GE MultiNet Instruction Manual

GE

Grid Solutions

MultiNet
Serial to Ethernet Converter

Instruction Manual

Firmware Revision 1.x

Manual P/N: 1601-0117-A4

GE Publication Number: GEK-106498C

*1601-0220-A4*

Copyright © 2017 GE Multilin Inc. All rights reserved.

The contents of this manual are the property of GE Multilin Inc. This documentation is
furnished on license and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission
of GE Multilin. The content of this manual is for informational use only and is subject to
change without notice.

Part number: 1601-0117-A4 (July 2017)

For product support, contact the information and call center as follows:

GE Grid Solutions
650 Markland Street
Markham, Ontario
Canada L6C 0M1

Worldwide telephone: [phone]
Europe/Middle East/Africa telephone: [phone]
North America toll-free: 1 800 547 8629
Fax: [phone]

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Europe e-mail:
Website:

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http://www.gegridsolutions.com/multilin

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TOC TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

FEATURES ..............................................................................................................................................1

DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................................2

RS485 SERIAL PORT ..........................................................................................................................3

10BASE-F FIBER OPTIC PORT ........................................................................................................4

INPUT POWER TERMINALS ............................................................................................................5

MOUNTING ...........................................................................................................................................6

GETTING STARTED WITH ENERVISTA TO SETUP MULTINET ............................................7

CONFIGURATION ...............................................................................................................................10

EXAMPLE: CONNECTING MULTINET TO A PQM ............................................................12

EXAMPLE: CONFIGURING A LAPTOP TO COMMUNICATE TO MULTINET OVER CROSSOVER

CABLE. ................................................................................................................15

DIMENSIONS ........................................................................................................................................17

ORDER CODE .......................................................................................................................................18

SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................19

WARRANTY ...........................................................................................................................................21

MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL TOC–I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC–II MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL

GE

Grid Solutions

1. Features

MultiNet

Serial to Ethernet Converter

Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual

• Converts Modbus® RTU over RS485 into Modbus® TCP/IP over Ethernet.

• Supports both 10BaseT Ethernet and 10BaseF fiber connections.

• Connect up to 32 RS485 serial devices to an Ethernet network.

• Modbus

communicate to the same IED.

• The Multinet-FE is specifically designed for use with the PQMII and other GE serial

Modbus IEDs and deployed for use in an Electrical utility or Substation as part of a
Large Scale Fixed Installation (LSFI).

• Simple "plug and play" device setup with EnerVista software.

®

TCP/IP allows multiple SCADA masters to simultaneously connect and

MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL 1

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

2. Description

The MultiNet Serial-to-Ethernet converter is a communications module that provides GE
Multilin serial Modbus IEDs with Modbus TCP/IP communications over Ethernet. MultiNet
has the capability to connect up to 32 serial Modbus devices, eliminating complex wiring
and additional communications converters, as well as providing a streamlined and
economical Ethernet hub. Unlike most communications converters designed for
commercial use, MultiNet is environmentally hardened to withstand severe utility and
industrial conditions.

MultiNet can be used to connect an existing Modbus RTU network over RS485 onto a LAN
in order to support multiple SCADA masters or advanced HMI systems. Additionally, the
use of MultiNet greatly facilitates the setup and wiring of any serial device to a
communications center since it avoids costly RS485 cable runs. Finally, large RS485
networks are slow and have a typical limit of 32 devices. MultiNet allows customers to
expand that limit as well as improving network performance by separating large RS485
networks into smaller groups.

2 MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL

FIGURE –1: Connections

3. RS485 Serial Port

RS485 data transmission and reception is accomplished over a single twisted pair with
transmit and receive data alternating over the same two wires. Using this port, continuous
monitoring and control to a PLC, protection relay or any serial Modbus IED is possible.

Connect the “+”, “–“ and common terminal of MultiNet to the “+”, “–“ and common terminals
of all the IEDs. Correct polarity must also be observed. For instance, the IEDs must be
connected with all RS485 “+” terminals connected together, and all RS485 “–” terminals
connected together.

To minimize errors from noise, the use of shielded twisted pair wire is recommended. The
COM terminal should be connected to the common wire inside the shield, when provided.
To avoid loop currents, the shield should be grounded at one point only. Each relay should
also be daisy-chained to the next relay in the link. A maximum of 32 relays can be
connected in this manner without exceeding driver capability.

Lightning strikes and ground surge currents can cause large momentary voltage
differences between remote ends of the communication link. For this reason, surge
protection devices are internally provided at the communication port. An isolated power
supply with an opto-coupled data interface also acts to reduce noise coupling. To ensure
maximum reliability, all equipment should have similar transient protection devices
installed.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Note

NOTE

Both ends of the RS485 circuit can be terminated with impedance as shown in Figure 2:
Typical Configuration. Termination networks should only be applied if long cable runs

are used between RS485 connections. A typical load value for a terminating network is a
120-ohm resistor in series with a 100-pF capacitor.

The termination capacitors are used for AC termination to reduce the power consumption
of the idle link, as well as to reduce the ringing voltage. The negative effect is a reduction in
cable length and bit rate. Termination capacitor values are dependent on various factors,
including the number of Unit Loads, network data rate, and cable length. The termination
capacitor value provided in the instruction manual should be taken as a guideline only. In
order to determine the optimum capacitor value factors, such as number of devices
connected on the network, network speed, physical media, and network cable length
should be considered.

MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL 3

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

4. 10BASE-F Fiber Optic Port

The fiber optic communications port allows for fast and efficient communications with
Modbus TCP/IP at 10 Mbps. Fiber optic transmissions provide an ideal solution for areas
where RS485 communications or Ethernet via a twisted pair have traditionally caused
problems. Fiber is immune to electrical interference and provides complete isolation.

Optical fibers may be connected to the MultiNet supporting a wavelength of 820 nm in
multimode. Optical fiber is only available with the MultiNet-FE option (see the Order Code
for details). The MultiNet-FE has a 10BaseF transmitter/receiver for optical fiber
communications and supports optical fiber sizes of 50/125 μm, 62.5/125 μm, and 100/140
μm. The fiber optic port is designed such that the response times will not vary for any core
100 μm or less in diameter. For optical power budgeting, splices are required every 1 km
for the transmitter/receiver pair (the ST type connector contributes for a connector loss of

0.2 dB). When splicing optical fibers, the diameter and numerical aperture of each fiber
must be the same. Only a quarter turn of the coupling is required to engage or disengage
the ST type connector.

The 10BaseT Ethernet port and the 10BaseF Fiber port are internally linked and should not
be used together.

Ensure the dust covers are installed when the fiber is not In use. Dirty or scratched
connectors can lead to high losses on a fiber link.

Observing any fiber transmitter output may cause injury to the eye!

4 MULTINET SERIAL TO ETHERNET CONVERTER – INSTRUCTION MANUAL