B&R (Bernecker & Rainer) E1696.31 Control Board

Product Details

E1696.31 Product Description

The B&R E1696/31 is a high-performance control board engineered for the B&R 2003 Series automation platform, purpose-built to support energy-aware production environments. Designed and manufactured in Austria to B&R's exacting industrial standards, the E1696/31 delivers precise process control, stable signal handling, and low-overhead communication — all critical factors in reducing unnecessary energy consumption across continuous manufacturing operations.

In modern smart factories, every control layer contributes to the overall energy budget of the production line. The E1696/31 operates as a core processing and I/O coordination board within the 2003 Series rack, enabling deterministic cycle execution that eliminates redundant processing loops and reduces idle-state power draw. Its architecture supports tight integration with B&R's broader automation ecosystem, making it a foundational component for facilities targeting measurable reductions in kWh consumption per production unit.

NANKMOS maintains verified inventory of the E1696/31 with full pre-shipment functional testing and a 12-month warranty, ensuring operational confidence from day one of deployment.

The E1696/31 does not operate in isolation — its energy impact is realized through tight coordination with the surrounding automation architecture. Within a typical B&R 2003 Series installation, the E1696/31 interfaces directly with B&R 2003 Series I/O modules such as the DI and DO expansion cards, enabling precise field-level signal acquisition without unnecessary polling overhead. This reduces the communication bus load and, by extension, the aggregate power demand of the control rack.

When paired with a B&R 2005 Series communication processor or a B&R CP260 / CP274 controller, the E1696/31 supports structured data exchange with upstream SCADA systems, allowing energy consumption data to be logged, trended, and acted upon in real time. Integration with Profibus-DP or CANopen fieldbus networks — common in B&R 2003 Series deployments — enables the E1696/31 to coordinate with variable frequency drives (VFDs) such as the ABB ACS880 or Siemens SINAMICS G120, ensuring motor speed is matched to actual load demand rather than running at fixed setpoints.

In servo-driven applications, the E1696/31 can serve as the supervisory control node coordinating with B&R ACOPOS servo drives, synchronizing axis motion profiles to minimize peak current draw during acceleration phases — a key contributor to demand charge reduction in facilities billed on peak kW. Coupling this with a power monitoring module such as the Schneider Electric PowerLogic ION7650 or a Yokogawa WT series power analyzer allows plant engineers to correlate E1696/31 cycle activity with real-time energy consumption at the panel level.

For HMI-driven energy dashboards, the E1696/31's process data can be surfaced through a B&R Power Panel or a Siemens SIMATIC HMI TP900, giving operators visibility into load trends, cycle efficiency, and alarm states without requiring a full SCADA rollout. This is particularly valuable in mid-scale production environments where energy awareness needs to be embedded at the operator level.

Production line energy waste typically originates from three sources: over-specified control cycles running faster than the process requires, poor load matching between drives and mechanical loads, and thermal losses from components operating outside their optimal range. The B&R E1696/31 addresses all three when properly configured within a 2003 Series architecture.

By enabling task-class-based cycle scheduling — a core feature of the B&R 2003 Series runtime — the E1696/31 allows engineers to assign different scan rates to different process functions. High-priority safety and motion tasks run at fast cycles; lower-priority energy logging and HMI update tasks run at slower intervals. This stratified execution model reduces the total CPU utilization and, consequently, the board's thermal output and power draw during steady-state production.

Reduced thermal output has a compounding benefit: lower panel temperatures extend the service life of adjacent components, reduce the duty cycle of panel cooling fans or air conditioners, and decrease the frequency of thermal-stress-related failures. In facilities running 24/7 operations, this translates directly into lower maintenance costs and fewer unplanned stoppages.

The E1696/31 also supports predictive maintenance integration through its diagnostic data outputs. By monitoring cycle time deviations, communication error rates, and module health flags, maintenance teams can identify degrading components before they cause line stoppages. Early intervention — replacing a failing I/O module or communication card before it causes a fault — avoids the energy and productivity losses associated with emergency shutdowns and cold restarts of process equipment.

For facilities implementing an ISO 50001-aligned energy management system, the E1696/31 provides the control-layer data granularity needed to establish energy performance indicators (EnPIs) at the machine and line level. When this data is aggregated through a SCADA or MES layer, it enables continuous improvement cycles that progressively reduce energy intensity per unit of output.

NANKMOS supplies the E1696/31 from verified inventory, with each unit undergoing pre-shipment functional testing to confirm board integrity before dispatch. A 12-month warranty covers all units, providing procurement teams with the assurance needed for both planned replacement programs and emergency sourcing scenarios.

Q1: What energy saving benefits does the B&R E1696/31 provide in a production environment? The E1696/31 supports task-class scheduling that reduces unnecessary CPU cycles, lowers board-level heat dissipation, and enables precise load coordination with connected drives and I/O modules. When integrated with VFDs and power monitoring systems, it contributes to measurable reductions in kWh consumption per production cycle.

Q2: Is the E1696/31 compatible with current B&R 2003 Series racks and communication modules? Yes. The E1696/31 is designed for the B&R 2003 Series platform and is compatible with the full range of 2003 Series I/O, communication, and power supply modules. It supports Profibus-DP and CANopen fieldbus protocols standard to this platform generation.

Q3: Can the E1696/31 replace an existing control board without full system reconfiguration? In most cases, yes. The E1696/31 is a direct form-fit replacement within compatible 2003 Series rack positions. Configuration is restored via the existing B&R Automation Studio project file. NANKMOS recommends verifying firmware revision compatibility before installation and can provide technical guidance on request.

Q4: What testing and warranty coverage does NANKMOS provide for the E1696/31? Every E1696/31 unit shipped by NANKMOS undergoes pre-shipment functional testing to verify board operation. All units are covered by a 12-month warranty from the date of shipment. In-stock units are available for immediate dispatch with global logistics support.