Allen-Bradley 1746-OW16 Relay Contact Output – SLC 500 Modular I/O Series
When a relay output module fails mid-shift on a packaging line or a water treatment SCADA panel, the consequences are immediate: actuators freeze, solenoid valves lock in their last state, and operators lose control authority over field devices. Downtime is not measured in minutes—it is measured in lost batches, emergency maintenance calls, and potential safety incidents. The Allen-Bradley 1746-OW16 is the relay output module that keeps those scenarios from becoming reality. Its 16 isolated relay contacts provide the electrical separation and switching versatility that solid-state outputs simply cannot match when driving inductive loads, mixed-voltage field devices, or legacy equipment with undefined load characteristics.
Within the SLC 500 Modular I/O platform, the 1746-OW16 occupies a specific and deliberate position: it is the high-density relay output card for applications where contact isolation per point is non-negotiable but rack space is at a premium. Compared to the 8-point 1746-OW8 or the triac-based 1746-OA16, the OW16 delivers twice the relay density of its predecessor while maintaining full IEC 61131-2 compliance for discrete output modules. In global industrial automation markets—from automotive body shops in Germany to petrochemical facilities in the Middle East—this module has been a standard BOM line item for SLC 5/03, 5/04, and 5/05 processor-based systems for over two decades.
Technical Specifications
Electrical
- Output Type: Relay contact (normally open)
- Number of Outputs: 16 points
- Output Groups: 2 groups of 8, individually fused per group
- Load Voltage Range: 5–265 V AC / 5–125 V DC
- Maximum Load Current: 2.0 A per point (resistive); 0.5 A per point (inductive, L/R ≤ 7 ms)
- Maximum Group Current: 8 A per group (16 A total)
- Minimum Load Current: 10 mA
- Off-State Leakage Current: <1 mA
- Backplane Current Draw: 125 mA @ 5 V DC
- Power Dissipation: 4.5 W maximum
- Relay Mechanical Life: 10,000,000 operations minimum
- Relay Electrical Life: 100,000 operations @ rated load
Mechanical
- Module Width: Single-slot (1746 I/O chassis)
- Wiring: Removable terminal block (RTB), cage clamp
- Wire Gauge: 14–22 AWG
- Weight: 320 g (approx.)
- Dimensions: Standard 1746 single-slot form factor
Environmental
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to +60°C (32°F to 140°F)
- Storage Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
- Relative Humidity: 5–95% non-condensing
- Vibration: 2 g @ 10–500 Hz (IEC 60068-2-6)
- Shock: 30 g operational (IEC 60068-2-27)
- Pollution Degree: 2
Certifications & Standards
- UL Listed (UL 508)
- CE Marked (Low Voltage Directive, EMC Directive)
- CSA Certified
- IEC 61131-2 compliant (discrete output module)
- Industry Standard Reference: NEMA ICS 2, IEC 60947-5-1 (relay contacts)
Key Features & Benefits
- 16 Isolated Relay Contacts in a Single Slot – Doubles the output density versus 8-point relay modules, reducing chassis slot consumption by 50% on high-relay-count applications and lowering per-point hardware cost.
- Wide Load Voltage Range: 5–265 V AC / 5–125 V DC – A single module type handles both AC solenoids and DC pilot relays without requiring separate output card SKUs, simplifying spare parts inventory across mixed-voltage plants.
- Galvanic Isolation Per Output Group – Relay contact construction provides inherent electrical isolation between the PLC backplane and field wiring, eliminating ground loop interference that causes nuisance faults in noise-heavy environments such as arc welding cells.
- Removable Terminal Block (RTB) Design – Field wiring stays connected to the RTB during module swap; replacement time drops to under 5 minutes without rewiring, directly reducing MTTR on production lines.
- IEC 61131-2 Compliant Output Characteristics – Meets the international standard for PLC discrete output modules, ensuring predictable switching behavior and compatibility with third-party safety assessments and CE documentation packages.
- Individually Fused Output Groups – Per-group fusing limits fault propagation; a shorted field device blows one group fuse rather than taking down the entire module, maintaining partial output availability during fault diagnosis.
Industry & Equipment Applications
- Food & Beverage Processing – Conveyor belt motor starters, pneumatic gate valves on filling lines, and washdown-rated solenoid control in CIP (clean-in-place) systems where mixed 24 V DC / 120 V AC field devices coexist on the same panel.
- Water & Wastewater Treatment – Pump motor enable/disable, chemical dosing pump control, and UV disinfection system interlocks in SCADA-controlled lift stations running SLC 5/04 processors.
- Automotive Assembly – Fixture clamp solenoids, part-present indicator lamps, and weld gun enable signals in body-in-white welding cells where relay isolation prevents weld current from coupling back into the control backplane.
- Oil & Gas Upstream/Midstream – Wellhead control panel (WCP) valve actuator commands, ESD (emergency shutdown) output voting logic, and compressor station auxiliary equipment control in SIL-assessed architectures.
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing – Cleanroom HVAC damper actuators, autoclave door interlock outputs, and batch reactor agitator motor starters in FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant control systems.
- Material Handling & Warehousing – Sortation diverter solenoids, pallet conveyor zone control, and dock leveler hydraulic valve outputs in high-cycle distribution center automation running 24/7 operations.
System Integration & Compatible Parts
Compatible SLC 500 Processors (upstream):
- 1747-L511 / L514 (SLC 5/01)
- 1747-L524 (SLC 5/02)
- 1747-L531 / L532 / L533 (SLC 5/03)
- 1747-L541 / L542 / L543 / L551 / L552 / L553 (SLC 5/04, 5/05)
Compatible Chassis: 1746-A4, 1746-A7, 1746-A10, 1746-A13
Power Supplies: 1746-P1, 1746-P2, 1746-P3, 1746-P4
Wiring Accessories: 1746-RT25B (RTB, 25-pin), pre-wired cable assemblies for 1492-IFM interface modules
Equivalent / Substitute Modules:
- 1746-OW8 — 8-point relay output; direct functional equivalent at half the density. Use when only 8 outputs are required and slot economy is not a constraint.
- 1746-OA16 — 16-point triac (AC) output; substitute only when all loads are AC and contact isolation is not required. Not suitable for DC loads.
- 1746-OB16 — 16-point transistor (DC) output; substitute only for 24 V DC sourcing loads with fast switching requirements (<1 ms). No AC load capability.
- Note: Any substitution must be validated against the application’s load voltage, current, and isolation requirements before installation.
Our Quality Assurance Process
Every 1746-OW16 unit shipped from Konmask.com passes a four-stage inspection protocol before dispatch:
- Visual & Physical Inspection — Enclosure integrity check, terminal block condition, label legibility, and connector pin inspection. Units with cracked housings, bent pins, or missing RTBs are quarantined.
- Functional Power-On Test — Module is seated in a live SLC 500 chassis. Each of the 16 relay outputs is individually energized and verified for contact closure using a calibrated continuity tester. Backplane communication is confirmed via RSLogix 500 I/O tree.
- Relay Contact Resistance Measurement — Contact resistance measured at rated current; units exceeding 100 mΩ closed-contact resistance are rejected.
- Final Documentation & Packaging — Passed units are assigned a test record number, anti-static bagged, and packed with foam inserts rated for IEC 60068-2-27 shock levels.
Available Documentation on Request:
- Functional test report (per unit)
- Allen-Bradley original datasheet (1746-OW16)
- Certificate of conformance
- Packing list with serial number / date code
- Photos of actual unit prior to shipment
How to Order
- Submit Your Inquiry — Use the contact form on this page or email support@konmask.com with your required quantity, delivery timeline, and destination country. Include your application details if you need compatibility confirmation.
- Receive Quotation — Our technical sales team will respond within 24 hours with pricing, lead time, available stock quantity, and shipping options (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, or sea freight for bulk orders).
- Confirm & Ship — Upon order confirmation and payment, units are dispatched within 1–3 business days with full tracking. Export documentation (commercial invoice, packing list, COO) is included as standard.
Why Choose Konmask.com?
- Verified Functional Stock — We do not list modules we have not physically tested. Every unit in our inventory has passed the four-stage QA process described above before being offered for sale.
- Technical Pre-Sales Support — Our team includes engineers with hands-on SLC 500 system experience. We can confirm compatibility, advise on substitution risks, and review your BOM before you commit to an order.
- Global Export Experience — We ship to 60+ countries with full export documentation. We are familiar with import requirements for the EU, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and South America markets.
- Transparent Condition Grading — We clearly state whether a unit is new-surplus, refurbished, or used-tested. No ambiguous listings. You know exactly what you are receiving before payment.
- Responsive Communication — 24-hour inquiry response commitment, Monday through Saturday. Urgent requirements can be escalated for same-day quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Allen-Bradley 1746-OW16 compatible with SLC 5/05 Ethernet processors for remote I/O expansion?
A: Yes. The 1746-OW16 is a standard 1746 I/O module and is fully compatible with all SLC 500 processors including the 1747-L551/L552/L553 (SLC 5/05) series. It operates identically whether installed in a local chassis or a remote I/O chassis connected via 1747-SN scanner. No firmware or configuration changes are required—the module is addressed as standard discrete output words in the output image table.
Q: What is the difference between the 1746-OW16 and 1746-OW16I, and can they be used interchangeably?
A: The 1746-OW16I is an isolated version where each output point has its own isolated common, allowing different voltage sources per point. The standard 1746-OW16 shares commons within each 8-point group. They are not pin-for-pin interchangeable in all applications: if your wiring uses a shared common per group, either module works; if your application requires per-point isolation (e.g., driving devices from different power supplies on the same module), only the OW16I is suitable. Verify your wiring diagram before substituting.
Q: How do I find the manufacture date code on a used 1746-OW16 to assess remaining relay life?
A: The date code is printed on the module label in YYWW format (year/week), typically located on the side or front face of the module housing. Allen-Bradley relay modules manufactured after 1998 carry this format. Cross-reference the date code with the application’s estimated cycle rate to calculate approximate relay operations consumed. For high-cycle applications (>500 operations/day), we recommend requesting a unit with a date code within the last 5 years and reviewing the functional test report for contact resistance values.
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Original Source: https://Konmask.com
Contact: support@konmask.com | +0086 19859288691
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