EEBUS Relais Converter: Bridging the gap between digital control and analog systems

Whether it’s a heat pump, wallbox, or inverter, a large portion of these systems—especially those in existing buildings—can still be controlled exclusively via relay contacts. For a cost-effective control rollout in the smart grid, solutions are therefore needed that can translate digital control commands from the smart metering system into analog switching signals. This is exactly where the EEBUS Relais Converter (ERC) from PPC and Weidmüller comes in.

Digital Control in the Smart Grid—Even for Analog Devices

The energy transition is bringing a steadily growing number of decentralized generators and controllable consumers into low-voltage grids. As a result, the safe and reliable control of systems is becoming a key component of grid stability and flexibility management.

For the control rollout via the smart metering system, this means that a wide variety of system types must be connected via an infrastructure that is as standardized as possible. While new devices increasingly feature digital interfaces, many existing systems can still only be controlled via relay switching inputs.

With the EEBUS Relais Converter (ERC), PPC and Weidmüller have developed a solution that bridges these two worlds. The converter translates digital control commands from the smart meter gateway (SMGWplus) into analog relay switching operations, thereby enabling the integration of existing systems into the digital control infrastructure. Compliance with the requirements of Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) or Section 9 of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) is therefore no longer a problem, even for analog control units.

The benefits of the EEBUS RelayisConverter explained in two minutes

From a digital signal to the “click” of a relay

The EEBUS Relais Converter receives control commands via the PPC SMGWplus and converts the digital EEBUS signal into analog switching signals on four relay outputs (S1, S2, W3, W4).

This allows for both traditional step-based control of generation plants (100%, 60%, 30%, 0%) and single-contact control for consumers and generators. Firmware updates can be performed locally or remotely—either via an update service or through the metering point operator’s backend using CLS communication.

This transforms a digital control signal into the physical “click” of the relay—and thus into an FNN-compliant switching operation within the system.