
2012 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
P/N: 1802000210021
IMC-21A
Hardware Installation Guide
Moxa Industrial Media Converter
Third Edition, June 2012

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Overview
The Moxa Industrial Media Converter IMC-21A series consists of
entry-level 10/100BaseT(X) to 100BaseFX media converters that provide
a cost-effective solution, and are specially designed for reliable and stable
operation in harsh industrial environments.
Throughout this Hardware Installation Guide, we use IMC as
abbreviation for Industrial Media Converter:
IMC = Industrial Media Converter
Package Checklist
Moxa’s IMC-21A is shipped with the following items. If any of these items
is missing or damaged, please contact your customer service
representative for assistance.
• IMC-21A media converter
• Hardware installation guide (this guide)
• Warranty card
Features
• Power inputs: 12 to 48 VDC
• The TP port’s connection speed, Half/Full duplex mode, and
Force/Auto mode are all DIP switch selectable
• The fiber port’s Half/Full duplex mode is DIP switch selectable
• Supports Link Fault Pass-Through (LFP)
• DIN-Rail mountable
• Multi mode and single mode models with SC or ST fiber connectors
are available
• Operating temperature range from -40 to 75°C (T models)

2. Reset button
3. Terminal block for power input and
grounding
4. Power input LED
5. 100BaseFX (SC/ST connector) port
6. FX port's 100 Mbps LED
7. FX port's FDX/COL LED
8. TP port’s 100 Mbps LED
9. TP port's 10 Mbps LED
The IMC-21A series includes the
-21A-M-SC, IMC-21A-M-ST, and

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Mounting Dimensions
DIN-Rail Mounting
The aluminum DIN-Rail attachment plate should be fixed to the back
panel of the IMC-21A when you take it out of the box. If you need to
reattach the DIN-Rail attachment plate to the IMC-21A, make sure the
stiff metal spring is situated towards the top.
Wiring Requirements
Be sure to disconnect the power cord before installing
and/or wiring your Moxa IMC.
Calculate the maximum possible current in each power
wire and common wire. Observe all electrical codes
dictating the maximum current allowable for each wire
size.
• If the current goes above the maximum rating, the wiring
could overheat, causing serious damage to your

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• Use separate paths to route wiring for power and devices. If power
wiring and device wiring paths must cross, make sure the wires are
perpendicular at the intersection point.
• Do not run signal or communications wiring and power wiring in the
same wire conduit. To avoid interference, wires with different signal
characteristics should be routed separately.
• You can use the type of signal transmitted through a wire to
determine which wires should be kept separate. The rule of thumb is
that wiring that shares similar electrical characteristics can be
bundled together.
• Keep input wiring and output wiring separated.
• We strongly advise that you label wiring to all devices in the system.
Grounding the Moxa IMC
Grounding and wire routing help limit the effects
of noise due to electromagnetic interference
(EMI). Run the ground connection from the right
most
connector of the 3-contact terminal block to
the grounding surface prior to connecting
devices.
This product is intended to be mounted to a well
mounting surface such as a metal panel.
Wiring the Power Inputs
The two left-most contacts of the 3-contact terminal block connector on
the IMC’s top panel are used for the IMC’s DC inputs. Take the following
steps to wire the IMC’s DC power inputs:
STEP 1: Insert the negative/positive DC wires
into the V
STEP 2: To keep the DC wires from pulling loose,
use a small flat-blade screwdriver to tighten the
wire
-clamp screws on the front of the terminal
Insert the plastic terminal block
connector prongs into the terminal block
receptor, which is located on IMC’s top panel.

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Communication Connections
RJ45 Ethernet Port Connection
The IMC-21A has one 10/100BaseT(X) Ethernet port located on the front
panel for connecting to Ethernet-enabled devices.
Pinouts and cable wiring diagrams for both MDI (NIC-type) and MDI-X
(HUB/switch-type) ports for both straight-through and cross-over
Ethernet cables are shown below:
Straight-Through Cable Wiring
Cross-Over Cable Wiring
Fiber Optic Port Connection
The concept behind the SC/ST port and cable is quite straightforward.
Suppose you are connecting devices I and II. Contrary to electrical signals,
optical signals do not require a circuit in order to transmit data.
Consequently, one of the optical lines is used to transmit data from device
I to device II, and the other optical line is used transmit data from device
II to device I, for full-duplex transmission.
All you need to remember is to connect the Tx (transmit) port of device I
to the Rx (receive) port of device II, and the Rx (receive) port of device I
to the Tx (transmit) port of device II. If you make your own cables, we
suggest labeling the two sides of the same line with the same letter
(A-to-A and B-to-B, as shown below, or A1-to-A2 and B1-to-B2).

SC-Port to SC-Port Cable Wiring
ST-Port to ST-Port Cable Wiring
This is a Class 1 Laser/LED product. To avoid causing serious
damage to your eyes, do not stare directly into the laser beam.

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DIP Switch Settings
Full Duplex* Half Duplex
“
ON”: Forces Full Duplex on Fiber port.
“OFF”: Forces Half Duplex on Fiber port.
2
Link Fault Pass
ON”: Enables “Link Fault Pass Through”, the link
status on the TX port will inform the FX port of the
same device and vice versa.
“OFF”: Disables “Link Fault Pass Through”, the
link status on the TX port will not inform the FX
(Only when Auto Negotiation (DIP 5) is disabled)
“ON”: Forces Full Duplex on Ethernet port.
“OFF”: Forces Half Duplex on Ethernet port.
4
(Only when Auto Negotiation (DIP 5) is disabled)
“ON”: Forces 100Mbps on Ethernet port.
“
OFF”: Forces 10Mbps on Ethernet port.
ON”: Enables “Auto Negotiation” function, the
speed and duplex states for each port link segment
are automatically configured using the highest
performance interoperation mode.
“ OFF”: Disables “Auto Negotiation” function, the
speed and duplex states depend on the DIP 3 & 4
*Default setting
After changing the DIP switch setting, you will need to power off and then
power on the IMC-21A, or use a pointed object to hold the reset button
down for five seconds to activate the new setting.

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LED Indicators
The front panel of the Moxa IMC contains several LED indicators. The
function of each LED is described in the table below.
Power is being supplied to the power
input.
Off Power is not being supplied to the
FX port’s 100 Mbps link is active.
Data is being transmitted at 100 Mbps.
FX Port’s 100 Mbps link is inactive.
100BaseFX port is transmitting in full
duplex mode.
A data collision has occurred.
100BaseFX port is transmitting in half
duplex mode.
TP port’s 100 Mbps link is active.
Data is being transmitted at 100 Mbps.
TP port’s 100 Mbps link is inactive.
TP port’s 10 Mbps link is active.
Data is being transmitted at 10 Mbps.
TP port’s 10 Mbps link is inactive.
LFP: DIP switch is set to “LFP” mode

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LFP: DIP switch is set to “DIS” mode
Device1
Auto MDI/MDI-X Connection
The Auto MDI/MDI-X function allows users to connect the Moxa IMC’s
10/100BaseT(X) ports to any kind of Ethernet device, regardless of the
type of Ethernet cable used for the connection. This means that you can
use either a straight-through cable or cross-over cable to connect the IMC
to Ethernet devices.
Dual Speed Functionality and Switching
The Moxa IMC’s 10/100 Mbps switched RJ45 port auto negotiates with the
connected device for the fastest data transmission rate supported by both
devices. All models of Moxa IMC are plug-and-play devices, so that
software configuration is not required during installation or maintenance.
The half/full duplex mode for the switched RJ45 ports is user dependent
and changes (by auto-negotiation) to full or half duplex, depending on
which transmission speed is supported by the attached device.
Auto-Negotiation and Speed Sensing
The IMC-21A series’ RJ45 Ethernet port supports auto-negotiation in
10BaseT and 100BaseT(X) modes, with operation governed by the IEEE
802.3u standard. This means that some nodes could be operating at 10
Mbps, while at the same time, other nodes are operating at 100 Mbps.
Auto-negotiation takes place when an RJ45 cable connection is made, and
then each time a LINK is enabled. The Moxa IMC advertises its capability
for using either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps transmission speeds, with the
device at the other end of the cable expected to advertise similarly.
Depending on which type of device is connected, the devices will agree to
operate at either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.
If a Moxa IMC’s RJ45 Ethernet port is connected to a non-negotiating
device, it will default to 10 Mbps speed and half-duplex mode, as required
by the IEEE 802.3u standard.

IEEE802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x
100BaseFX (SC, ST connectors available)
Power, 10/100M (TP port), 100M (Fiber port),
FDX/COL (Fiber port)
DIP Switch The following are DIP switch selectable:
TP port’s connection speed, Half/Full duplex mode,
Force/Auto mode
Fiber connection’s Half/Full duplex mode
Link Fault Pass-Through (LFP)
Power
Consumption
M-SC:
245 mA @ 12 V
130 mA @ 24 V
M-ST:
265 mA @ 12 V
135 mA @ 24 V
S-SC:
255 mA @ 12 V
130 mA @ 24 V
Removable 3-contact terminal block
Overload Current
Protection
Reverse Polarity
Protection
Present
Physical Characteristics
IP30 protected, metal case
30 × 115 × 70 mm (1.19 x 4.53 x 2.76 in)
Standard models: -10 to 60°C (14 to 140°F)
Wide temp. models: -40 to 75°C (-40 to 167°F)
-40 to 75°C (-40 to 167°F)
Ambient Relative
Humidity
5 to 95% (non-condensing)
FCC Part 15, CISPR (EN55022) class A
EN 61000-4-2 (ESD) Level 3
EN 61000-4-3 (RS) Level 2
EN 61000-4-4 (EFT) Level 2
EN 61000-4-5 (Surge) Level 2
EN 61000-4-6 (CS) Level 2

Federal Communications Commission Statement
FCC—This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. 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
inte
rference 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 or her own expense.
Technical Support Contact Information
www.moxa.com/support
Moxa China (Shanghai office):
Toll