The communications boards are used to provide point-to-point communications to other devices (PLCs, operator interfaces, etc) or to network multiple M4500 modules together. In point-to-point applications, either RS-232 or RS-422 can be used along with a number of third party protocols (Allen-Bradley DF1, Modicon Modbus, Siemens TI, etc).

In networked applications, up to 32 M4500 (or SEG S3000 or M4000) modules can be networked together using the S3000C network to pass information between nodes. This network is generally configured as a hierarchic network with one master and the remainder slaves but can also be configured for a peer-to-peer network as well.

These boards can be installed in any vacant slot in the M4500 chassis and are slot addressed by a dip switch on the board. The following communications boards are currently available:

S4516: General Serial Communications Board
S4516-DF1: Communications Board with imbedded A-B DF1 Protocol
S3016-505: Communications CO-CPU board for use with Siemens/TI 545

• One S3000 serial network port (configurable for 106KBPS, 228KBPS, or 344KBPS)
• One RS-232/RS422 user port (configurable for 9600 or 19.2K baud)
• RS-232/RS-422 port can be used for general purpose point-to-point half-duplex or full-duplex communications as well as implementing specific protocols such as MODBUS (with appropriate software drivers)
• RS-232/RS-422 data receive and transmit LEDs
• Serial network Comm LEDs
• Removable field wiring connector
• Can be installed in any M4500 I/O slot
• Compatible with all M4500 versions (M4500 thru M4513)
• Occupies one I/O slot
  

• One S3000 serial network port (configurable for 106KBPS, 228KBPS, or 344KBPS)
• One RS-232/RS422 user port (configurable for 9600 or 19.2K baud)
• Imbedded A-B DF1 protocol to allow communications directly with A-B PLCs and other DF1 compliant devices via RS-232/RS-422 port
• RS-232/RS-422 data receive and transmit LEDs
• Serial network Comm LEDs
• Removable field wiring connector
• Can be installed in any M4500 I/O slot
• Compatible with all M4500 versions (M4500 thru M4513)
• Occupies one I/O slot
  

• Communications CO-CPU Board with S3000 Serial Network Interface and RS-232/RS-422 USER PORT.
• Built in Processor executes User application program independently of main TI 505 processor.
• Resides on TI 505 Bus structure as a 3 word in / 5 word out Special Function module (similar to a TI Peerlink module).
• Provided with "MCOM505" S3016-505 program and "NETCOM" MS-DOS based setup program which allows the TI 505 processor to communicate with up to 31 M4500 slave nodes with up to 120 words to/from each slave node.
• Built in Real Time clock provides current time and date.
• Extensive internal diagnostics/fault detection including watchdog timer, communications fault detection, hardware confidence test, etc.
• Status LEDS on faceplate (Run, Serial Network Comm, and Fault)
• Standard single width TI 505 module size.