MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

by Mr. Stephen Lin, MOXA Technologies Co., Ltd. Note: Some of the content for this paper was contributed by Nienschanz-Automatica, Ltd. Serial devices are used around the world as integral components of industrial automation systems. This is due in part to the fact that RS-232/422/485 interfaces are easy to set up and economical to use. For example, the 2-wire RS-485 interface can be used to connect as many as 32 serial devices to a single half-duplex line. Since the transmission distance can be up to 1200 meters, RS-485 is suitable for many factory applications. If more devices or greater distances are required, RS-485 repeaters can be used to extend the 1200 meter limit or increase the number of devices connected to the system. Repeaters can also be used to combine several RS-485 networks into a more complex, tree-type network. However, one of the drawbacks of using RS-485 repeaters is that each extension is still limited to 1200 meters. Moreover, the serial signals sent by the repeaters could be corrupted by the effects of electromagnetic interference. In this paper, we introduce two solutions that can be used to overcome these problems. Both solutions use optical fiber, since optical signals are immune to electromagnetic interference, and the signals can be transmitted over distances up to 40 kilometers.

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group About MOXA

Released on August 22, 2006

The MOXA Group manufactures one of the worlds leading brands of device networking solutions. Products include serial boards, device servers, ready-to-run embedded computers, USB-to-serial hubs, media converters, terminal servers, Modbus gateways, industrial switches, remote I/O servers, and Ethernet-to-fiber converters. Our products are key components of many networking applications, including industrial automation, manufacturing, POS, and medical treatment facilities.

How to Contact MOXA Tel: 1-714-528-6777 Fax: 1-714-528-6778

Web: Email:

www.moxa.com info@moxa.com

This document was produced by the MOXA Technical Writing Center (TWC). Please send your comments or suggestions about this or other MOXA documents to twc@moxa.com.

MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

Solution 1The Serial-to-Fiber Converter TCF-142 serial-to-fiber media converters are designed to extend the transmission distance of serial devices used as components of industrial automation networks. Models are available for both multi-mode (M-models) and single-mode (S-models) fiber with ST connectors. The optical fiber cables can be up to 2 km for multi-mode models, and up to 20 km for single mode models. TCF-142 media converters can be configured for either Pair Connection Mode or Ring Connection Mode. Users are always happy to learn that MOXAs TCF-142 media converters require little if any configuration. Since the media converter simply transforms the communication signal from one signal type to another, the TCF-142 does not have a baudrate to configure. The only task the user must complete before switching on the device is to configure each TCF-142 for a particular serial interface. In addition, you may want to activate the TCF-142s termination resistors to protect the converter from unexpected surges in the serial signal, and some applications will require setting up the fiber connection topology. All configuration steps are easy to complete using the 4 DIP switches located on the TCF-142s casing. Pair Connection Mode for TCF-142 Media Converters Pair Connection Mode is used to extend the transmission distance of a serial connection. For example, two TCF-142 serial-to-fiber converters can be used to connect a computer to a serial device that is located at a remote site. In this case, the serial device could be located up to 20 km from the computer (if single mode fiber is used).

Note that since TCF-142 converters only transmit data signals over the two optical fiber cables, it is most natural to use the TCF-142 with 2-wire RS-485 serial devices. However, the TCF-142 can also be used to transmit RS-232, RS-422, and Page 2 of 6

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group

MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

4-wire RS-485 signals. In fact, an important feature of the TCF-142 is that in addition to converting between serial and fiber, it can also convert between any of the common serial interfaces, such as between RS-232 and RS-422 as illustrated in the above figure. The only caveat is that when connecting to an RS-232 device, you must remember to short the devices DTR signal to its DSR signal, and short the RTS signal to the CTS signal. Pair connection mode can be used to combine several RS-485 lines into one serial network, as illustrated in the following figure. The disadvantage of using pair connection in this way is that two TCF-142 units are required for each serial device.

Ring Connection Mode for TCF-142 Media Converters

Ring Connection Mode provides a cost-effective way to connect several serial devices together in a serial network. A closed fiber-serial ring is created by connecting the optical transmitter of each TCF-142 in the ring to the optical receiver of the neighboring TCF-142. As can be surmised from the following figure, data packets transmitted by one converter are sent to the adjacent converter, which in turn forwards the packets to the next converter in the ring, and so on until the signal returns to the converter that sent the original signal.

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group

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MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

Compared to pair connection mode, ring connection mode requires fewer converters, and reduces the total length of the fiber cable that is required. When using a ring structure, the total length of the fiber cable can be up to 100 km. The only drawback to using ring connection mode is that the failure of one fiber cable will cause the entire system to fail. Solution 2The Serial-to-100BaseFX Converter If youre looking for a more versatile solution to extend the reach of your serial devices, then you should consider the fiber optic models of MOXAs NPort IA5150 serial device servers. The NPort IA5150-M-SC takes multi mode fiber, and the NPort IA5150-S-SC takes single mode fiber. Both models have SC-type fiber optic connectors. The NPort IA5150 device servers are more versatile since they use TCP/IP to transmit data over a 100BaseFX optical fiber connection. The family of NPort IA5150 device servers (which also includes copper Ethernet models) gives users the freedom to set up complex configurations of serial devices, including the ability to connect to serial devices over a LAN, WAN, or the Internet.

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group

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MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

Pair Connection Mode for NPort IA Device Servers

Pair Connection Mode for NPort IA device servers involves configuring two NPort IA5150 device servers to communicate solely with each other. The two device servers can be connected directly using optical fiber cables, or they can communicate indirectly over a TCP/IP network.

The greater versatility provided by the NPort IA5150 device servers comes with a small price. Before using the servers, you need to take care of some basic configuration tasks. The configuration can be done over the network by Telnet or web browser interface, or by using the Windows configuration utility that comes with the server. In addition, the configuration can be done using terminal emulation software after connecting the NPort IA5150s serial console port directly to your PCs COM port (RS-232 interface). There are three basic configuration steps: 1) Assign an IP address and netmask to each NPort IA. 2) Set each NPort IA for pair connection mode (one NPort is set to master and the other NPort is set to slave), and enter the IP address of the NPort on the opposite side of the pair connection. 3) Configure each NPort for the type of serial interface, baudrate, and serial interfaceRS-232, RS-422, or RS-485of the attached serial device (the baudrate and format must be the same on both ends). The complete configuration process is described in the users manual. Important features of the NPort IA5150 Other important features of the NPort IA5150 device servers include:

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group

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MOXA White Paper

Expand Your Serial COMs with Optical Fiber

Up to 40 km transmission distance for single mode fiber Optical isolation available for the serial port RS-232-only models are available Each NPort IA5150 comes with redundant power inputs Transmission line and power failure alarms supported DIN-rail mounting is standard How to Choose the Right Solution If the optical fiber links of your application are less than 2 km, and you can use multi mode fiber, then it is better to choose the TCF-142 media converters since the multi mode TCF-142 models are much cheaper. On the other hand, if you are using single mode fiber, then the NPort IA solution could be a better choice since each optical fiber link can stretch up to 40 km (twice the maximum allowed optical fiber length for TCF-142). Your choice will also be determined by technical considerations. For example, you may want to use the TCF-142s easy to configure fiber ring capability. On the other hand, the NPort IA5150s ability to send alarms when a failure occurs, as well as the serial port isolation feature, could be determining factors. Product Comparison Chart Specification Serial interface Serial interface baudrate Serial port baudrate and data format configuration method Transmits RS-232 service signals (RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD) Serial port isolation available Built-in termination resisters Fiber transmission distance (multi mode/single mode) Supports ring topology Fiber connector type Extended temperature range Power requirements Redundant power inputs Configuration method Link failure alarm TCF-142 RS-232/422/485 300 to 921600 bps automatic No No Yes 2 km / 20 km Yes ST available 12 to 48 VDC No DIP switches No NPort IA5150 RS-232/422/485 110 to 230400 bps manual Yes Yes No 2 km / 40 km No SC available 12 to 48 VDC Yes Software by relay output

Copyright 2006 The MOXA Group

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