Banner’s RSio Brings Device-Level Diagnostics to CIP Safety Systems

Machine safety is becoming more connected, but adding more devices to a safety network can also make troubleshooting harder. Banner Engineering is addressing that challenge with its RSio Remote Safe I/O Block, now available through Mouser Electronics.

The RSio brings Banner’s In-Series Diagnostics (ISD) into CIP Safety systems, combining safety I/O with detailed device-level diagnostic information. The architecture includes six configurable safety inputs and two configurable outputs, allowing the same block to handle safety-rated and standard devices across industrial machinery.

Each of the six inputs can support a chain of up to 32 ISD-enabled devices, allowing as many as 192 devices on a single RSio. Instead of simply indicating that a safety circuit has stopped, the system can provide information about the individual device responsible.

That can help maintenance teams identify faults faster and reduce time spent tracing wiring or checking multiple devices.

Banner is targeting applications such as conveyors, palletizers, and other machinery where safety devices are distributed across a machine. The IP67-rated, machine-mountable design is intended to reduce cabinet space and wiring, while power options include Mini connectors rated for up to 10A pass-through or M12 L-Code versions rated for up to 16A.

The larger shift is toward diagnostic-first machine safety. As factories add more sensors, switches, and automated equipment, knowing that a safety circuit has stopped isn’t enough. Identifying exactly where the problem sits can make connected safety systems considerably easier to maintain.