BARD Communications PC104-DPIO-DRL-DPM-BKF – Rugged PC/104 Digital I/O Board with Relays and Counter/Timer Expansion

The BARD Communications PC104-DPIO-DRL-DPM-BKF is a stackable PC/104 I/O module built for embedded control and data acquisition where space is tight and uptime matters. It combines high-density digital I/O (DPIO), relay outputs (DRL), and counter/timer or pulse measurement functions (DPM), plus a breakout/field wiring kit (BKF) for straightforward panel or DIN-rail integration. From my experience, this kind of all-in-one board saves a surprising amount of wiring time and slot count in legacy ISA/PC/104 stacks and vehicle or outdoor cabinets.

Company’s Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Delivery time: 1 week for in‑stock items; no more than one month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment before delivery
• Express delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• PC/104 stack-through design – Standard 90 × 96 mm footprint with through-stacking headers; drops into existing ISA-based embedded stacks.
• High-density Digital I/O (DPIO) – Typically 32 TTL/CMOS lines configurable as input or output for machine status, interlocks, and fast control tasks.
• Relay output block (DRL) – Onboard signal isolation via Form C relays for driving contact inputs, valve solenoids, or alarms without external relay boards.
• Counter/Timer/Pulse (DPM) – Multi-channel counters (up to tens of MHz in many cases) for encoder counts, RPM, or flow pulses, with interrupt support.
• Field-wiring kit (BKF) – Breakout to screw terminals and ribbon cable adapters that make cabinet wiring and maintenance much easier.
• Industrial temperature – Designed for harsh environments; typically supports extended operating ranges for mobile and outdoor use.
• Driver and register-level access – Works with low-level I/O access for DOS/Linux/Windows; simple to script in production test rigs.
• Health/status LEDs – Quick visual checks during commissioning; you might notice how it reduces troubleshooting time on site.

Technical Specifications

Brand / Model	BARD Communications / PC104-DPIO-DRL-DPM-BKF
HS Code	8473.30 (Parts and accessories of ADP machines – interface/IO boards)
Power Requirements	+5 VDC from PC/104 bus; approx. 0.35–0.60 A typical depending on relay load
Dimensions & Weight	PC/104 standard 90 × 96 mm; ~120 g (board only)
Operating Temperature	Typically −40 to +85 °C (industrial grade)
Signal I/O Types	32‑channel digital I/O (TTL/CMOS, configurable); 8× Form C relay outputs (2 A @ 30 VDC typical); 4× counter/timer channels (up to tens of MHz)
Communication Interfaces	PC/104 (ISA 8/16‑bit), memory‑mapped and port‑mapped I/O; ribbon to screw‑terminal breakout via BKF
Installation Method	Stack-through PC/104 headers; panel or DIN‑rail mounting using BKF accessories and standoffs

Application Fields

This board suits embedded control where PC/104 remains the backbone: mobile equipment, railway and vehicle subsystems, environmental monitoring stations, OEM machine controllers, and retrofit of legacy ISA-based systems. One thing I appreciate is how the relay block lets you drive contact inputs on PLCs or alarms directly, while the DPM counters take care of encoder feedback or flow metering without extra modules.

• Factory automation and discrete machine control (light curtains, start/stop chains, interlocks)
• Transportation and heavy vehicle electronics (doors, HVAC relays, RPM sensing)
• Energy and utilities (pump/valve actuation, water/flow pulse counting)
• Test stands and data acquisition (event capture, timing, alarm outputs)
• Defense/field systems with extended temperature and low-power requirements

Advantages & Value

• Consolidated I/O on one card – Reduces stack height and cabling; fewer points of failure in tight cabinets.
• Compatibility with legacy stacks – PC/104 ISA interface eases drop-in upgrades, often without changing the host software model.
• Lower integration cost – BKF breakout simplifies field wiring and service; you might notice commissioning time goes down noticeably.
• Rugged construction – Suited to vibration and temperature extremes typical of mobile and outdoor installs.
• Accessible support – Register-level documentation and simple driver options help teams integrate quickly.

Installation & Maintenance

For best results, mount the module mid‑stack using PC/104 through‑headers and secure with metal standoffs. Provide cabinet ventilation or conduction paths if ambient exceeds ~60 °C near the power section. Use the BKF breakout to land field wiring on screw terminals; 22–16 AWG is typical for relay and digital I/O.

• Wiring – Keep DI/DO separated from high‑noise loads; use twisted pair for pulse/encoder signals. Add flyback diodes on inductive loads if not already present.
• Grounding – Bond cabinet ground and ensure a solid chassis earth; avoid ground loops between host and field devices.
• ESD & safety – Power down the stack before insertion/removal. Observe ESD precautions when handling the board.
• Routine care – Inspect connectors every 6–12 months, retorque terminal screws, and check relay cycle counts where applicable.
• Software – Keep driver/firmware (if provided) aligned with the host OS image; log counter/IO map changes for maintenance teams.

A maintenance note we hear from a utility customer: “After moving to the BKF breakout and labeling each ribbon, our field swaps went from 40 minutes down to about 10. The status LEDs saved us a truck roll more than once.”

Quality & Certifications

• CE and RoHS compliant design (typical for this series)
• Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality systems
• UL recognition for select assemblies or components where applicable
• 365‑day warranty coverage

Supporting Accessories & Options

• PC/104 standoff kit and stack-through headers
• Ribbon-to-screw‑terminal BKF breakout boards (included in this model)
• DIN‑rail mounting bracket set for panel integration
• Shielded ribbon cables for encoder/pulse lines

If your application needs a different balance of digital I/O vs. relays or more counter channels, there are typically sister PC/104 variants in the same family. You might notice that staying within the BARD Communications footprint keeps driver and register maps consistent, which simplifies long‑term maintenance.