Sinking and Sourcing Concepts

When choosing the type of input or output Sinking = provides a path to supply common (-))
module for your system (or
DL05/DL06/DL105 I/O type), it is very Sourcing = provides a path to supply source (+)
important to have a solid understanding of S inking Input S inking Output
sinking and sourcing concepts. Use of (IE C: pos itive logic) (IE C: negative logic)
these terms occurs frequently in discussion Input Output
Load
of input or output circuits. It is the goal of + +
Input Output
this section to make these concepts easy to S ensing S witch
NP N
-- --
understand, so you can make the right Common Common
choice the first time when selecting the type
P LC P LC
of I/O points for your application. This
S ourcing Input S ourcing Output
section provides short definitions, followed
(IE C: negative logic) (IE C: pos itive logic)
by general example circuits. Common Common
First you will notice that the diagrams on + Input Output
+
P NP
this page are associated with only DC --
S ensing S witch
--
Input Output
circuits and not AC, because of the refer- Load
ence to (+) and (-) polarities. Therefore, P LC P LC
sinking and sourcing terminology applies
only to DC input and output circuits. Input Sink/source I/O circuits combine sinking
and output points that are sinking or
S ink/S ource Input
and sourcing capabilities. This means that (IE C: pos ./neg. logic)
sourcing can conduct current in one direc- the I/O circuitry in the PLC will allow Common
tion only. This means it is possible to current to flow in either direction, as shown
connect the external supply and field at the right. The common terminal + -- Input
OR
device to the I/O point, with current trying connects to one polarity, and the I/O point -- + S ensing
to flow in the wrong direction, and the Input
connects to the other polarity (through the
circuit will not operate. However, the field device). This provides flexibility in P LC
supply and field device can be connected making connections to your field power
every time based on an understanding of S ink/S ource Output
supply. Please note:
sourcing and sinking. (IE C: pos ./neg. logic)
• Wire all I/O points with a shared common Common
The figure below depicts a sinking input. as either sinking or sourcing.
+ --
To properly connect the external supply, it • Do not use an AC power supply on a DC Output P NP /NP N OR
must be connected so the input provides a sink/source I/O point. S witch -- +
Output
path to supply common(-). So, start at the Load
PLC input terminal, follow through the P LC
input sensing circuit, exit at the common
terminal, and connect the supply (-) to the
common terminal. By adding the switch
between the supply (+) and the input, the
circuit is completed. Current flows in the
direction of the arrow when the switch is
closed.
By applying the circuit principles to the four
possible combinations of input/output
sinking/sourcing types, there are four
Field device examples - 3 wire connections
circuits, as shown above. The common
terminal is the terminal that serves as the NPN (Sinking) PNP (Sourcing)
common return path for all I/O points in Field Device Example Field Device Example
the bank. 24VDC DC Sourcing Input Module 24VDC DC Sinking Input Module
+ – + –
Common Common
P LC + +
Input
(s inking)
+ Sensor
Output Optical Sensor
Optical
Input Input Isolator Output Input Isolator
S ensing
-- Current Sourcing Current Sinking
Configuration Configuration
Common – –
(NPN) Current Sinking (PNP) Current Sourcing
Field Device Field Device

28–2 Appendix 1 - 80 0 - 633 - 0405

 PLC
Overview

Sinking and Sourcing Concepts DL05/06

PLC

DL105
grouped into banks that share a common
Common P LC return path. The best indication of I/O
PLC

terminals and Field Main P ath I/O

common grouping is on the wiring label. DL205
PLC
how to use them Device
(I/O Point) Circuit Sample DL05, DL06 and DL105 wiring
labels and their meanings are shown
+ DL305
In order for a PLC I/O circuit to operate, below. PLC
current must enter at one terminal and --
exit at another. This means at least two R eturn P ath
DL405
PLC
terminals are associated with every I/O
point. In the figure at the right, the input Field I/O
or output terminal is the main path for the
current. One additional terminal must Input
S ensing Software
provide the return path to the power Input 1
supply. Together, the main path and the C-more
return path create a loop, or a complete HMIs
Input 2
circuit for current to flow.
Other HMI
If there was unlimited space and budget Input 3
for I/O terminals, then every I/O point AC Drives
could have two dedicated terminals. Input 4 AC s upply 12--24VDC INPUT DL405 input
However, providing this level of flexibility + 0
TB
A
4 0
B
4
module shown
Motors
is not practical or even necessary for most
1 5 1 5
2 6 2 6
3 7 3 7

applications. So, most input or output

D4--16ND2
-- Common AC or DC s upply 10.2-- 26.4VDC
Steppers/
points on PLCs are in groups that share
4-- 12mA

CA Servos
the return path (called commons). The
0
4

figure at the right shows a group (or

1
Motor
Controls
5

DC s upply 2

bank) of four input points that share a 6

Wiring labels -- + 3

common return path. In this way, the four 7

Proximity
CB
Sensors
inputs require only five terminals instead and how to
4
0

of eight.
5

interpret them
Input S witch 1 Photo
6
2
Sensors
NOTE: Assuming all input circuits have a similar 7

resistance, the current at the common terminal is DL205, DL305, DL405 - Most DL205, Output Load 3
Limit
four times greater than the current at any one of the DL305 and DL405 input and output Switches
L
inputs. This effect is especially important to note for
output circuits, where the current through a common modules group their I/O points into Encoders
terminal can reach several amperes. You will need banks that share a common return path.
to decide whether to fuse each output point individu- The best indication of I/O common
ally, or to put a fuse in the common terminal path. Pushbuttons/
grouping is on the wiring label, such as Lights
the one shown at the right. The miniature
schematic shows two circuit banks with Process
eight input points in each. The common
terminals are labeled “CA” and “CB,” Relays/
Timers
respectively.
In the wiring label example, the positive Comm.
terminal of a DC supply connects to the
common terminals. Some of the symbols TB’s &
you will see on wiring labels and their Input Bank (DL05) Wiring
meanings are shown at the right. Power
DL05/DL06/DL105 — Most DL05, DL06
and DL105 input and output circuits are Enclosures

I/O Common Grouping Bar (DL105)

Two banks of four inputs and two banks of three outputs (DL05) Appendix

Part Index

Two banks of four inputs and one bank of two (DL105)

w w w. a u to m at i o n d i re c t . c o m Appendix 28–3
 Sinking and Sourcing Configurations
The tables on the following Sinking/Sourcing Configurations
pages summarize sinking
DC
and sourcing configura- DC DC DC DC Current
tions for the DL05, DL06 Current Current Current Current
Modules Sink/
Sourcing Sourcing Sinking Sinking
and DL105 PLCs, and the IN OUT IN OUT Source
DL205, DL305, DL405 IN
and Terminator I/O D0-05DR ✔
modules. For more D0-05AD ✔
detailed information, see D0-05DD
DL05

✔ ✔
the corresponding data D0-05DA ✔
sheets in the related D0-05DD-D ✔ ✔
sections of this desk refer- D0-05DR-D ✔
ence that cover each PLC D0-06DA ✔
and/or I/O module. D0-06DD1 ✔ ✔
D0-06DD2 ✔ ✔
D0-06DR ✔
D0-06DD1-D ✔ ✔
D0-06DD2-D ✔ ✔
D0-06DR-D ✔
DL06

D0-07CDR ✔
D0-08CDD1 ✔ ✔
D0-10ND3 ✔
D0-10TD1 ✔
D0-10TD2 ✔
D0-16ND3 ✔
D0-16TD1 ✔
D0-16TD2 ✔
F1-130DR ✔
F1-130AD ✔
F1-130DD ✔ ✔
DL105

F1-130DA ✔
F1-130DR-D ✔
F1-130DD-D ✔ ✔
F1-DVNET-DD ✔ ✔
F1-DVNET-DR ✔

28–4 Appendix 1 - 80 0 - 633 - 0405

 PLC
Overview

Sinking and Sourcing Configurations DL05/06

PLC

DL105
Sinking/Sourcing Configurations PLC

DC DL205
DC DC DC DC Current PLC
Current Current Current Current
Modules Sink/
Sourcing Sourcing Sinking Sinking Source DL305
IN OUT IN OUT PLC
IN
T1K-08ND3 ✔
Input

DL405
Ter.

PLC
T1K-16ND3 ✔

T1K-08TD1 ✔ Field I/O

Terminator

T1K-16TD1 ✔
Output

T1K-08TD2-1 ✔ Software
T1K-16TD2 ✔
T1K-16TD2-1 ✔
C-more
HMIs
D2-08ND3 ✔
DL205 Input

D2-16ND3-2 ✔ Other HMI

D2-32ND3 ✔
D2-08CDR ✔ AC Drives
D2-32ND3-2 ✔
D2-04TD1 ✔ Motors
D2-08TD1 ✔
DL205 Output

D2-08TD2 ✔
Steppers/
D2-32TD2 ✔ Servos
D2-16TD1-2 ✔
Motor
D2-16TD2-2 ✔ Controls
D2-32TD1 ✔
Proximity
D2-08CDR ✔ Sensors

Photo
Sensors

Limit
Switches

Encoders

Pushbuttons/
Lights

Process

Relays/
Timers

Comm.

TB’s &
Wiring

Power

Enclosures

Appendix

Part Index

w w w. a u to m at i o n d i re c t . c o m Appendix 28–5
 Sinking and Sourcing Configurations
Sinking/Sourcing Configurations

DC Current DC Current DC Current

DC Current DC Current
Modules Sourcing IN Sourcing OUT Sinking IN Sinking Sink/Source
OUT IN

D3-08ND2 ✔
D3-16ND2-1 ✔
DL305 Input

D3-16ND2-2 ✔
D3-16ND2F ✔
F3-16ND3F ✔
D3-08NE3
D3-16NE3
D3-04TD1 ✔
DL305 Output

D3-08TD1 ✔
D3-08TD2 ✔
D3-16TD1-1 ✔
D3-16TD1-2 ✔
D3-16TD2 ✔
F4-08NE3S
D4-08ND3S ✔
D4-16ND2 ✔
DL405 Input

D4-16ND2F ✔
D4-32ND3-1 ✔
D4-32ND3-2 ✔
D4-64ND2 ✔
D4-16NE3
D4-INT ✔
D4-08TD1 ✔
F4-08TD1S ✔
DL405 Output

D4-16TD1 ✔
D4-16TD2 ✔
D4-32TD1 ✔
D4-32TD1-1 ✔
D4-32TD2 ✔
D4-64TD1 ✔

28–6 Appendix 1 - 80 0 - 633 - 0405