Stein Sohn E 083.1 Modular PLC Rack (0010026-054100A)

The Stein Sohn E 083.1 is a modular rack, also known as a PLC chassis or backplane, designed for housing programmable logic controller modules. With manufacturer part number 0010026-054100A, this rack provides mechanical mounting, power distribution, and data bus communication between a CPU and its I/O modules. Stein Sohn (also known as Stein Sohn Industrievertretungen) produced these racks for legacy industrial control systems, often found in German machinery and automation lines. The E 083.1 supports up to 8 or 12 slots, depending on the variant, and accepts a range of module types including digital I/O, analog I/O, and specialty function cards.

Technical Specifications

• Model: E 083.1

• Part Number: 0010026-054100A

• Number of Slots: Typically 8 (modular)

• Backplane Bus: Parallel multi-drop bus (proprietary)

• Power Supply: Requires external 24V DC and 5V DC module (not included)

• Current Rating per Slot: 1.5A at 5V, 0.5A at 24V

• Connector Type: 48‑pin DIN 41612 female for each slot

• Mounting: 35mm DIN rail or screw fixing

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 240mm x 130mm x 160mm (8 slots)

• Weight: 1.2 kg

• Protection Rating: IP20

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C

Mechanical Construction

The rack is built from a sturdy steel frame with a plastic backplane board. The DIN 41612 connectors are keyed to prevent incorrect module insertion. An integral grounding bar provides shielding for sensitive signals. The rack includes plastic slot dividers with labeling fields. The entire assembly is designed for installation in a control cabinet with forced or convection cooling.

Power Distribution

The backplane distributes two voltages: 5V DC (logic) and 24V DC (I/O). These are supplied via a separate power supply module that plugs into the leftmost slot or via a terminal block on the rack. Each slot has overcurrent protection (PTC resettable fuse) to isolate a faulty module. The rack's power rails are rated for 10A total at 5V and 5A at 24V.

Communication Bus

The proprietary backplane bus operates at 1 Mbps and supports a maximum of 32 modules. It uses a simple master‑slave protocol where the CPU (in slot 0) initiates all data transfers. Each I/O module has a unique address set by DIP switches on the module. The bus arbitration is deterministic, ensuring real‑time response for high‑speed I/O.

Compatible Modules

The E 083.1 accepts Stein Sohn’s own series of PLC modules, including digital input (E 100 series), digital output (A 100 series), analog input (AE 200 series), analog output (AA 200 series), and specialty modules such as counters, positioning, and communication. Third‑party modules that conform to the same mechanical and electrical standard may also be compatible.

Installation and Grounding

Mount the rack horizontally on a DIN rail (EN 50022) using the clips on the back. For high‑vibration environments, add screw fasteners through the end brackets. Connect the PE terminal to the cabinet ground using a 2.5 mm² wire. Ensure that the 24V DC supply is isolated and filtered. Plug the CPU into slot 0, then populate other slots from left to right. Always power off the rack before inserting or removing modules.

Status Indication

The rack does not have its own LEDs, but the power supply module and CPU provide indicators. A separate “bus status” LED may be present on some variants. The front of the rack has no active components.

Applications

This rack is used in legacy industrial control systems for packaging, textile, printing, and woodworking machinery. It is also found in retrofit projects where replacement of a failed rack is needed to keep older equipment running.

Maintenance and Replacement

Inspect the backplane annually for dust or corrosion. Clean with a soft brush and isopropyl alcohol. If a slot no longer works, the entire rack must be replaced, as the backplane is not field repairable. When replacing, transfer all modules to the new rack in the same order. No reprogramming is needed if the CPU and I/O modules are unchanged.

Conclusion

The Stein Sohn E 083.1 rack (0010026-054100A) is a robust foundation for modular PLC systems, offering reliable backplane connectivity for industrial controllers in legacy automation environments.