Acquisition system links over serial and Ethernet

The isoLynx SLX200 data acquisition system uses industry standard Modbus RTU and TCP protocols for communication with a wide variety of existing third-party software drivers and HMI/Scada packages.

Dataforth Corp has released the isoLynx SLX200 data acquisition system, which implements industry standard Modbus RTU and TCP protocols, thereby enabling communication with a wide variety of existing third-party software drivers and HMI/Scada packages.

Fully certified by the Modbus IDA organisation, the SLX200 is a fast, intelligent, modular, fully isolated data acquisition systems that provides superior reliability, accuracy, and isolation for a wide range of rugged high performance industrial applications.

With its ability to interface with more than 650 SCM5B analogue I/O modules, the isoLynx SLX200 offers maximum flexibility for factory automation, process control, test and measurement, machine control, and data acquisition applications.

The communication protocol is Modbus RTU for RS232/485 or Modbus TCP for Ethernet.

The SLX200's full certification ensures the device can be easily integrated onto existing Modbus networks, and most common Modbus function codes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 23) are supported.

The isoLynx SLX200 communicates on RS232/485 nonisolated serial links up to 115.2Kbit/s and 10Mbit/s Ethernet.

Standard communication is RS232/485; up to 32 systems can be multidropped on the RS485 serial link.

Optional Ethernet communication boards are available and can be either factory installed or upgraded in the field.

As device configuration is performed using standard Modbus function codes, any third-party software application that supports the Modbus RTU and/or Modbus TCP protocol can be used for configuration.

Parameters are stored in nonvolatile memory, so configuration only has to happen once.

A free software configuration utility provided with the device makes the process easy and intuitive.

The isoLynx SLX200 supports two analogue scan modes: one for general purpose signal monitoring with running average, maximum, and minimum values available for each analogue input; the other, used to obtain data with highly accurate time correlation between samples, provides user-configurable scan parameters such as scan list, scan rate, and scan count.

Other powerful firmware features of the SLX200 include automatic analogue output refresh, which ensures signals remain solid at the levels where they were initially set, and configurable default output values that ensure output signals are set at safe levels when unexpected power outages or brownouts occur.

Power-on self-test results can be obtained visually by glancing at a status LED or programmatically by reading the appropriate register on the device.

A section of memory is set aside for general purpose user data, some of which is stored in nonvolatile memory.

The flexible, modular design of the SLX200 combines a 12-channel I/O controller base system and optional 8- or 16-channel expansion backplanes, which can be either panel or DIN rail mounted.

The system accepts single-channel digital or analogue I/O modules and provides 1500V RMS analogue I/O isolation.

All I/O is channel-to-channel and channel-to-bus isolated.

One I/O controller module can operate up to 60 channels of differential analogue I/O and 128 channels of digital I/O, using Dataforth's versatile SCM5B analogue and SCMD digital modules.

The I/O controller contains a powerful high-speed microcontroller, A/D and D/A subsystem, communication interface, associated memory, and status LEDs.

The A/D system is built around a 16bit, successive approximation convertor and can convert a maximum 60-channel configuration in 15ms.

The D/A convertor is also a 16bit device and can write a maximum 60-channel configuration in 30ms.

The ability to select from Dataforth's 650+ standard and custom single-channel SCM5B analogue I/O modules means the isoLynx SLX200 can interface to a broad spectrum of analogue signals, including millivolt, volt, milliamp, amp, linearised and nonlinearised thermocouple, RTD, potentiometer, slidewire, strain gauge, AC-to-true-RMS output, frequency, two-wire transmitter, and transducers requiring DC excitation.

All Dataforth SCM5B standard and custom modules provide superior specifications, including +/-0.03% accuracy, +/-0.005% linearity, 1500V RMS isolation, and 240V AC input protection.

analogue output modules are available that provide a wide selection of current or voltage output ranges; industry standard miniature digital I/O modules are used for AC/DC input and output requirements.

As users can mix and match most I/O module types on a per-channel basis, wasted I/O channels are reduced and cost-effectiveness ensured.

The highly modular design of the SLX200 and the ability to keep all wiring connected to the system when accessing I/O modules also ensure excellent field serviceability and easy upgrades.

Operation and storage temperature for the isoLynx SLX200 is -40 to +85C, and relative humidity range is zero to 95% noncondensing.

Power requirement is 2.5W at +5V DC for the base system with no modules installed.

The system is designed to meet the requirements of EN61000-6-4 (radiated/conducted emissions) and EN61000-6-2 (ESD/RF/EFT immunity).

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