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 NP N
this section to make these concepts easy to S ensing S witch
-- --
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.
• Do not use an AC power supply on a DC Output + --
To properly connect the external supply, it P NP /NP N OR
sink/source I/O point. S witch -- +
must be connected so the input provides a 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
Volume 13

e35-2 Appendix 1 - 80 0 - 633 - 0405

 Company
Information

Sinking and Sourcing Concepts Systems

Overview

Programmable
grouped into banks that share a common Controllers
Common P LC return path. The best indication of I/O
terminals and Field Main P ath I/O
common grouping is on the wiring label. Field I/O
Device Sample DL05, DL06 and DL105 wiring
how to use them (I/O Point) Circuit
labels and their meanings are shown Software
+
In order for a PLC I/O circuit to operate, below.
current must enter at one terminal and --
C-more &
other HMI
exit at another. This means at least two R eturn P ath
terminals are associated with every I/O Drives
point. In the figure at the right, the input
Soft
or output terminal is the main path for the Starters
current. One additional terminal must Input
provide the return path to the power S ensing Motors &
Input 1 Gearbox
supply. Together, the main path and the
return path create a loop, or a complete Input 2 Steppers/
Servos
circuit for current to flow.
If there was unlimited space and budget Input 3 Motor
Controls
for I/O terminals, then every I/O point
could have two dedicated terminals. Input 4 AC s upply Proximity
12--24VDC INPUT DL405 input
module shown Sensors
However, providing this level of flexibility + 0
TB
A
4 0
B
4

is not practical or even necessary for most

1 5 1 5
2 6 2 6
3 7 3 7 Photo
D4--16ND2
Sensors
applications. So, most input or output -- Common AC or DC s upply 10.2-- 26.4VDC
4-- 12mA

points on PLCs are in groups that share CA

Limit
0
the return path (called commons). The 4 Switches
1
figure at the right shows a group (or 5

DC s upply 2
Encoders
bank) of four input points that share a 6

-- +
Wiring labels
3

common return path. In this way, the four 7

CB Current
inputs require only five terminals instead Sensors
and how to
4
0
5
of eight. Input S witch 1

NOTE: Assuming all input circuits have a similar

interpret them 6
2
7
Pressure
Sensors

resistance, the current at the common terminal is DL205, DL305, DL405 - Most DL205, Output Load 3

Temperature
four times greater than the current at any one of the DL305 and DL405 input and output Sensors
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
Pushbuttons/
terminal can reach several amperes. You will need banks that share a common return path. Lights
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.
grouping is on the wiring label, such as Process

the one shown at the right. The miniature

Relays/
schematic shows two circuit banks with Timers
eight input points in each. The common
Comm.
terminals are labeled “CA” and “CB,”
respectively. Terminal
Blocks &
In the wiring label example, the positive Wiring
terminal of a DC supply connects to the
common terminals. Some of the symbols Power

you will see on wiring labels and their Input Bank (DL05)
Circuit
meanings are shown at the right. Protection

DL05/DL06/DL105 — Most DL05, DL06 Enclosures

and DL105 input and output circuits are
Tools
I/O Common Grouping Bar (DL105)
Two banks of four inputs and two banks of three outputs (DL05) Pneumatics

Appendix

Product
Index
Two banks of four inputs and one bank of two (DL105)
Part #
Index

Volume 13
w w w. a u to m at i o n d i re c t . c o m Appendix e35-3