Foxboro FCM100ET Redundant Fieldbus Communications Module

Foxboro FCM100ET Redundant Fieldbus Communications Module

Description

The FCM100Et communicates via a high-speed 100 Mbps network to the I/A Series ZCP270. The FCM100Et module interfaces HDLC protocol (2 Mbps), used by the FBMs, to fiber optic Ethernet signals (100 Mbps), and vice versa.

FCM100Et and FBM modules install in a DIN rail mounted Modular Baseplate for high speed communication to/from the FBM and FCM100Et modules (see Figure 1). A pair of FCM100Et modules is installed to provide redundancy at the Fieldbus Module (FBM) level. One FCM100Et is the Master, and the other is the Tracker module. At any one time the Master module is active and the Tracker module is monitoring. Role switching is automatic if problems are detected, or the user can switch the roles at any time via System Management software.

Signal transmission distances up to 2 km (1.24 mi) are possible between FCM100Et modules and the Ethernet switches, providing for wide distribution of the FBM equipment groupings. For more information, refer to The MESH Control Network Architecture (PSS 21H-7C2 B3).

A pair of FCM100Et modules must be used for each FBM grouping. An FBM grouping can contain up to 32 FBMs. 

Redundant FCM100Ets can be connected to The MESH control network, to a separate 100 Mbps fast Ethernet network or directly to a ZCP270. TDR/TDA and SOE are supported only on The MESH control network.

Features

• Redundant modules use Master (controlling the process)/Tracker (monitoring the process) operation
• Automatic Master/Tracker role reversal on detected failures
• Interfaces The MESH control network (100 Mbps) to the HDLC Module Fieldbus (2 Mbps) for FBMs
• Optional GPS time strobe to synchronize Transient Data Recorder (TDR)/Transient Data Analysis (TDA) and Sequence Of Events (SOE) FBMs to within 1 ms
• Direct multi mode fiber optic connection to The MESH control network
• Soft letterbug entered by I/A Series® Letterbug Configurator
• Harsh (Class G3 - ISA S71.04) contamination protection.
• Monitored by standard I/A Series System Management displays
• Use of FCM100Ets allows ZCP270 to host up to 128 FBMs.

Technical Specifications