Glossary · Electrical engineering and control panels
Output module
Also known as: Output card
German: Ausgabebaugruppe
In industrial control, an output module is an I/O module that converts output values from the controller into electrical signals that drive field devices such as relays, solenoid valves, contactors, indicators or analog actuators.
- Control panels
In one sentence
An output module converts controller output values into signals that drive relays, valves, contactors or analog actuators.
Example
A 16-channel transistor output module drives the solenoid valves of the pneumatic valve terminal on the machine.
How it applies
- Engineering: Select by output type (transistor, relay, triac, analog), current per channel and per group, load type and diagnostics. Configure substitute values for controller stop or communication loss.
- Maintenance: A failed output channel can stick on or off. Channel diagnostics and status LEDs help locate the failure.
- Documentation: Document the module type, channel assignment and configured fail behavior. Maintenance manuals should explain how outputs behave when the controller stops, because this affects safe working on the machine.
- Commissioning: Test each output with the connected device under controlled conditions and verify that the substitute value behavior matches the design.
Output module vs. safety output module
Standard output modules are not designed to perform safety functions on their own. Safety output modules test and monitor their outputs and are used in safety-rated control systems.