Matching A Control To Your System

By Greg Washburn and Joshua Belisle · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 7, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · August 3, 2026

Summary

Which conveying control do I need for my number of receivers?

The right conveying control depends mainly on how many receivers and pumps your system has. Fixed I/O controls cover systems from 1 receiver up to 34 receivers and 3 pumps. Expandable controls start with a main HMI panel and grow through expansion modules to as many as 120 receivers, adding options such as Auto ID source and destination proofing and silo monitoring.

Below are charts showing typical feature choices for Fixed I/O Controls and Expandable Controls. Simply click on the Maximum Number of receivers in your system (L.H. Column) and you will be linked to details about controls for that number of receivers.

Fixed I/O Controls Features
*Max# of Receivers	Max# of Pumps	**Proportioning	No-Load Alarm	Purge	Blowback	Ethernet Capability	Operator Interface	Power Voltage	I/O Voltage
34	3	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	10	(16 or 32 Optional)	Optional	5.7″ Color Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 Opt.
34	3	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	10	(16 or 32 Optional)	Optional	4″ Monochrome Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC.
20	3	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	8	(16 Optional)	Optional	5.7″ Color Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC
20	3	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	8	(16 Optional)	Optional	4″ Monochrome Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC
10	2	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	6	(10 Optional)	Optional	5.7″ Color Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC
10	2	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	6	(10 Optional)	Optional	4″ Monochrome Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC
5	1	***Standard	Alarm/Light (Strobe Opt)	N/A	(5 Optional)	Optional	4″ Monochrome Touch Screen	115 VAC 230 Opt.	24 VDC 115 VAC
6	1	Yes	(Horn/Light Opt)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Integrated LCD Screen	115/230	24 VDC 115 Opt.
5	1	N/A	Horn Standard (Horn/Light Opt)	N/A	Yes	N/A	Integrated LCD Screen	115/230	24 VDC 115 Opt.
1	1	1 Prop or 1Purge Valve	Horn Standard (Horn/Light Opt)	1 Prop or 1 Purge Valve	Yes	N/A	Integrated LCD Screen	115/230	26 VDC 115 Opt.
1	1	N/A	(Horn/Light Opt)	N/A	Yes	N/A	Integrated LCD Screen	115/230	27 VDC 115 Opt.
Note: # of receivers dependent on pump capacity and parameters of system design Proportioning can be added to any receiver with a proportioning valve and a separate control. * Separate proportional settings may be made for each optional proportioning receiver within each pump system, but all valves int aht system are connected with a common signal. In operation, all proportioning valves within that pump system operate at the same time.

Expandable Control Features

*Max# Receiv-
ers

Operator Interface

Receivers

Max# of Pumps

Purge
Valves/Blowback

Proportion-
ing

No-Load Alarm

***
AudioID Source

***
Audio ID Destination

Silo Monitor
ing

Ethernet Capability

Power Voltage

I/O Voltage

120

10″ Color
Touch Screen

32
(Main
HMI
Panel)

5 (Main HMI Panel)

25 PurgeValves or Blowback
(Main HMI Panel)

**Standard

Horn/
Light

Yes

115
VAC

24 VDC
or
115 VAC.

120

6″ Color
Touch Screen

32
(Main
HMI
Panel)

5 (Main HMI Panel)

25 PurgeValves or Blowback
(Main HMI Panel)

**Standard

Horn/
Light

Yes

115
VAC

24 VDC
or
115 VAC.

104

6″ Color
Touch Screen

16
(Main
HMI
Panel)

5 (Main HMI Panel)

10 PurgeValves or Blowback
(Main HMI Panel)

**Standard

Horn/
Light

Yes

115
VAC

24 VDC
or
115 VAC.

Options

Up to 4 Optional
Remote HMI
Panels (10″ Only)

Blowback Cards
16 BB/Card
Up to 2 ea.
(Factory Installed)

Alarm/
Strobe
Optional

5-Port
Optional For
Remote HMI

Optional 230
VAC

Expan-
sion Modules

Up to 11 Modules 8 Receivers/
Module

Up to 3 Modules
5 Pumps/
Module

Up to 3 Modules
16 Valves/
Module

Up to 16
Modules
16 Blowback/
Module

Up to 4 Modules
16 Sources/
Module

Up to 8 Modules
16 Destinations/
Module

Up to 3 Modules
4 Silos/
Module

For Main Panel w/32 Stations
Up-To Totals/Funcation Based on Number of Modules Added

(32 Main Panel)
Xpand to:
40,48,56,64,
72,80,88,96,
104,112,120

(5 Main panel)
Expand to: 10,15,20

(25 Main panel)
Expand to: 40,56,72

Opt. BB Cards
16 BB/card
Up to 2 ea
(Factory Installed)
Expand to:
48,64,80,96,120

Expand to:
32,40,48,56,
64,72,80,
88,96,104,
112,120

Expand to:
16,32,
48,64

Expand to:
16,32,48,
64,80,
96,112,128

Expand to:
4-8-12

For Main Panel w/16 Stations
Up-To Totals/Funcation Based on Number of Modules Added

(16 Main Panel)
Expand to:
24,32,40,48,
56,64,72,80,
88,96,104

(5 Main panel)
Expand to: 10,15,20

(10 Main panel)
Expand to: 25,40,56,64

Opt. BB Cards
16 BB/card
Up to 1 ea for
FXS-516
(Factory Installed)
Expand to:
32,48,64,
80,96,104

Expand to:
16,24,32,
40,48,56,64,
72-80,88,
96,104

Expand to:
16-32-
48-64

Expand to:
16,32,48,
64,80,96,
112,128

Expand to:
4-8-12

Max Total/
Function

104-120 Receivers

20 Pumps

64 Purge Valves

104-120 Blowback

104-120
Prop. Valves

64 Sources

128
Destinations

12 Silos

* Number of receivers dependent on pump capacity and system design. ** Separate proportional settings may be made for each optional proportioning receiver within each pump system, but all valves in that system are connected with a common signal. In operation, all proportioning valves within that pump system operate at the same time. Discreet proportioning is included for receivers wired to modules. ***Auto ID allows inputting of desired material source and destination information into the control, and the correct connection must be confirmed by the (optional) proofing connections at the manifold, or an alarm signal is generated and loading is not permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between fixed I/O and expandable controls?

Fixed I/O controls come in set configurations, supporting from 1 to 34 receivers and up to 3 pumps. Expandable controls start with a main HMI panel handling up to 32 receivers and 5 pumps, then add expansion modules for more receivers, pumps, valves, blowback, sources, destinations, and silos, up to 120 receivers in total.

How does proportioning work across receivers on one pump?

Separate proportioning settings can be made for each optional proportioning receiver within a pump system, but all proportioning valves in that system share a common signal, so they operate at the same time. Proportioning can be added to any receiver with a proportioning valve and a separate control, and receivers wired to modules get discrete proportioning.

What does Auto ID do on a conveying control?

Auto ID lets you enter the desired material source and destination into the control. The correct connection must then be confirmed by optional proofing connections at the manifold. If the connection does not match, an alarm signal is generated and loading is not permitted, so the wrong material is not conveyed to the machine.

About the Authors

Greg Washburn

Vice President of Operations, Novatec

Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments. Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. His experience spans engineering, manufacturing and operations across Novatec’s material-handling technologies.

Joshua Belisle

Technology Manager, Novatec

Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, where his work focuses on simulation and technology development for resin drying. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023 and joined Novatec that same year. Joshua uses simulation tools to investigate previously difficult-to-measure aspects of the drying process, helping Novatec better understand airflow, heat transfer and other variables that influence resin-drying performance.