YOKOGAWA AKB331 Signal Cables – AKB331-M020

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

YOKOGAWA AKB331 Series: Comprehensive Signal Cable Range and Technical Overview

The YOKOGAWA AKB331 series comprises field-wiring signal cables engineered for use within YOKOGAWA's CENTUM CS/CS3000 and CENTUM VP distributed control systems (DCS). These cables serve as the physical interconnect layer between field instruments and I/O terminal assemblies, marshalling cabinets, and node units. Installed across heavy-process industries — including petroleum refining, petrochemical complexes, LNG terminals, nuclear power generation auxiliary systems, and large-scale chemical plants — the AKB331 series is a critical infrastructure component in facilities where cable replacement requires planned shutdowns and strict change-management protocols. The series is manufactured to YOKOGAWA's internal cable specifications, ensuring impedance matching, shielding continuity, and connector keying that is compatible with YOKOGAWA's proprietary backplane and terminal block standards. Facilities operating CENTUM CS3000 R3 and CENTUM VP R6 systems represent the primary installed base for this cable family globally.

The Evolution of AKB331 Architecture

The AKB331 designation follows YOKOGAWA's accessory cable numbering convention, where the prefix "AK" denotes an accessory cable assembly, "B" indicates the connector/termination type family, and "331" maps to the specific I/O module interface generation introduced with the CENTUM CS3000 platform in the late 1990s. Early deployments used fixed-length variants with molded connectors designed for direct plug-in to CENTUM CS I/O cards. As the platform evolved into CENTUM CS3000 and subsequently CENTUM VP, the AKB331 series was extended with additional length variants (denoted by the suffix, e.g., M005, M010, M020) to accommodate varying cabinet depths and marshalling distances. The M020 suffix on the AKB331-M020 indicates a 2.0-meter cable length. Compatibility spans CENTUM CS, CENTUM CS3000 (all revisions), and CENTUM VP systems, making the AKB331 series one of the longest-lived cable accessories in YOKOGAWA's DCS portfolio. As CENTUM CS3000 has entered its end-of-active-development phase, the AKB331 series has transitioned into a lifecycle-maintenance product category, meaning new production runs are limited and sourcing from authorized spare-parts distributors is the primary procurement channel for most end users.

AKB331 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the documented AKB331 series cable variants. Each entry reflects a specific length or connector configuration used within YOKOGAWA CENTUM DCS installations:

AKB331-M005: 0.5 m signal cable assembly for short-reach I/O module-to-terminal connections.
AKB331-M010: 1.0 m signal cable; standard length for single-tier marshalling cabinet wiring.
AKB331-M015: 1.5 m signal cable for mid-depth cabinet configurations and extended terminal reach.
AKB331-M020: 2.0 m signal cable; accommodates double-tier marshalling or cross-cabinet routing.
AKB331-M030: 3.0 m signal cable for inter-cabinet field wiring in large marshalling rooms.
AKB331-M050: 5.0 m signal cable for extended-reach applications between remote I/O nodes and junction boxes.
AKB331-M100: 10.0 m signal cable for long-distance intra-room routing in large DCS installations.
AKB331-M150: 15.0 m signal cable for cross-room or inter-panel wiring in expansive control buildings.
AKB331-M200: 20.0 m signal cable for facility-level interconnects between geographically separated panels.
AKB331-M300: 30.0 m signal cable for large-footprint plant layouts requiring extended cable runs.
AKB331-M500: 50.0 m signal cable for field-to-control-room direct wiring in compact plant architectures.
AKB331-M020-L: 2.0 m left-exit connector variant for specific cabinet entry-point configurations.
AKB331-M020-R: 2.0 m right-exit connector variant for mirrored cabinet layouts.
AKB331-M010-S: 1.0 m shielded variant with enhanced EMI suppression for high-noise environments.
AKB331-M020-S: 2.0 m shielded variant; used in proximity to variable-frequency drives and high-current bus bars.
AKB331-M050-S: 5.0 m shielded variant for extended runs in electrically noisy process areas.