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Can’t Find the Part You Need? Lakeland Engineering Can Help. 

Hard-to-find parts are a real problem in industrial maintenance. A discontinued relay can hold up a panel rebuild. A legacy power supply is out of stock. A meter installed years ago no longer appears in any catalog. The machine sits idle while someone tries to track down a replacement.

 

Fortunately, Lakeland Engineering stocks components from a carefully selected group of suppliers. These brands maintain deep product lines, long lifecycles, and strong compatibility with older equipment. Here is a look at six of them and what they solve.

PULS - DIN Rail Power Supplies Built to Last

The Problem

DIN rail power supplies from major industrial brands are often discontinued or replaced with new lines. In many cases, the new products are not physically or electrically compatible with what is already installed. When a 24VDC supply fails in a legacy panel, finding an in-stock replacement that fits the same footprint and wiring layout can be a real challenge.

 

What PULS Solves

PULS is a German manufacturer that focuses entirely on DIN rail power supplies, with no other product categories. That focus results in product depth and lifecycle stability. Their primary families include:

  • DIMENSION Series: High-efficiency 1-phase and 3-phase supplies from 80W to 1000W for demanding industrial applications with up to 95%+ efficiency ratings
  • PIANO Series: Cost-effective 1-phase supplies from 120W to 480W that maintain PULS quality standards at a lower price point, well suited for standard panel builds
  • MiniLine Series: Ultra-compact supplies from 15W to 100W for space-constrained applications
  • FIEPOS Series: IP54, IP65, and IP67 rated field power supplies for decentralized and outdoor installations

 

Why PULS Works for Replacements

PULS also offers redundancy modules, buffer modules, and DC/DC converters. As a result, existing panel layouts can often be preserved rather than redesigned. Their products carry UL, CSA, CE, and Class I Div 2 listings. Additionally, their cross-reference tool makes it straightforward to find a compatible replacement for a discontinued unit from another brand.

IDEC Relays, Timers, and Control Devices with Broad Compatibility

The Problem

General purpose relays and timers are among the most replaced components in control panels. However, they are also among the most frustrating to source when a specific series is discontinued. Relay sockets, coil voltages, contact setups, and footprints all have to match. A relay from one manufacturer will not always drop into a socket designed for another.

What IDEC Solves

IDEC has been making industrial relays and control devices for decades. They maintain one of the widest relay selections in the market. Their portfolio covers essentially every setup a panel builder or maintenance technician would need:

  • RH Series: General purpose plug-in relays in 1 to 4 poles with silver cadmium oxide contacts, compatible with many competitor sockets including those private-labeled by other manufacturers
  • RJ Series: Slim general purpose relays in a 12.7mm housing for space-constrained DIN rail applications with long mechanical and electrical service life
  • RV8 Series: Interface relays in 6mm and 8mm widths, ideal for PLC output interfaces and automation panel builds
  • RF Series: Force-guided safety relays for safety circuits that require contact welding detection, available in 4-pole and 6-pole versions
  • RSC/RSS Series: Solid state relays for fast switching, long life, and no moving parts
  • Timers: Multi-function and multi-range timers covering on-delay, off-delay, interval, one-shot, and repeat cycle functions

Cross-Compatibility with Legacy Sockets

A key advantage of IDEC relays is cross-compatibility. The RH series, in particular, is designed to plug into sockets built for other relay brands. That means replacing a failed relay does not always require replacing the socket or rewiring the panel. Furthermore, that compatibility reduces downtime and labor cost on legacy systems.

Eaton Circuit Protection Across the Full Current Range

The Problem

Circuit breakers are safety-critical parts. Sourcing replacements for aging panel protection carries real risk. Reconditioned, surplus, and counterfeit breakers are common in the secondary market. Installing non-factory-direct product into a live panel creates liability exposure and safety hazards. Authorized sourcing matters, but many distributors do not stock the full range.

What Eaton Solves

Eaton offers one of the most complete molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) portfolios available. Their primary MCCB families for industrial applications include:

  • Series C: Available from 15A to 800A at 240VAC through 600VAC, with thermal-magnetic and electronic trip unit options; widely specified in panelboards, switchboards, motor control centers, and busway applications
  • Series G: A globally rated platform (UL, CSA, IEC, CE) covering 15A to 2500A with a compact footprint; includes built-in mounting hardware and field-fit accessories
  • Power Defense: Eaton’s current-generation intelligent MCCB with built-in communications, predictive diagnostics, and arc flash mitigation
  • Motor Protection Circuit Breakers (MPCBs): Rated for motor branch circuit protection with adjustable magnetic trip settings, reducing the need for separate overload relays

Legacy Cross-Reference and Authorized Sourcing

Eaton also maintains a cross-reference program for discontinued Cutler-Hammer, Westinghouse, and Heinemann breaker models. Consequently, older switchgear and motor control centers can often be updated without a full panel redesign. As an authorized Eaton distributor, Lakeland Engineering provides factory-direct, fully warranted product. That distinction matters for liability and insurance compliance on industrial installations.

Weidmuller Terminal Blocks and Connection Technology

The Problem 

Terminal blocks are specified early in the panel design lifecycle and rarely considered again. Until one fails, the panel needs to be expanded, or an old block design is no longer available. Mixing terminal block families creates wiring inconsistency and can compromise panel documentation. Finding an exact replacement for a legacy block in the right current rating, wire range, and mounting style is harder than it should be. 

What Weidmuller Solves 

 

Weidmuller invented the modular terminal block and has been manufacturing connection technology since 1948. Their Klippon Connect product line covers the full range of terminal block applications with three primary connection technologies: 

  • Screw Connection (W-Series and WDU Series) – The traditional standard for industrial panels; two conductors of the same diameter can be terminated in a single point, with options for feed-through, PE/ground, fuse, and disconnect configurations across a wide cross-section range 
  • PUSH IN Technology – Tool-free termination for solid and ferruled conductors, significantly reducing installation time in high-density panel builds and new construction 
  • SNAP IN Technology – Designed for flexible conductors without wire-end ferrules, enabling direct insertion without additional preparation; optimized for robotic and automated wiring processes 

Beyond standard feed-through blocks, the Klippon Connect portfolio includes disconnect terminal blocks for safe circuit isolation without rewiring, double-level and triple-level blocks for high-density layouts, fuse terminal blocks for integrated circuit protection, and WPD distribution blocks for power feed applications with large cross-sections. 

For panel expansion or replacement projects, Weidmuller’s breadth of cross-section coverage (0.14mm to 185mm) and DIN rail compatibility make it practical to match an existing terminal block installation or upgrade it without changing the overall wiring layout. Their EPLAN and engineering data packages also simplify documentation updates on retrofitted panels. 

Sifam Tinsley Panel Meters, Transducers, and Signal Conditioners

The Problem

Analog panel meters on older switchgear and generator control panels are some of the hardest parts to replace. Many original meters were custom-scaled or built to ANSI or DIN case sizes no longer widely stocked. When a meter fails on a critical panel, such as a generator set, a substation, or a process control board, finding a replacement that fits the opening can take weeks or require custom fabrication.

What Sifam Tinsley Solves

Sifam Tinsley has been making precision electrical instruments for over 75 years. Their product lines span analog and digital metering needs:

  • Contender Series: Analog panel meters in 1.5″, 2.5″, 3.5″, and 4.5″ ANSI case sizes measuring AC/DC amps, volts, frequency, and power factor; fits surface or flush window mounting
  • Smartlook Series: Compact ANSI panel meters designed as direct drop-in replacements for Yokogawa Biglook meters, which are widely installed in North American switchgear and generator panels but increasingly difficult to source
  • MCS Series: Large 4.5″ switchboard meters with wide-angle dials and glare-resistant windows for high-visibility control room and critical panel applications
  • Alpha Series Multifunction Meters: Digital touch-screen meters (Alpha 40A, 50A, 70A) measuring voltage, current, frequency, power factor, power, and energy with network connectivity
  • Signal Conditioners and Transducers: DIN rail units with galvanic isolation, noise filtering, and 4-20mA or 0-10V outputs for PLC, SCADA, and DCS compatibility
  • Current Transformers: ANSI and DIN CT families for use with panel meters, wattmeters, and signal conditioners

A Note on Yokogawa Biglook Replacements

The Smartlook series is worth calling out specifically. Yokogawa Biglook meters were installed widely across North American switchgear and generator panels. They are, however, increasingly obsolete and hard to find. Sifam Tinsley’s Smartlook line was built to replace them directly. It fits existing panel cutouts and maintains the same performance class. For that reason, it is often the fastest path to getting a legacy panel back online.

HMS Networks Industrial Communication Gateways and Protocol Converters

The Problem

A common issue in industrial facilities is equipment that cannot communicate with the systems around it. A legacy drive speaks PROFIBUS. The new PLC only supports EtherNet/IP. A machine from a different integrator runs on a fieldbus no one else in the plant uses. Without a way to bridge these protocols, that equipment becomes an isolated island, functional on its own but cut off from the broader automation network.

What HMS Networks Solves

HMS Networks, through their Anybus product line, makes protocol gateways that translate between virtually every major industrial fieldbus and Ethernet standard. Their product families cover the full range of connectivity challenges:

  • Anybus Communicator: Standalone gateways that convert between Modbus RTU/TCP, CAN-based protocols, PROFIBUS DP, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, and more; no programming required and configuration is handled through a free, intuitive GUI tool
  • Anybus X-Gateway: Network-to-network gateways for linking two PLC systems or fieldbus segments; tested with Siemens, Allen-Bradley, ABB, Schneider, Mitsubishi, and others
  • Anybus Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular (3G/4G/5G) wireless bridges that replace cable runs or provide remote access to field equipment
  • Anybus CompactCom: Embedded modules for device makers who need to add multi-network connectivity without building a communication stack from scratch

Extending the Life of Legacy Equipment

For facilities with older equipment that predates current fieldbus standards, Anybus gateways remove the need for a full control system replacement. Instead, the legacy equipment stays in place and the gateway handles translation. Furthermore, the latest Anybus Communicator includes built-in cybersecurity features. Specifically, it has a physical security switch to block unauthorized configuration changes and secure boot to protect against malware. That makes it a practical choice for facilities subject to industrial cybersecurity requirements.

One Source for Hard-to-Find Industrial Components

Tracking down obscure or discontinued parts across multiple distributors takes time. Most maintenance and engineering teams do not have that time to spare.

 

Lakeland Engineering stocks products from all six of these brands, along with ABB, Honeywell, Fluke, Turck, Pepperl+Fuchs, and others. Our goal is to be a single reliable source for control panel components, power hardware, and automation parts.

 

If you know what you need, you can order online. If you are not sure what the right replacement is, our team can help you work through it.

 

Lakeland Engineering is an authorized Distributor for PULS, IDEC, Eaton, Weidmuller, Sifam Tinsley, HMS Networks, and more. 

 

Minneapolis, MN, Omaha, NE, Denver, CO, Kansas City, KS | shop.lakelandengineering.com 

 

Shop Industrial Components at Lakeland Engineering 

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