CONTROLLINO alternative: MPINO and MPAINO compared

Input isolation and sensor wiring

CONTROLLINO's datasheets list the inputs and digital outputs as having no galvanic insulation; the relays are insulated from coil to contact at 3000 VAC. The input thresholds follow the supply range: a high level is 9–13.2 V on a 12 V supply and 18–26.4 V on a 24 V supply.

On every MPINO and MPAINO, the digital inputs counted in the model name go through an optocoupler, read ON at DC 5 V and above, and accept up to DC 40 V. Some models also have a few 5 V high-speed or interrupt pins, which are not isolated. NPN or PNP is set by how you wire the common terminal. In a panel with long sensor runs, contactors and drives, isolated inputs keep field noise and ground differences away from the processor.

CONTROLLINO's shared inputs can be read as analog or digital in software, which saves terminals when a machine mixes the two. On MPINO the analog inputs are separate channels next to the digital ones.

Relays and digital outputs

MINI has 6 relays, MAXI 10 and MEGA 16, rated 6 A. The MPINO-8A8R-S has 8 relays rated 5 A per point, two points per common and up to 15 A per common. The MPINO-16A16R has 16 relays with the same per-point rating. The modular MPAINO line goes up to 64 relays on one controller.

CONTROLLINO MEGA also has 24 digital outputs next to its relays, and no MPINO model matches that mix. The closest is the MPINO-16A8R8T: 16 inputs, 8 relays and 8 sink transistor outputs rated 3 A per point, plus two 0–5 V analog outputs.

4–20 mA transmitters and thermistors

MPINO -S boards take current loops and thermistors on the board. The MPINO-8A8R-S has 4 analog inputs that read 4–20 mA as shipped, 0–5 V with a jumper removed, and 0–10 V as an order option. It also has 2 inputs for 10 kΩ NTC thermistors, reading −40 to 120 °C. The MPINO-8A8T-S, MPINO-8A4R-SU, MPINO-16A16R and MPINO-16A8R8T have the same 0–10 V order option. The analog input guide compares the ranges model by model.

CONTROLLINO's datasheets give voltage ranges for its analog inputs, up to the supply range. Current-loop and NTC inputs are not listed, so check with the maker before you plan to wire a 4–20 mA transmitter or a thermistor straight to the terminals.

Ethernet and serial ports

CONTROLLINO MAXI and MEGA have 10/100 Ethernet on an RJ45 jack and an RS-485 port. CONTROLLINO also makes the MICRO, an RP2040 controller with Ethernet, RS-485 or CAN, and eight half-bridge outputs rated up to 3 A per channel.

MPINO and MPAINO boards have no Ethernet port. The MPINO-8A8R-S and MPINO-16A16R talk RS-485 with Modbus RTU and I²C. The MPINO-8A4R-S and MPINO-8A4T-S use RS-232 instead of RS-485, and every MPAINO has RS-232, RS-485 and UART. For a Modbus TCP network, the separately sold M-ETHER converter links an RS-232 or RS-485 port to Ethernet. If the controller itself has to join an Ethernet network, choose MAXI or MEGA.

Programming tools

CONTROLLINO lists a long set of compatible tools: the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, OpenPLC, Visual Studio Code with Visual Micro, Visuino, Atmel Studio, logi.CAD 3 for IEC 61131-3, LabVIEW, MATLAB and others.

ILOGICS has two. The first is the Arduino IDE with the ARDUINO SDK installed, where Modbus RTU master and slave run through built-in commands. The second is MPINO STUDIO2, a free Windows tool. A single .mp2 project file holds ladder tabs and Arduino C/C++ tabs that share PLC memory, and the ladder runs inside your loop(). You can draw the start/stop sequence and interlocks in ladder and keep the scaling and string handling in C.

For HMI work, STUDIO2 includes a Modbus RTU slave and an LS Cnet slave with a station number from 1 to 247. An HMI can read inputs and write setpoints, and since version 2.2.0 timer and counter presets can sit in D memory, so a delay can be changed from the panel.

UL, distributors and support

CONTROLLINO publishes a UL Certificate of Compliance (E516678) for MINI, MAXI, MAXI Automation and MEGA as Open Type Programmable Logic Controllers under UL 61010-1 and UL 61010-2-201. The certificate says that only products bearing the UL Mark should be considered UL Certified, so check the label on the unit you buy.

ILOGICS has no UL listing for any board. Its CE Declaration of Conformity under the EMC Directive covers MPAINO-8A8R, MPAINO-16A16R, MPAINO-24A24R and MPAINO-32A32R, their -X3F2 versions and the matching MPA ladder PLCs. MPINO models are not covered.

CONTROLLINO's distributor page lists two distributors in the United States. ILOGICS has none. It sells direct from its online store with PayPal checkout in USD, ships from Korea, and quotes orders of 10 units or more through the quote form; a quoted order can also be paid by prepaid bank transfer in USD. Every ILOGICS board has a one-year warranty from the delivery date. An engineer answers technical email on weekdays, 09:30–17:30 Korea time.

When CONTROLLINO is the better choice

• The controller must be on Ethernet (MAXI or MEGA).

• Your customer or inspector asks for UL certification (check for the UL Mark on the unit).

• You need many digital outputs as well as relays (MEGA: 24 plus 16).

• You want terminals that switch between analog and digital in software.

• You want to buy from a distributor in the United States.

• You want the maker's tutorials and its CONTROLLINO library on GitHub.

When MPINO or MPAINO is the better choice

• Every digital input must be opto-isolated, with NPN or PNP sensors.

• You read 4–20 mA transmitters and NTC thermistors on the controller (MPINO -S).

• You want the start/stop sequence in ladder and the math in Arduino C/C++, in one free tool.

• You need 32, 48 or 64 inputs on one controller (MPAINO).

• Your HMI talks Modbus RTU over RS-485 and you want no communication code.

Porting a CONTROLLINO sketch

Your control logic carries over. Pin names and numbers change, because every board has its own I/O map, so replace the pin references with the MPINO pin numbers from the model manual. Install the ARDUINO SDK for the Arduino IDE and pick your model from the ILOGICS board menu. MPINO boards need analogReference(EXTERNAL) in setup() before analog readings are correct.

Most MPINO models, including the MPINO-8A8R-S and MPINO-16A16R, upload through the MP Download Cable, which has the USB-to-serial converter built in. A plain USB cable will not upload. MPAINO models upload over USB through a built-in USB bridge.