Contemporary Control Systems AI User Manual

AI

A Line of Fixed Port Active Hubs for ARCNET®
Local Area Networks

User Manual

#TD675100-0MJ

Trademarks

Contemporary Controls, ARC Control, ARC DETECT and EXTEND­A-BUS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Contemporary
Control Systems, Inc. ARCNET is a registered trademark of Datapoint
Corporation. Other product names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
TD675100-0MJ Revised April 2010.

Copyright

© Copyright January 1997-2010 by Contemporary Control Systems,
Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into
any language or computer language, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of:

Contemporary Control Systems, Inc.
2431 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]
WWW: http://www.ccontrols.com

Contemporary Controls Ltd
Sovereign Court T wo
University of W arwick Science Park
Sir William L yons Road
Coventry CV4 7EZ UK
T el: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Disclaimer

Contemporary Control Systems, Inc. reserves the right to make
changes in the specifications of the product described within this
manual at any time without notice and without obligation of
Contemporary Control Systems, Inc. to notify any person of such
revision or change.

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Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................ 1

1.1 Description ................................................ 1

1.2 Features .................................................... 2

1.3 Specifications ............................................ 3

1.4 Ordering Information ................................ 5

Chapter 2 Installation...........................................................7

2.1 Introduction ............................................... 7

2.2 Electromagnetic Compliance .................... 7

2.3 Mounting the AI ........................................ 8

2.4 Powering the AI ....................................... 8

2.5 Topologies ............................................... 11

2.6 Connecting Cables to the AI................... 12

2.7 Variable Data Rates ................................ 21

2.8 Supporting Extended Timeouts................ 22

Chapter 3 Operation .......................................................... 25

3.1 Theory of Operation ................................ 25

3.2 LED Indicators........................................ 26

3.3 Isolating Faulty Nodes with Line

Activity Indicators................................... 28

Chapter 4 Service ............................................................... 29

W arranty............................................................. 29

T echnical Support............................................... 30

Warranty Repair ................................................. 30

Non-W arranty Repair ......................................... 31

Returning Products for Repair............................ 31

Appendices

Appendix A–Permissible Segment Lengths ........ 32

Appendix B–Declaration of Conformity............. 35

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List of Figures

Figure 2-1 DC Powered........................................................ 9

Figure 2-2 Redundant DC Powered .................................... 9

Figure 2-3 AC Powered ..................................................... 10

Figure 2-4 AC Powered with Grounded Secondary .......... 10

Figure 2-5 AC Powered with Battery Backup .................. 11

Figure 2-6 Repeater ........................................................... 11

Figure 2-7 Link ................................................................... 12

Figure 2-8 Hub ................................................................... 12

Figure 2-9 DC Coupled EIA-485 Option (-485) ................ 16

Figure 2-10 Each -485 Hub Port Has Provisions For

Applying Bias and T ermination ......................... 17

Figure 2-1 1 AC Coupled EIA-485 Option (-485X).............. 19

Figure 2-12 RJ-11 Connections Found on CC’s NIMs ........ 19

Figure 2-13 AI Twisted-Pair Pinouts ................................... 20

Figure 2-14 Front Panel of the AI2 and AI3........................ 20

Figure 2-15 RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments ................... 21

Figure 2-16 Data Rate Switch ............................................. 22

Figure 2-17 Extended Timeout Jumpers............................... 23

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1 Introduction

1.1 Description

The ARCNET Interconnect (AI) series of external fixed port
hubs provide a low cost method of expanding ARCNET local
area networks. Expansion methods include the use of repeaters,
links and hubs. Repeaters are used to extend a wiring segment
using the same cabling technology . A link allows the mixing of
two cabling technologies within one segment. A hub allows for
the addition of a segment and support for distributed star
topologies. The AI can implement all three expansion methods
depending upon the number of ports on the AI. The AI2
provides two ports for repeater and link applications while the
AI3 implements the hub function. However, the AI2 and AI3
utilize the same robust hub timing electronics found in
Contemporary Controls’ (CC’ s) MOD HUB series of modular
active hubs. This includes precision delay line timing, digitally
controlled timers for dependable operation and reduced bit jitter.

The AI operates from either low voltage AC or DC power . For
DC operation, a voltage source in the range of 10 to 36 volts is
required. For AC operation, a voltage source in the range of 8 to
24 volts is required. Companion regulatory approved
transformers are available under separate model numbers for
UL and CE Mark applications.

The timing electronics uses a precision delay line timing
generator which regenerates the incoming ARCNET signal
without introducing excessive bit jitter . The regenerated signal is
then sent to all other ports on the hub. A watchdog timer is
included to prevent the possibility of hub lockup eliminating the
necessity of cycling power on a failed hub. The hub unlatch
delay time is derived from a crystal oscillator for high accuracy
and repeatability . The AI series supports variable data rates
from 78 kbps to 10 Mbps in order to accommodate newer
ARCNET controller chips and popular EIA-485 transceivers.

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Active hubs increase the robustness of ARCNET networks.
They maximize the distance that can be achieved on each cable
segment—up to 2000 feet on coaxial segments. They prevent
interference to the network by squelching reflections caused by
open or shorted cable segments attached to the hub. Unused hub
ports need not be terminated. Active hubs allow for a distributed
star topology , thereby minimizing the cabling required in a
plant. Active links and repeaters provide extensions to bus
systems or bridging to other cable media.

1.2 Features

• Compatible with the baseband ARCNET network

• Compatible with all CC’s network interface modules

(NIMs) and active hubs

• Supports either 2 or 3 ports

• Panel-mount enclosure

• Configurations available for either link, repeater or hub

operation

• Supports coaxial, twisted-pair and fiber optic cable

• LED indicator identifies reconfiguration of the network

• Minimizes bit jitter with precision delay line timing

• W atchdog timer prevents hub lockup

• Hub unlatch delay digitally controlled

• Low voltage AC or DC powered

• Provisions for redundant power supplies

• Supports variable data rates from 78 kbps to 10 Mbps

• Accommodates AC or DC coupled EIA-485 networks

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1.3 Specifications

Electrical

DC AC
Input voltage: 10–36 V 8–24 V
Input power: 4 W 4 V A
Input frequency: N/A 47–63 Hz

Mechanical

Optical Power Budget (25°C)

-FOG
Fiber Size 850 nm
(Microns) (dB)

50/125 6.6

62.5/125 10.4
100/140 15.9

Environmental
Operating temperature: 0°C to +60°C

Storage temperature: –40°C to +85°C

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Functional

The data rate switch is not present on the -CXS, -CXB and

-TPB models.
Compliance: ANSI/ATA 878.1
Extended timeouts: Supports all three extended

ARCNET timeouts
Hub, Repeaters and
Link delay: 320 ns maximum @ 2.5 Mbps
Unlatch delay time: 5.9 µs @ 2.5 Mbps

LED indicators: RECON–yellow

ACTIVITY–green

ST A TUS–green
Regulatory Compliance

CE Mark
CFR 47, Part 15 Class A

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1.4 Ordering Information

The AI series is available in several configurations depending upon
the application and cable media supported.

Repeaters

AI2-CXB Coaxial bus repeater
AI2-TPB Twisted-pair bus repeater
AI2-485 DC coupled EI-485 repeater
AI2-485X AC coupled EIA-485 repeater

Links

AI2-CXB/FOG-ST Coaxial bus to fiber optic link
AI2-TPB/FOG-ST Twisted-pair bus to fiber optic link
AI2-485/FOG-ST DC EIA-485 to fiber optic link
AI2-485X/FOG-ST AC EIA-485 to fiber optic link

Hubs

AI3-CXS Coaxial star hub
AI3-TB5 Twisted-pair bus hub
AI3-485 DC coupled EIA-485 hub
AI3-485X AC coupled EIA-485 hub
AI3-485/FOG-ST DC coupled EIA-485 to fiber hub
AI3-485X/FOG-ST AC coupled EIA-485 to fiber hub
AI3-FOG-ST/TB5 Twisted-pair bus/fiber backbone hub
AI3-FOG-ST/CXB Coaxial bus/fiber backbone hub
AI3-FOG-ST/485 DC Coupled EIA-485/fiber backbone hub
AI3-FOG-ST/485X AC Coupled EIA-485/fiber backbone hub

Accessories

AI-XFMR W all-mount transformer 120 V ac (nom)
AI-XFMR-E Wall-mount transformer 230 Vac (nom)
AI-DIN DIN-rail mounting kit
BNC-T BNC “T” connector
BNC-TER 93 ohm BNC terminator

Contact factory regarding special requirements.

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2 Installation

2.1 Introduction

The AI series is intended to be panel mounted into an industrial
enclosure or into a wiring closet. This can be achieved with

either panel-mounting brackets or clipping onto DIN rail as
described in Section 2.3.

2.2 Electromagnetic Compliance

The AI series complies with Class A radiated and conducted
emissions as defined by CFR 47, Part 15 and EN55022. This
equipment is intended for use in nonresidential areas. Refer to
the following notices in regard to the location of the installed
equipment.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to the
rules of CFR 47, Part 15. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the
user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.

Warning

This is a Class A product as defined in EN55022. In a
domestic environment this product may cause radio
interference in which case the user may be required to take
adequate measures.

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The AI has been tested to EN55024 Generic Immunity
Standard–Industrial Environment. This standard identifies a
series of tests requiring the equipment to perform to a particular
level during or after the execution of the tests. The three classes
of performance are defined by CC as follows:

Class A — Normal operation, however, occasional
reconfigurations may occur or throughput reduced due to error
recovery algorithm by the ARCNET data link level protocol.

Class B — Throughput reduced to zero and continuous
reconfigurations occur. Normal operation resumed after
offending signal removed.

Class C — Complete loss of function. Unit resets and normal
operation restored without human intervention.

At no time did the AI fail to return to normal operation or
become unsafe during the execution of these tests.

A copy of the Declaration of Conformity is in the appendix.

2.3 Mounting the AI

The AI Series can be snap-mounted ont o TS-35 DIN-rail using
the pre-attached DIN-rail clip. If the clip is removed, the unit
can be panel mounted using the adjustable brackets affixed to

rear of the enclosure. (See the dimensional drawing in

Section 1.3 for details).

2.4 Powering the AI

The AI requires either low voltage AC or DC power in order to
operate. Consult the specifications for power requirements.
Power is provided to a four pin removable keyed connector and
there are several methods for providing power.

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