The FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL is a 48-point compact PLC from Mitsubishi Electric’s MELSEC-F (FX2N) series, combining 24 digital inputs and 24 transistor outputs in a single base unit designed for mid-sized machine control, discrete manufacturing lines, and OEM equipment requiring compact footprint with substantial I/O capacity. The suffix «E» denotes the expandable base unit configuration, «T» identifies transistor (source/sink selectable) output stage rather than relay, «ESS» specifies 100-240 V AC power supply with source-type transistor outputs, and «/UL» confirms UL 508 listing for use in North American control panels subject to NFPA 79 and NEC compliance. Atlantech Drives holds stock of the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL. Contact us for fast worldwide delivery and competitive pricing.
What Is the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL?
The FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL is the 48-point entry in the expandable FX2N base unit family, which ranges from 16-point (FX2N-16MR/MT) through 128-point (FX2N-128MR/MT) configurations — this model sits in the mid-size bracket suitable for machines with moderate I/O requirements that may need future expansion via FX2N extension blocks. At 48 I/O, the FX2N-48ET is the step between the 32-point FX2N-32ET-ESS (for simpler OEM machines) and the 64-point FX2N-64ET-ESS (for larger production equipment or combined machine+auxiliary control). The transistor output stage makes this variant essential for high-speed pulse output applications — up to 100 kHz on the three dedicated high-speed output points (Y0, Y1, Y2) — enabling direct stepper motor pulse-train control, variable-frequency trigger generation, and closed-loop positioning via PLSY, PWM, and DRVI instructions that are not possible on relay-output FX2N variants. The base unit provides 8 kSteps of internal program memory (expandable to 16 kSteps with FX2N-ROM-E1 memory cassette) and supports the full FX2N instruction set including floating-point arithmetic, sophisticated PID control, and up to 6 high-speed counters.
Key Technical Specifications
- Total I/O Points: 48 (24 inputs + 24 outputs)
- Input Type: 24 V DC sink/source selectable, 7 mA per point
- Output Type: Transistor, source (PNP), 0.5 A per point / 0.8 A per common
- High-Speed Outputs: 3 points (Y0, Y1, Y2) up to 100 kHz
- Power Supply: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
- Internal 24 V DC Supply: 400 mA available for sensors
- Program Memory: 8,000 steps (EEPROM, expandable to 16,000)
- Scan Time: 0.08 μs per basic instruction
- Counters: 235 total (including 21 high-speed counters, max 60 kHz)
- Timers: 256 total
- Data Registers: 8,000
- Certifications: UL 508, cUL, CE
- Operating Temperature: 0 °C to +55 °C
- Dimensions: 182 × 90 × 87 mm (W × H × D)
- Weight: Approx. 0.65 kg
Architecture & Design Overview
The FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL uses Mitsubishi’s proprietary FX expansion bus on the right-hand side of the unit, allowing connection of up to 8 FX2N extension blocks (additional I/O, analog, thermocouple, positioning, or communication modules) for a maximum system configuration of 256 I/O points when combined with FX2N-CNV-IF bus converters. The left-hand side accepts expansion communication adapters (FX2N-232-BD for RS-232C, FX2N-485-BD for RS-485, FX2N-CNV-BD for Modbus-compatible communications) without consuming bus bandwidth. The source-type transistor output configuration (PNP) is essential for interfacing with IEC 61131-2 Type 3 inputs on downstream PLCs and drives in North American and Asian installations; European installations typically specify sink-type (NPN) output equivalents such as FX2N-48ET-DSS. The unit’s UL 508 listing permits installation in NFPA 79-compliant machine tool electrical enclosures without additional panel-level certification — a critical consideration for OEMs shipping equipment to the US and Canadian markets where uncertified PLCs require separate UL panel certification at significant cost and delay.
Replacement & Upgrade Notes
Replacement note: the FX2N family has been superseded in Mitsubishi’s current catalogue by the FX3U and FX5U series, but the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL remains widely deployed in machinery built between 1997 and 2015 and is frequently requested for production maintenance. When planning a migration to modern platforms, note that the FX3U-48MT/ES is the direct functional replacement with identical I/O count and similar transistor output specifications, while offering faster scan times (0.065 μs per basic instruction), USB programming port, and 64 kSteps of program memory. The GX Works2 and GX Developer programming software both support FX2N project files with automatic conversion to FX3U format, though custom instructions using FX2N-specific memory addresses (M8000 series special relays with different functions between FX2N and FX3U) require manual review. For one-for-one replacement without program changes, the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL remains available through specialist distributors including Atlantech Drives — particularly valuable for production lines where PLC program recertification or machine re-commissioning would be cost-prohibitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL and FX2N-48MT-ESS/UL?
A: The «E» versus «M» designation identifies the base unit expandability: «E» bases accept FX2N extension blocks on the right side for I/O expansion, while «M» bases are the main/master unit designation. Functionally at 48 points both support identical programming and instruction sets; the «E» variant is specified when future I/O expansion is planned. If no expansion is required, «M» variants are direct equivalents at lower cost. The «T» designation (transistor output) is identical in both cases.
Q: Can the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL communicate with a SCADA system via Ethernet?
A: Not directly — the FX2N base unit has no native Ethernet port. For Ethernet connectivity, add the FX2N-ENET-ADP adapter or the FX2N-ENET communication module (occupies one expansion slot), which provides 10BASE-T Ethernet with MC Protocol (Mitsubishi’s proprietary SCADA protocol) and basic TCP/IP socket communication. For modern OPC UA connectivity, a gateway device is required as the FX2N platform predates Mitsubishi’s integrated OPC UA support found in the FX5U series.
Q: What is the expected service life of the FX2N-48ET-ESS/UL in continuous 24/7 industrial operation?
A: Mitsubishi specifies the lithium battery (FX2N-48BL) for retentive memory backup with a typical life of 5 years at 25 °C ambient, reducing to approximately 3 years at 40 °C continuous operation — this is the primary scheduled maintenance item. The unit itself has no wear-out mechanism under normal conditions: no fans, no electromechanical relays in the output stage (unlike «R» relay variants), and EEPROM program memory with unlimited read cycles. Installations from the late 1990s and early 2000s are still running reliably, with component failure rates below 1% per year under typical factory ambient conditions.
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