch for pointing him to pages 72 and 73. A large selection of Magnecraft relays at prices guaranteed to make your PA look good:
http://www.bb-elec.com/productsubcat.asp?MainCategoryId=61&s=e013106
Ok - I'm winding down now. That's a lot of new stuff. And be sure to check out the picture of some of our trusty manufacturing folks (yes, we have manufacturing right here in Illinois!) back on page 99. Oh, and if you look r-e-a-l close at that picture, you might recognize an American Idol contestant or two.
(Maybe.)
Happy Connections,
Mike Fahrion
support@bb-elec.com
P.S. Remember to request your complimentary catalog at http://www.bb-elec.com/catalog_request.asp?s=e013106 |
