Detmold / Mannheim, 10 February 2026: Weidmüller and Power Plus Communications AG present the EEBUS Relay Converter (ERC) at E-World. The jointly developed product translates digital EEBUS control signals into analogue relay switching commands. This means that even non-digital systems can be controlled by an SMGWplus in accordance with the requirements of Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and Section 9 of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).
Even in a digital smart grid, there are still analogue systems that need to be controlled via relay switching inputs. An efficient rollout of smart metering systems therefore requires relay technology in addition to digital control via EEBUS. This ensures compliance with the requirements of Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and Section 9 of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which increases flexibility in the grid.
The FNN currently recommends digital interfaces for control applications – in practice, however, many devices in the inventory do not yet have an EEBUS interface. With the EEBUS relay converter, Weidmüller and PPC present a product that fills this gap.
The ERC receives the control commands from the distribution network operator via the PPC SMGWplus and transforms EEBUS into analogue switching signals on four output relays (S1, S2, W3, W4). These can be used to implement both the level control (100 per cent, 60 per cent, 30 per cent, 0 per cent) of generation plants and the ‘single contact’ control for generators and consumers. Firmware updates can be carried out via the local direct connection or via remote connection. Depending on customer requirements, either the FW update service from Weidmüller or the update from the backend of the metering point operator via CLS communication is used.
Dr Christian von Toll, Chief Sales Officer at Weidmüller, reports: “In view of rising energy consumption, the intelligent control of consumers in buildings is becoming increasingly important. With the ERC, we can also connect existing properties and systems to the smart grid securely and in accordance with current cyber security requirements. In this way, we are driving forward digitalisation and at the same time creating the necessary infrastructure for the energy transition. In PPC, we have also gained a strong partner who shares the same pioneering spirit as Weidmüller.”
“We are delighted that the ERC will enable the German market for SMGWplus to benefit from highly efficient digital control of relay systems. Metering point operators can remain in their process environment and build on established methods and the iMSys rollout – while still addressing the numerous new and existing systems. This will provide further flexibility in the short term for the ongoing smart meter rollout and the smart grid,‘ confirms Ingo Schönberg, CEO of PPC. ’In Weidmüller, we have gained a development and production partner who also considers the efficiency potential of this control solution to be very high.”
The ERC is currently being presented at E-World at the Weidmüller and PPC stands. PPC is presenting a live demo of the ERC at its own stand, which successfully implements and transmits switching signals. Delivery of the series products will commence in mid-2026.
