72-LON-8AD-78P Datasheet, PDF (1/2 Pages) List of Unclassifed Manufacturers – NETWORK INTERFACES Microlon (LonWorks)

System 50
NETWORK INTERFACES
Microlon^® (LonWorks)
FEATURES
• LONWORKS Technology Integrated
with Standard Industrial I/O Racks
and Modules
• Extend Isolated Analog (G5 Only)
and Digital Signals over Twisted
Pair Network without Signal Loss
• Mix and Match Analog and Digital
Modules in any Configuration
• LONMARK2.0Compliant–
Interoperable with other LONWORKS
Products
• Multiple Communication Media
Types Available
• Peer-to-Peer Communications
• Uses Network Variables of SNVT
(Standard Network Variable Type)
to Control/Read Modules
APPLICATIONS
Stand Alone Control
Local Control & I/O
Remote I/O
Distributed I/O
SCADA
RTU
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Microlon^® network interface combines the
power of LONWORKS^™ technology with Grayhill
standard industrial I/O racks and modules.
Microlon^® controllers may be distributed over
great distances yet provide seamless
interoperability. The robust communication
protocol LonTalk^® is built into the firmware of the
Neuron^® chip, the heart of LONWORKS technology.
The LonTalk^® protocol follows the (7 layer) OSI
Reference Model for network protocols. This
technology is becoming the de facto standard for
interoperability. This frees the user from worrying
about network communication protocols.
In applications where the inputs and outputs that
need to be monitored and controlled are spread
out over a large area, running long signal lines
from the sensors and actuators to a central
controller can lead to numerous costly problems.
First, there is the time and expense of routing the
signal lines and shielding them from cross-talk,
EMI, and RFI. If this is not done properly, the cost
and time required to troubleshoot the wiring can
be exorbitant. Finally, making a change to the
system after installation is costly.
To alleviate this problem, install Microlon^® units
and I/O modules near the sensors or actuators
and network the Microlon^® units back to the host
computer (if a host is necessary). Peer-to-peer
communications, inherent with LONWORKS^™
technology, make it easy to extend signals
digitally, without signal loss.
Up to 63 Microlon^® controllers (nodes) can be
networked together on a physical segment.
Units can be added with the aid of repeaters or
routers. Each node may contain up to 8 isolated
modules, configured as input or output, digital or
analog.
Microlon^® controllers use one of two different
physical media types to communicate over the
network. Twisted pair, transformer isolated (TP/
XF) networks operate at 78 Kbps at distances up
to 6500 feet (2000 meters). In addition, FTT-10
operating at 78 Kbps at distances up to 1500 feet
(500 meters) is supported. Routers and Bridges
may be used to change the communication
media type from node to node. For example, a
Router may connect a group of nodes operating
over the FTT-10 medium to another group utilizing
the TPT-XF/78 medium.
Networks are installed and/or modified using the
Echelon LonBuilder Development system,
LonMaker installation tool or a third party tool.
LonMaker is a software package that runs on a
PC and communicates to Microlon controllers
using a Serial LonTalk Adapter (SLTA) or a PC
LonTalk Adapter (PCLTA). SLTAs are available
for all types of network media and converts them
to RS-232 at speeds up to 115,200 baud. PCLTAs
are ISA-bus cards that offer higher performance.
If the network contains other LONWORKS based
products, the NetProfiler (included with
LonMaker¹) is used to define the “parts catalogs”
tailored to the network. Otherwise, for networks
containing only Microlon^® controllers, the “parts
catalog” will be provided, eliminating the need for
the NetProfiler package. Third party network
management, control and monitoring tools and
LonTalk Adapters are available, please contact
Grayhill for more information.
The Microlon^® controller is shipped with a
standard application program which contains
everything necessary to interface with all of
Grayhill's I/O modules. Installation, Configuration,
and Troubleshooting are outlined in the 72-LON-
I8 manual (order separately). In addition, the
Microlon^® application disk is supplied with the
manual and contains example source code and
the interface files (“parts catalog”). The readme
file contains information not found in this manual.
If you have a LonBuilder or NodeBuilder
Development Tool, you may wish to modify the
application program and tailor it to your application.
1 _{With metal enclosure installed}
H-101 Cascade Group, Inc., 68 West Main St., Oyster Bay, NY 11771 email: [e-mail], web: www.cascadegroupinc.com ph 516-624-9362, fax [phone]