These operating instructions describe how to install and use the
National Instruments FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 counter
modules (referred to inclusively as the [c]FP-CTR-500). For
information about configuring and accessing the [c]FP-CTR-500
over a network, refer to the user manual for the FieldPoint network
module you are using.
Features
The [c]FP-CTR-500 is a FieldPoint counter module with the
following features:
•Eight 16-bit counters with individual count input terminals
•Four gate-input channels configurable as either gates or digital
inputs
•Four output channels configurable as either generic digital
outputs or associated outputs for the count-input channels
•Sinking inputs and sourcing outputs, compatible with
12 or 24 VDC devices
•Internal frequency references of 1 kHz and 32 kHz
•Internally cascadable counters
•Software-enabled 50 kHz or 200 Hz lowpass filter on
count-input channels
•On/Off LED indicators
•2,300 V
•Hot swappable
transient overvoltage protection
rms
FieldPoint™, National Instruments™, NI™, and ni.com™ are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation.
Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software,
the
The FP-CTR-500 mounts on a FieldPoint terminal base (FP-TB-x),
which provides operating power to the module. Installing the
FP-CTR-500 onto a powered terminal base does not disrupt the
operation of the FieldPoint bank.
To install the FP-CTR-500, refer to Figure 1 and complete the
following steps:
1. Slide the terminal base key to either position X, used for any
module, or position 8, used for the FP-CTR-500 module.
2. Align the FP-CTR-500 alignment slots with the guide rails on
the terminal base.
3. Press firmly to seat the FP-CTR-500 on the terminal base.
When the module is firmly seated, the terminal base latch locks
it into place.
Key
Latch
Alignment
Slot
Guide Rails
Terminal BaseI/O Module
Figure 1. Installing the FP-CTR-500
Installing the cFP-CTR-500
The cFP-CTR-500mounts on a Compact FieldPoint backplane
(cFP-BP-x), which provides operating power to the module.
Installing the cFP-CTR-500 onto a powered backplane does not
disrupt the operation of the FieldPoint bank.
To install the cFP-CTR-500, refer to Figure 2 and complete the
following steps:
1. Align the captive screws on the cFP-CTR-500 with the holes
on the backplane. The alignment keys on the cFP-CTR-500
prevent backward insertion.
2. Press firmly to seat the cFP-CTR-500 on the backplane.
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-5002ni.com
Page 3
3. Using a number 2 Phillips screwdriver with a shank of at least
64 mm (2.5 in.) length, tighten the captive screws to 1.1 N ⋅ m
(10 lb ⋅ in.) of torque. The nylon coating on the screws prevents
them from loosening.
The FP-TB-x terminal base has connections for each FP-CTR-500
channel and for an external power supply to power the output
channels and field devices. The cFP-CB-x connector block
provides the same connections for the cFP-CTR-500. The V and
terminals are all internally connected, as are the C and COM
V
SUP
terminals.
Use a 10–30 VDC external power supply for the output channels.
The power supply must provide enough current to power all of the
loads on the output channels, up to 1 A per channel. Connect the
external power supply to multiple V and V
multiple C and COM terminals as needed to ensure that the
maximum current through any terminal is 2 A or less.
Install a 2 A maximum, fast-acting fuse between the external
power supply and the V or V
a 1 A maximum, fast-acting fuse suitable for the load at the V
terminal on each channel. Install
SUP
OUT
terminal. The detailed wiring diagrams in this document show
fuses where appropriate.
Table 1 lists the terminal assignments for the signals of each
channel. Terminal assignments are also listed on the side panel of
the cFP-CTR-500 and under the slide-in card on the front of the
FP-CTR-500.
Table 1. Terminal Assignments
Terminal Numbers
Channel Name
VIN or V
OUT
1
Count Inputs
Count Input 011718
Count Input 121718
Count Input 231920
Count Input 341920
Count Input 452122
Count Input 562122
Count Input 672324
Count Input 782324
Gate Inputs
Gate 092526
Gate 1102526
Gate 2112728
Gate 3122728
2
V
SUP
COM
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-5004ni.com
Page 5
Table 1. Terminal Assignments (Continued)
Terminal Numbers
Channel Name
VIN or V
OUT
1
2
V
SUP
COM
Outputs
Output 0132930
Output 1142930
Output 2153132
Output 3163132
1
Install a 1 A maximum, fast-acting fuse on each V
2
Install a 2 A maximum, fast-acting fuse on each V and V
OUT
terminal.
terminal.
SUP
Inputs
Each input channel has one input terminal, VIN. Each channel also
has V
devices. You can connect the eight count-input channels and four
gate-input channels to devices with sourcing outputs. The
[c]FP-CTR-500 has sinking inputs, which means that the V
terminal provides a path to common.
The [c]FP-CTR-500 input channels are optically isolated from the
rest of the FieldPoint bank and have current-limiting circuitry. All
the input channels are referenced to the C and COM terminals.
When the voltage across V
flows through V
ON state for the channel. When the voltage across V
is 6 V or lower, current does not flow through V
is in the OFF state.
Ensure that the sourcing-output devices have OFF state leakage
currents of less than 0.2 mA so they do not generate false ON state
readings.
Figure 3. Wiring a Count-Input or Gate-Input Channel to a
Sourcing-Output Device
Sourcing-
Output
Device
V
SUP
V
COM
IN
+–
2 A max
VC
Input
Circuitry
To next channel
[c]FP-CTR-500
External
Power
Supply
(Optional)
Figure 4. Wiring a Count-Input or Gate-Input Channel to an Externally
Powered Sourcing-Output Device
Outputs
Each output channel has one output terminal, V
also has V
and COM terminals that you can use to supply power
SUP
to field devices. You can connect the four output channels to
devices with sinking inputs. The [c]FP-CTR-500 has sourcing
outputs, which means that the V
terminal provides a path to a
OUT
voltage supply.
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-5006ni.com
. Each channel
OUT
Page 7
The [c]FP-CTR-500 output channels are optically isolated from
the rest of the FieldPoint bank and have short-circuit protection
circuitry. In the ON state, a transistor is turned on between the
positive external supply voltage (V and V
(V
). In the OFF state, this transistor is turned off, allowing only
OUT
) and the output
SUP
a small leakage current to flow. Ensure that the load on any channel
does not draw more than 1 A.
Caution For a cFP-CTR-500 operating in the 50 – 60 °C
temperature range, the output current must not exceed
0.75 A on any channel.
In the ON state, the effective resistance between the output (V
and the supply voltage (V and V
) is 0.3 Ω. This resistance
SUP
OUT
causes a voltage drop between the external supply voltage and the
output voltage. Table 2 lists the actual output voltages based on the
voltage provided by the external power supply.
Table 2. [c]FP-CTR-500 Output Voltages for a 0.5 A Current Flow
V
109.85
1211.85
2423.85
3029.85
V
OUT
If the external power supply you are using does not provide one of
the voltages in Table 2, use the following equation to calculate the
actual voltage output.
ActualOutput = V
whereActualOutput is the voltage sourced by V
V
is the voltage provided by the external power supply
Figure 5. Wiring an Output Channel to a Sinking-Input Device
V
COM
SUP
OUT
2 A max
1 A max
Load
10–30 VDC
External
Power
Supply
+
–
Configuring Count-Input Channels
Channels 0–7 are count-input channels. In FieldPoint software,
you can configure each count-input channel to operate with
attributes and commands. In the Channel Configuration dialog
box, select attributes for each channel from the Attributes menu
and commands from the Commands menu. The following sections
describe the different attributes and commands you can select
when you are configuring the count-input channels. For more
information about using FieldPoint software, refer to the
FieldPoint software help file.
Terminal Count
To set the terminal count, enter a value from 0 to 65,535 in the
Value field. The default value is 65,535. When the count-input
channel exceeds its terminal count, the count resets to 0 and
triggers any outputs associated with it. For more information about
associating outputs with a count-input channel, refer to the
Configuring Output Channels section. The count-input channel
also sends a count trigger to the next count-input channel if that
channel is set to use the previous channel as the count source.
Channel Status
In FieldPoint software, the [c]FP-CTR-500 reports one of the
following statuses:
read
. The default channel status is Successful. If a count-input
channel exceeds the terminal count, the channel resets to 0 and
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-5008ni.com
Successful or Overflow since last
Page 9
starts counting again, and the channel status changes to Overflow
since last read
.
Count Source
Select one of the following count sources from the Value menu:
External Count Input, Previous Channel, 1kHz Reference,
or 32 kHz Reference. Select External Count Input, 1 kHz Reference, or 32 kHz Reference to configure the channel so that
it counts low-to-high (off-to-on or rising-edge) transitions of the
count source.
Select Previous Channel if you want the channel to count the
number of times that the previous count-input channel reaches
its terminal value and resets to 0. You can configure multiple
counters to operate as one large counter. You can slave Channel 1
to Channel 0, Channel 0 to Channel 7, Channel 7 to Channel 6, and
so on. If you select this option for all of the channels, no counting
occurs.
Gate Source
Select Gate Input 0–3 from the Value menu to associate a
gate-input channel with a count-input channel. If the count-input
channel uses one of the external gate inputs, counting is enabled
when the gate-input signal is high and is disabled when the signal
is low, as shown in Figure 6. The external device determines the
high and low intervals of the gate-input signal. If you do not
associate a gate-input channel with the count-input channel, select
Always Disabled or Always Enabled. Select Always Enabled if
you want the count-input channel to count at all times, even if there
is nothing wired to the gate input. Always Enabled is the default
value.
Gate
Input
Count
Input
001233334566
Figure 6. Gate Source Set to an External Gate Input
You can configure each count-input channel to reset each time the
FieldPoint network module reads it by selecting Reset on Read
from the Value menu. A read-initiated reset also resets any outputs
associated with the target channel. The default is Don’t Reset
On Read.
Note Read Reset mode is not intended to be used with
FieldPoint Ethernet network modules.
Noise Rejection
Each count-input channel has a software-enabled lowpass filter
that you can set to reject frequencies above 200 Hz or 50 kHz.
Select 200 Hz or 50 kHz from the Value menu to configure noise
rejection. The default is 50 kHz.
Control
You can set the Control command to increment or reset by selecting
Increment or Reset from the Action menu. The increment-control
command increases the count-input channel in value by one. The
reset-control command resets the count-input channel. The control
commands ignore the gate-source setting and gate-input state.
Configuring Gate-Input Channels
Channels 8–11 are gate-input channels. The only difference
between the input circuits of the gate-input channels and those of
the count-input channels is that the gate-input channels do not have
a programmable lowpass filter. The states of the gate inputs can
always be read as simple digital inputs on Channels 8–11.
You do not need to configure anything in software for the
gate-input channels.
Configuring Output Channels
Channels 12–15 are digital output channels. In the Channel
Configuration dialog box of FieldPoint software, you can select
attributes for each output channel from the Attributes menu. The
following sections describe the different attributes you can select
for output channels.
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-50010ni.com
Page 11
Output Source
You can configure each output channel to operate either as an
associated output for one of the eight count-input channels or as
a generic digital output. Select Counter Channel 0–7 from the
Value menu if you want the digital output channel to operate as an
output for a corresponding count-input channel. Select Discrete Data from the Value menu if you want to use this channel as a
generic digital output. When you write data to an output channel,
you affect the output state only if you configure the Output Source
as Discrete Data.
Output Mode
For each output channel, select one of the following output modes
from the Value menu: Toggle, Reset Off; Toggle, Reset On;
On Pulse; or Off Pulse. The output modes work only if you select
Counter Channel 0–7 for the Output Source. The following
sections describe the different output modes.
Toggle, Reset Off
In Toggle, Reset Off mode, the output channel starts low and goes
high when the terminal count is exceeded. The output channel
returns to low the next time the terminal count is exceeded or when
you send a reset command to the associated count-input channel.
In Figure 7, the terminal count is 4.
Count
Input
012340123401
Output
Figure 7. Output of a Channel Set to Toggle, Reset Off Mode
In Toggle, Reset On mode, the output channel starts high and goes
low when the terminal count is exceeded. The output channel
returns to high the next time the terminal count is exceeded or
when you send a reset command to the associated count-input
channel. In Figure 8, the terminal count is 4.
Count
Input
012340123401
Output
Figure 8. Output of a Channel Set to Toggle, Reset On Mode
On Pulse
In On Pulse mode, the output channel starts low and goes high
when the terminal count is exceeded. The output channel returns
to low after one count. In Figure 9, the terminal count is 4.
Count
Input
012340123401
Output
Figure 9. Output of a Channel Set to On Pulse Mode
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-50012ni.com
Page 13
Off Pulse
In Off Pulse mode, the output channel starts high and goes low
when the terminal count is exceeded. The output channel returns to
high after one count. In Figure 10, the terminal count is 4.
Count
Input
012340123401
Output
Figure 10. Output of a Channel Set to Off Pulse Mode
Short-Circuit Protection
If the protection circuitry detects a short-circuit condition on an
output channel, it disables the output. If the protection circuitry
disables an output that would otherwise be in the ON state, the
status indicator for that channel remains lit, but the output
transistor is turned off.
Detecting a Short-Circuit Condition
To determine if a channel is in a short-circuit condition, measure
the voltage between the V
greater than 1 V, the channel is in a short-circuit condition. Correct
the problem and reset the circuit.
OUT
and V
terminals. If the voltage is
SUP
Resetting a Channel in a Short-Circuit Condition
To reset a channel in a short-circuit condition, determine the cause
of the condition and disconnect the load from the channel. The
channel resets automatically when the load is removed.
Alternatively, if completely removing the channel load is not
convenient, reset the channel in any of the following ways.
•In FieldPoint software,write a
resets immediately.
•Disconnect the external power supply from the
[c]FP-CTR-500.
•Power off the network module connected to the
[c]FP-CTR-500.
Normal operation can resume after you correct the short-circuit
condition.
Application Note:
Generating a Continuous Pulse Train
You can use two [c]FP-CTR-500 count-input channels and one
output channel to generate a continuous pulse train with a
controllable duty cycle and period. The first count-input channel
serves as a clock prescaler and divides the input clock by a fixed
value. This generates a slower clock for the second count-input
channel, which serves as the pulse counter. The pulse counter is the
output source for the output channel.
Figure 11 shows the components of a continuous pulse train.
Clock
Input
Prescaler
Counter
Internal
Connection
n
Figure 11. Continuous Pulse Train
Pulse
Counter
Pulse Output Terminal
Connection
n
+ 1
Internal
Output
Step 1. Set Up the Prescaler Counter
To set up the prescaler counter, complete the following steps:
1. If you do not need to scale the frequency of your clock input,
you can configure the pulse counter to use the clock input
directly instead of the prescaler counter. To set up the pulse
counter, skip to Step 2. Set Up the Pulse Counter.
2. Select two count-input channels and one output channel to use.
Select count-input channels that are numbered sequentially
(for example, Channels 1 and 2, 5 and 6, or 7 and 0). The
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-50014ni.com
Page 15
count-input channel with the lower number is the prescaler
f
counter and the count-input channel with the higher number is
the pulse counter.
3. Set the Gate Source attribute of the prescaler counter to
Always Enabled, and set Read Reset Mode to Don’t Reset
On Read.
4. Set the Count Source of the prescaler counter to the clock on
which you want to base your pulse train. This can be the
external counter input or one of the [c]FP-CTR-500 internal
references.
5. Subtract 1 from the value that you want to divide the input
clock by, and set the terminal count of the prescaler counter to
the result. For example, a terminal count of 4 divides the input
clock by 5. If you use the 1 kHz reference as the prescaler count
source, this setting generates a 200 Hz clock for the pulse
counter.
To determine the frequency of the prescaler output, use the
following formula:
f
src
----------------------------=
pre
where f
term
is the frequency of the prescaler counter output
pre
is the count input frequency for the prescaler counter
f
src
is the terminal count value for the prescaler
term
pre
pre
1+
counter
Step 2. Set Up the Pulse Counter
To set up the pulse counter, complete the following steps:
1. Set the Count Source of the pulse counter (the count-input
channel with the higher number) to Previous Channel so that
it uses the output from the prescaler counter.
Note If you are not using a prescaler counter, set the
Count Source to the clock on which you want to base
your pulse train.
2. Set the Read Reset Mode of the pulse counter to Don’t Reset On Read and set the Gate Source to Always Enabled.
3. Subtract 1 from the value that you want to divide the count
f
input by and set the Terminal Count of the pulse counter to the
result.
The internal output from the pulse counter triggers the output
channel that you selected for the pulse train output.
To determine the frequency of the output from the pulse counter,
use the following formula:
f
pre
--------------------------------=
term
pulse
1+
where f
pulse
is the pulse counter output frequency
pulse
f
is the prescaler counter output frequency
pre
is the terminal count value for the pulse counter
term
pulse
Step 3. Configure the Pulse Train Output Channel
To configure the pulse train output channel, complete the following
steps:
1. For the output channel that you selected, set the Output Source
to the pulse-counter channel.
2. Set the Output Mode of the output channel. To generate a pulse
train with variable duty cycle, use one of the pulse modes—On
Pulse or Off Pulse. To generate a 50% duty-cycle pulse train,
use one of the toggle modes.
To determine the duty cycle, use the following formulas:
For On Pulse mode, use
d
term
pulse
=
1+
1
--------------------------------
For Off Pulse mode, use
d1
term
pulse
1+
1
--------------------------------
–=
where d is the duty cycle of the pulse train
term
is the terminal count value of the pulse counter
pulse
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-50016ni.com
Page 17
When you set the output to one of the pulse modes, the frequency
of the pulse train (f
the Pulse Counter, but the output frequency is half that value when
you set the output channel to one of the toggle modes.
) is the same as that shown in Step 2. Set Up
pulse
Status Indicators
Figure 12 shows the status indicator LEDs on the [c]FP-CTR-500.
Figure 12. Status Indicators
The [c]FP-CTR-500 has two green status LEDs, POWER and
READY. After you install the [c]FP-CTR-500 onto a terminal base
or backplane and apply power to the connected network module,
the green POWER indicator lights and the [c]FP-CTR-500
informs the network module of its presence. When the network
module recognizes the [c]FP-CTR-500, it sends initial
configuration information to the [c]FP-CTR-500. After the
[c]FP-CTR-500 receives this initial information, the green
READY indicator lights and the module is in normal operating
mode.
In addition to the green POWER and READY indicators, each
channel has a numbered, green status indicator that lights when the
channel is in the ON state.
Upgrading Your FieldPoint Firmware
You may need to upgrade your FieldPoint firmware when you add
new I/O modules to your FieldPoint system. For more information
on determining which firmware you need and how to upgrade your
firmware, go to
attempting to connect the [c]FP-CTR-500 to any circuits
that may contain hazardous voltages.
This section describes the isolation of the [c]FP-CTR-500 and its
compliance with international safety standards. The field wiring
connections are isolated from the backplane and the inter-module
communication bus. The isolation is provided by the module,
which has optical and galvanic isolation barriers designed and
tested to protect against transient fault voltages of up to 2,300 V
Follow these guidelines to ensure a safe total system.
•The [c]FP-CTR-500 has a safety isolation barrier between the
I/O channels and the inter-module communication bus. There
is no isolation between channels unless otherwise noted. If any
of the channels on a module are wired at a hazardous potential,
make sure that all other devices or circuits connected to that
module are properly insulated from human contact.
•Do not share the external supply voltages (the V and C
terminals) with other devices (including other FieldPoint
devices), unless those devices are isolated from human contact.
•For Compact FieldPoint, you must connect the protective earth
(PE) ground terminal on the cFP-BP-x backplane to the system
safety ground. The backplane PE ground terminal has the
following symbol stamped beside it: . Connect the
backplane PE ground terminal to the system safety ground
using 14 AWG (1.6 mm) wire with a ring lug. Use the 5/16 in.
panhead screw shipped with the backplane to secure the ring
lug to the backplane PE ground terminal.
•As with any hazardous voltage wiring, make sure that all
wiring and connections meet applicable electrical codes and
commonsense practices. Mount terminal bases and backplanes
in an area, position, or cabinet that prevents accidental or
unauthorized access to wiring that carries hazardous voltages.
•Operate the [c]FP-CTR-500 only at or below Pollution
Degree 2. Pollution Degree 2 means that only nonconductive
pollution occurs in most cases. Occasionally, however,
a temporary conductivity caused by condensation must be
expected.
rms
.
FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-50018ni.com
Page 19
•Refer to the FieldPoint product label for regulatory
certification under hazardous location standards. If the
FieldPoint product is not certified for operation in hazardous
locations, do not operate it in an explosive atmosphere or
where there may be flammable gases or fumes.
Specifications
The following specifications are typical for a range of
–40 to 70 °C, unless otherwise noted.
1
Input Characteristics
Number of channels.......................... 12 (8 count, 4 gate)
Input type .......................................... 10–30 VDC sinking,
compatible with most 12 and
24 VDC devices
Maximum input voltage.................... 30 VDC
Input threshold level
ON state...................................... ≥10 V
OFF state .................................... ≤6V
Input current limiting ........................ 5 mA maximum
Input bandwidth
Count inputs ...............................50 kHz; 200 Hz with
These specifications apply only to the cFP-CTR-500. NI
recommends Compact FieldPoint if your application is
subject to shock and vibration.
Operating vibration, random
(IEC 60068-2-64).............................. 10 –500 Hz, 5 g
rms
Operating vibration, sinusoidal
(IEC 60068-2-6)................................ 10 –500 Hz, 5 g
Operating shock
(IEC 60068-2-27).............................. 50 g, 3 ms half sine,
18 shocks at 6 orientations;
30 g, 11 ms half sine,
18 shocks at 6 orientations
Safety
This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following
standards of safety for electrical equipment for measurement,
control, and laboratory use:
•IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1
•UL 3121-1, UL 61010C-1
•CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1
For UL, hazardous location, and other safety certifications, refer to
the product label or to
ni.com.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) Compliant
Emissions.......................................... EN 55011 Class A at 10 m
Immunity........................................... EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001,
FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz
Table 1
Note For EMC compliance, you must operate this device
Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for
this product for any additional regulatory compliance
information. To obtain the DoC for this product,
click Declarations of Conformity Information at
ni.com/hardref.nsf/.
Mechanical Dimensions
Figure 13 shows the mechanical dimensions of the FP-CTR-500
installed on a terminal base. If you are using the cFP-CTR-500,
refer to your Compact FieldPoint controller user manual for the
dimensions and cabling clearance requirements of the Compact
FieldPoint system.
107.19 mm
(4.22 in.)
109.5 mm
(4.31 in.)
91.44 mm
(3.60 in.)
Figure 13. FP-CTR-500 Mechanical Dimensions
Where to Go for Support
For more information about setting up the FieldPoint system, refer
to these National Instruments documents: