Nortec LINKS XPS MH User Manual

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2559106-D | 10 OCT 2014

LINKS XPS

MH

Installation and
Operation Manual

Includes installation, operation
maintenance and troubleshooting
information for your MHTC
Evaporative Media humidifier

INSTALLATION DATE (MM/DD/YYYY)

MODEL #

SERIAL #

CYLINDER #

Thank you for choosing NORTEC.

Proprietary Notice

This document and the information disclosed herein are proprietary data of NORTEC HUMIDITY LTD. Neither
this document nor the information contained herein shall be reproduced used, or disclosed to others without
the written authorization of NORTEC HUMIDITY LTD., except to the extent required for installation or
maintenance of recipient’s equipment. All references to the NORTEC name should be taken as referring to
NORTEC HUMIDITY LTD.

Liability Notice

NORTEC does not accept any liability for installations of humidity equipment installed by unqualified personnel
or the use of parts/components/equipment that are not authorized or approved by NORTEC.

Copyright Notice

Copyright 2012, NORTEC HUMIDITY LTD. All rights reserved.

Contents

3 Multi Unit Systems

4 Installing Links XPS into the Control Cabinet

4 Mounting the Links XPS Assembly

7 Internal Wiring Connections

15 Configuring the Humidifiers

17 Wiring

19 Gateway Configuration

21 Changing Baud Rate (BACnet MSTP, Johnson N2, LonWorks)

23 Changing the IP Address (BACnet IP)

27 Network Integration

30 BACnet Pics and Bibs

30 Variable Definition

43 Start-up Checklist

44 Troubleshooting

44 Indicator Lights

50 Wiring Diagrams

Protocol

BACnet MS/TP

BACnet / IP

Johnson N2

LonWorks

The MHTC Nortec Links XPS Option allows for the integration of a MHTC Series humidifier within
a BACnet, Johnson N2 or LonWorks network. This option features a gateway that has the
capability of converting information from the host Modbus protocol to a specified secondary
protocol.

The following protocol options are available, and must be specified at time of order:

Table 1: Protocol Options

Multi-Unit Systems (“Master/Slave”)

Up to 8 humidifiers can be chained and monitored through a single Links XPS package. In this
configuration, the unit with the Links XPS package is designated the “Master Unit”, while the
remaining 7 humidifiers are configured as “Slaves”. The master unit is connected to the
Building Management Systems (BMS). Each unit is separately addressed, it is possible to
monitor and control each unit individually.

Different networking configurations may be achieved depending on the type of network being
used. One networking example could have a Gateway installed inside the lead unit, which could
then be daisy-chained to successive units. In turn, the lead unit would connect to a Building
Management System (BMS) network via a shielded, twisted-pair connection. Please see wiring
section for additional detail. A second example could have a series of units directly connected
to an Ethernet network. This is only possible for BACnet communication and is essentially
referred to as a BACnet/IP configuration.

Links XPS for MHTC | 2

Installing Links XPS into the Control Cabinet

If the Links XPS package was included with the original unit order, the necessary hardware will
have been factory mounted and wired into the MHTC control cabinet. In this case, please skip
ahead to the Wiring section for information on how to complete connections to the building
automation system.

If Links XPS is being retrofit, or added to an existing MHTC unit in the field, follow the steps
below prior to connecting wiring to the building automation system.

Mounting the Links XPS Assembly

Caution: Disconnect electrical power from humidifier before performing work inside control
cabinet.

Locate the MHTC control panel and turn the power switch to the off position. Ensure that the
power is also turned off at the breaker panel to prevent electrical shock. Open the control
cabinet by loosening the screws on the on right side of the cabinet and sliding the brass lock
clip out of the way.

MHTC ReFlow Models

1 Using the 4 plastic standoffs and plastic screws provided, attach the Links XPS module to

the steel back plate in the location shown in Figures 1and 2.

2 Secure the XPS transformer into the location shown in Figures 1 and 2. Use the two #6-32

thread cutting screws provided to secure the transformer in place.

3 Install the XPS Terminal strip onto the DIN rail at the bottom of the control cabinet as shown

in Figure 1. It may be necessary to remove one or both of the rail locks and shift the entire
control terminal strip over to accommodate the XPS terminal strip.

Note: The exact location the XPS transformer may vary depending on the revision of back plate.
Also, units produced before August 2011 may not have the holes for the XPS module and
transformer. These models will require new holes to be drilled during installation.

3 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 1: Component Identification

Figure 2: Component Hole Location

Links XPS for MHTC | 4

MHTC Flow Models:

1 On MHTC Flow models, Links XPS replaces the remote fault relay board. Remove the

remote fault relay board indicated in Figure 3 and disconnect the cable.

Underneath the remote fault relay board, the 4 holes for the XPS module and two holes for
the XPS transformer should be visible. Depending on the revision of the backplate these
holes may be in different configurations or may not be present at all. In the case of the

latter, drill 4x ¼” holes to accommodate the XPS module. Subsequently drill 2x 9/64” holes

to accommodate the XPS transformer.

2 Using the 4 plastic standoffs and plastic screws provided, attach the Links XPS module to

the steel back plate.

3 Secure the XPS transformer using the two #6-32 thread cutting screws.
4 Install the XPS Terminal strip onto the DIN rail at the bottom of the control cabinet as shown

in Figure 1. It may be necessary to remove one or both of the rail locks and shift the entire
control terminal strip over to accommodate the XPS terminal strip.

5 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 3: MHTC Flow Control Cabinet

Links XPS for MHTC | 6

Internal Wiring Connections

1 Connect the two black wires from the Links XPS transformer to the terminal 21 and 22 on

the MHTC control panel as shown in Figure 4. These wires are not polarity sensitive.

7 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 4: Transformer Power Connections

2 Identify the Modbus and Building Automation System ends on the XPS module.

Figure 5: Communication Ports XPS Module

3 Connect the two white wires from the transformer to the power terminals on the Modbus end
of XPS module as shown in Figure 5. Also, connect one of the two short grey 3-wire cables into
the +, -, and GND terminals on the XPS module as shown in Figure 5.

Links XPS for MHTC | 8

Figure 6: Links XPS Lonworks Module Terminals

4 Connect the other end of the short grey 3-wire cable from step 3 into the Net+, Net-, and
GND terminals on the DIN rail. The red cable should be connected to the Net + terminal, the
black to the Net - terminal, and grey/bare to the GND terminal. Refer to Figure 6.

9 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 7: Communication Connections

5 Locate the long grey 3-wire cable with the RJ-45 plug on one end. Connect the wire end of
this cable into the Net+, Net -, and GND terminals used in step 4. The red cable should be
connected to the Net + terminal, the black to the Net - terminal, and grey/bare to the GND

terminal. These wires can either be “doubled up” with the cable from step 4 or installed on the
opposing side of the DIN rail. The cable, shown “doubled up”, is depicted in Figure 6.

Links XPS for MHTC | 10

6 Connect RJ-45 end of the cable in step 6 into the port on the lower end of the processor
board. The processor board is mounted on the door of the control cabinet.

11 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 8: RJ45 Connection to Processor Board

7 Locate the remaining short 3-wire cable. Connect this cable to the Building Automation
System end of the XPS module as shown in Figure 8 (N2, BACnet MSTP) or Figure 9 (LonWorks).
Lonworks is not polarity sensitive.

Note: BACnet IP packages do not require this step since they use the ethernet port on the XPS
module for communications.

Figure 9: Building Automation Connections (Johnson N2/ BACnet MS/TP)

Figure 10: Building Automation Connections (Lonworks)

Links XPS for MHTC | 12

Wiring diagrams are provided below for reference.

13 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 11: Links XPS for MHTC with BACnet MSTP or N2

Figure 12: Links XPS for MHTC with BACnet IP only

Links XPS for MHTC | 14

15 | Links XPS for MHTC

Figure 13: Links XPS for MHTC with LonWorks

Configuring the Humidifiers

The PCB processor board will need to be configured to work with the Links XPS modules.
Additionally, Nortec Links XPS can connect to a maximum of 8 units from a single Links XPS
gateway. If slave units are being used it is necessary to set the address of each slave module.
The address should be the number the nit will have on the networked chain.

Links XPS can be used for control, monitoring, or both. To set the control mode on the
humidifier, on the humidifier refer to the procedure on page 52 of the MH2 Installation and
Operation Manual to enter the controls menu.

If you would like to control the humidifier directly by signal writing values over the Links XPS
package set the Signal Source to Modbus. The humidifier will now look for values to be written
to the humidifier.

If you would like to use an analog control signal (from a wall stat or building automation system)
leave Signal Source setting to Analog and then set Hum. Control and Controlsign. to match the
type of controls being used. Ensure that controls are physically wired to terminals 3 and 4 on
the DIN rail terminal strip.

To set the humidifier to recognize the Links XPS package:

1 On the humidifier keypad, Press the menu button on the keypad and scroll to the User menu

using the arrow keys. Press Set to enter the User menu.

2 When prompted for a password, use the arrow keys to enter 8808 and press Set to confirm.
3 Scroll to the Modbus menu and press Set to enter the menu.
4 Set the Parity to None1.
5 Set the Modbus address of the lead unit to 1. Repeat this step for any slave humidifiers,

taking care to assign each slave unit a unique and sequential number. For example if the
lead is 1, subsequent units should be 2, 3, 4, etc.
Note: Ensure that no units share the same Modbus address.

6 Place the appropriate Unit Identifier label on each humidifier. These laps should match the

Modbus address for that humidifier and should be placed in a visible location.

7 Connect the slave humidifiers (if applicable) to the Nortec Links Module. A twisted pair cable

should be used so that the Net (+) terminal on the Links module should connect to the Net
(+) terminal on the slave unit (NHTC). The Net (–) terminal on the module should be
connected to the Net (–) terminal on the slave unit. Refer to the Links XPS wiring diagram for
more information.

Links XPS for MHTC | 16

8 Ensure shield wiring matches the following pattern if distances between humidifiers is

significant (2200 ft):

Figure 14: Multiple Slave Humidifiers

17 | Links XPS for MHTC

Protocol

Signal

Type
Polarity

Recommended

Cable

Maximum

Recommended Distance

from Nortec Module

A

B

BACnet MS/TP

EIA-485,

2-wire

Net +

Net -

18-24 AWG

Shielded, Twisted

Pair

120  Impedance

2300 ft at 9.6 kbps

2000 ft at 38.4 kbps

Johnson N2

LonWorks

FTT-10, 2-

wire

Tx Rx

18-24 AWG

Twisted Pair

120  Impedance

Should not exceed 50 ft.

BACnet/IP

LAN

standard

N/A

N/A

CAT.5E cable with

RJ-45 termination

Depends on cable

manufacturer

Wiring

BACnet MS/TP, Johnson N2, and LonWorks

Links XPS is pre-installed and factory wired. Connections must be made between the master
humidifier and the BMS, and the master humidifier and any slaves that may be present.

Up to 8 units (1 master, 7 slaves) may be connected to a BMS through a single gateway in the
master unit. The units are daisy chained via the Links XPS terminal strip. The wire shield
should only be connected at one end per pair of units when “daisy chaining”.

Table 2 refers to the recommended wire types and maximum recommended lengths from the
Nortec Links XPS module to the Building Management system. Communication between the
humidifiers and Nortec Links XPS will occur via a EIA-485 signal type. Nortec recommends using
a 18-24 AWG shielded, 120 twisted pair wire between the lead humidifier and each of the
slave humidifiers. Total cable length runs between the Nortec Links XPS module and the
furthest slave humidifier should not exceed 2,000 feet. Signal boosters or repeaters may be
necessary for longer wire runs or where electrical noise interference is prevalent.

Table 2: Recommended Wire Types and Lengths

Links XPS for MHTC | 18