Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, announced Watchdog Relay, the industry’s only rugged hardware-based solution that reliably monitors and provides fail-safe shutdown of processes controlled by RTUs, PLCs and other automation devices. This industrial automation solution helps to proactively protect unmanned processes on a 24/7 basis.

Red Lion’s Watchdog Relay monitors the pulsing output heartbeat of a connected device to add an extra level of safety that helps protect critical processes across industrial environments that include oil, gas, maritime, power and energy. If the heartbeat stops for reasons that may include power surges, extreme weather or device malfunctions, Watchdog’s built-in Form C relay will immediately energize and provide a signal that can be used to safely shut down the process. The signal sent upon loss of control helps to avoid costly damage to materials and equipment.

“Customers need backup safety measures to make sure that if equipment fails, it does so safely,” said Jacob Colegrove, product manager at Red Lion Controls. “Watchdog Relay is a rugged, hardware-based solution, and since there is no software to lock up or fail, it gives an extra level of safety to networks and processes. This is important for environments with valves, pipelines, heavy machinery or other critical items.”

Built to operate in extreme conditions, Watchdog Relay supports temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 80 degrees Celsius, as well as 5 to 85 percent humidity. It carries Class I, Div II and ATEX hazardous locations certifications, and has been marine and offshore tested and/or verified to meet standards such as ABS, DNV No. 2.4 and Lloyds.