Hello Everybody,

We have to provide some communication between 3 SLC 500 5/03 PLC units, however the communications need to be fibre Optic cables. Can any one advise whether there are fibre optic units
available that are operating on the DH 485 Communication system from Allen Bradley.

Paul Depeape
Controls Engineer
ALSTOM Transformers Australia

 

Dear Paul,

There are two ways this can be acheived

Allen-Bradley provides FO communication solution through the following cards :

1771-AF (RAck Mount version) and
1771-AF1 (External Mount)

However this provides AB Data Highway Plus
(DH+) to Fiber Optic connectivity and vice versa.

So to convert your existing DH485 to DH+, you have two possible ways to do it :

1. Use Allen bradley Communication module 1785KA5 (1771 rack mount) or 1785 KA5P, external mount for converting DH485 to DH + and vice versa.

2. Replace the SLC 5/03 to SLC 5/04. SLC 5/04 has a onboard port for DH+

Hope this gives U a possible solution

Regards

Krishnakumar

 

>> We have to provide some communication between 3 SLC 500 5/03
>> PLC units, however the communications need to be fibre Optic
>> cables.


Because EIA-485 (formerly known as RS-485) is the electrical standard behind Data Highway 485, you could use any commercially available RS-485 to
fiber optic converters. I have had decent results with the products sold by B&B Electronics.

If you don't want to deal with the uncertainties of half/full duplex, wiring conections or optical attenuation, the ideal modules for converting
RS485 (the electrical basis for DH-485 networks) to fiber-optic in the SLC-500 platform are made by Phoenix Digital in Arizona. They're 1746-chassis plug-in modules and they are very simple and reliable. They also sell high-quality fibre cable.

Phoenix Digital can be contacted at (480) 483-7393
7650 East Evans Road, Building A
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
[email protected]


Regards,

Ken Roach
A-B Seattle
[email protected]