National Instruments FP-CTR-500, cFP-CTR-500 Operating Instructions Manual

FieldPoint Operating Instructions

FP-CTR-500 and
cFP-CTR-500

Eight-Channel, 16-Bit Counter Module

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

patents.txt file on your CD, or ni.com/patents.

323323B-01 June 2003

© 2002–2003 National Instruments Corp. All rights reserved.

Installing the FP-CTR-500

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-500 mounts 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-500 2 ni.com

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.

3 5

2

2

1

1 cFP I/O Module
2 Captive Screws
3 cFP Controller

Figure 2. Installing the cFP-CTR-500

4

4

4 Screw Holes
5 cFP Backplane

Wiring the [c]FP-CTR-500

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

© National Instruments Corp. 3 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500

terminals and to

SUP

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 0 1 17 18

Count Input 1 2 17 18

Count Input 2 3 19 20

Count Input 3 4 19 20

Count Input 4 5 21 22

Count Input 5 6 21 22

Count Input 6 7 23 24

Count Input 7 8 23 24

Gate Inputs

Gate 0 9 25 26

Gate 1 10 25 26

Gate 2 11 27 28

Gate 3 12 27 28

2

V

SUP

COM

FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 4 ni.com

Table 1. Terminal Assignments (Continued)

Terminal Numbers

Channel Name

VIN or V

OUT

1

2

V

SUP

COM

Outputs

Output 0 13 29 30

Output 1 14 29 30

Output 2 15 31 32

Output 3 16 31 32

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.

and COM terminals that can supply power to field

SUP

and COM is 10 V or greater, current

and turns on the optoisolator, registering in an

IN

IN

and the channel

IN

IN

and COM

IN

© National Instruments Corp. 5 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500

V

SUP

+–

2 A max

VC

10–30 VDC

External

Power
Supply

Sourcing-

Output
Device

V

IN

COM

[c]FP-CTR-500

Input

Circuitry

To next channel

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-500 6 ni.com

. Each channel

OUT

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

10 9.85

12 11.85

24 23.85

30 29.85

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

where ActualOutput is the voltage sourced by V

V

is the voltage provided by the external power supply

ext

is the current flow through the V

I

flow

– (I

ext

× 0.3 Ω)

flow

OUT

OUT

terminal

)

© National Instruments Corp. 7 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500