In-Cabinet Distributed I/O

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1797 FLEX Ex I/O

Product Design



FLEX Ex I/O modules (1797) offer 2 through 16 I/O each. You can plug together a maximum of eight FLEX Ex I/O modules with a FLEX Ex I/O or FLEX I/O communications adapter, for a maximum of 128 I/O per assembly. The I/O modules are interfaced to the I/O link through an I/O adapter module.

The FLEX Ex I/O assembly is modular. Each I/O module plugs into a terminal base. The modular terminal bases form the backplane and provide terminal connection points for I/O wiring. The I/O adapter module plugs into the end terminal base. You snap the I/O adapter and the terminal bases onto a DIN rail and plug them together. The power supply is free-standing, saving cabinet space.

The FLEX Ex I/O family consists of the following modular components:

• Communications Adapter. FLEX Ex for ControlNet for hazardous area installation or standard FLEX adapters.
  
• I/O Module. Intrinsically safe (IS), offering 2 through 16 I/O.
  
• Terminal Base. Terminal bases snap onto a DIN rail and provide terminal connection points for an I/O module, as well as the backplane connection between the communication adapter and I/O modules.
  
• ControlNet Ex Repeater Module and one or two Fiber Media Port Adapters provide maximum distance and expandability.
  
• ControlNet Ex Coax Barrier option versus fiber hub approach for communication to the hazardous area.
  
• Extender Cables. Available in 1-ft. and 3-ft. lengths, an extender cable lets you arrange the I/O assembly in two rows, either horizontally or vertically.
  
• FLEX Ex Bus Isolator Pair for use with standard FLEX communications adapters and FlexLogix controllers.
  
• Power Supply. 120V ac or 24V dc options with either conduit pipe thread or increased safety connections.
  

Communication

The dual media ControlNet Ex I/O communications adapter module (1797-ACNR15) provides an interface for communication between the I/O modules in the hazardous area and a scanner port for a programmable controller processor across an I/O link. It is capable of redundant media operation. The ControlNet Ex I/O adapter module interfaces with the modular backplane made up of terminal bases to communicate with the I/O modules. The adapter module interfaces to a coax ControlNet Ex segment in the hazardous area.

The coax ControlNet Ex segment within the hazardous area, in turn, is interfaced through a coax repeater module (1797-RPA) and fiber media port adapter (1797-RPFM) to a fiber-optic ControlNet Ex segment, which can cross the boundary between the hazardous area and the safe area. In the safe area, the fiber-optic segment is interfaced to a coax ControlNet segment to provide a path for communication with a scanner port for a programmable controller processor. Or, the coax ControlNet Ex segment within the hazardous area can be interfaced to a ControlNet Ex coax barrier (1797-BCNR). It is also capable of redundant media operation.

With the FLEX Ex bus isolator pair, you can connect FLEX and FLEX Ex modules to the same adapter, allowing combinations of intrinsically safe (IS) and non-IS systems. This provides a cost-effective means to use FLEX Ex in lower point count applications, and allows connection to other FLEX I/O adapters and alternative networks. The bus isolator pair consists of a bus isolator module (1797-BIC) and FLEXBus connector (1797-CEC). The bus isolator pair can be used with these FLEX I/O communications adapters: DeviceNet (1794-ADN), ControlNet (1794-ACN15), Redundant ControlNet (1794-ACNR15), Universal Remote I/O (1794-ASB), and EtherNet/IP (1794-AENT). It can also be used with FlexLogix controllers. A FLEX Ex power supply is required to power the FLEX Ex modules regardless of location.