Serial adapter handles harsh industrial conditions

A new low-cost high-specification Ethernet to serial adapter connects existing serial equipment and devices to new Ethernet networks.

With Ethernet becoming ever more prevalent within industrial communications there is a growing need to connect existing serial equipment and devices to these new Ethernet networks.

Westermo Data Communications, the UK's largest supplier of industrial Ethernet products, has released a low cost, high specification Ethernet to serial adapter to perform this task.

The EDW-100 is a serial to Ethernet adapter providing connection to Ethernet networks for RS232 or RS422/485 devices.

The unit enables almost any serial devices to interface through a new or existing Ethernet network.

It can also be used as an Ethernet terminal server and comes supplied with a free to use com port emulation package for Windows PCs.

As with all Westermo products the EDW-100 is designed for use in harsh industrial conditions.

The unit is DIN-rail mountable and incorporates galvanic isolation and enhanced surge/transient protection on all ports.

These features, along with the high EMC immunity, enable the device to be used in projects where a high degree of reliability is required.

The unit has been approved for use within a range of industries including railway signalling/telecommunications.

The unit can support either RS232, RS485 or RS422 based protocols running at up to 115.2Kbit/s.

Two EDW-100 units can be used to create a simple point-to-point link or multiple units can be linked to form a simple one to many Ethernet network.

The EDW-100 has the unique ability to configure a point-to-point network using both UDP and TCP.

Where TCP is used the unit can act as both client of server.

Ethernet connection is via a standard RJ45 port with MDI/MDI-X.

The EDW-100 can be easily configured via the onboard web based configuration tool.

Network interface properties such as speed, duplex and auto-negotiation as well as serial port properties such as data-rate, flow control and data bits can all be configured.

It is also possible to monitor and override the hardware settings using the web tool.

The web tool is very intuitive and includes useful help information for the configurable parameters.

A two level password offers added security protection.

More advanced diagnostic information is supported by a Telnet service and is displayed on 10 LEDs.

The unit offers redundant power and a wide range of DC inputs.

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