Sta-Rite AK400 Installation Manual

AcuPort

TM

Network Communication Adapter

Providing Aquatic Controller Connectivity

to Networks around the World.

Installation and

Operation Guide

800-831-7133

www.pentaircommercial.com

www.pentairpool.com

Customer Service

If you have questions about ordering Pentair Water Pool and Spa® replacement parts, and pool
products, please use the following contact information:

Customer Service and Technical Support (8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Eastern/Pacific Times)

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Sanford, North Carolina (8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. — Eastern Time)

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Moorpark, California (8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. — Pacific Time)

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Web site

visit

www.pentaircommercial.com or www.pentairpool.com

products

or

www.staritepool.com

to find information about Pentair

© 2009 Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. All rights reserved.

1620 Hawkins Ave., Sanford, NC 27330 • [phone] • [phone]
10951 West Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark, CA 93021 • [phone] • [phone]

This document is subject to change without notice.

Trademarks and Disclaimers: AcuPort™, Acu-Trol®, Pentair Water Commercial Pool and Aquatics™ and Pentair Water Pool and Spa® are

trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. and/or its affiliated companies in the United States and/or
other counties. Unless noted, names and brands of others that may be used in this document are not used to indicate an affiliation or
endorsement between the proprietors of these names and brands and Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. Those names and brands may
be the trademarks or registered trademarks of those parties or others.

P/N 521267 Rev. A 11/23/09

Table of Contents

1. SAFETY..................................................................................................................

2. WARRANTY ...........................................................................................................

3. ACUPORT SPECIFICATIONS ...............................................................................

3.1. NETWORK CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE ...............................................................

4. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................

4.1. ENCLOSURE ..........................................................................................................

4.2. RS-232/SERIAL PORT ...........................................................................................

4.3. NETWORK PORTS..................................................................................................

4.4. DC POWER FROM AC POWER ADAPTER .................................................................

5. INSTALLATION......................................................................................................

1

1

2

2

2

4
4
5
5

6

5.1. REQUIRED TOOLS AND INFORMATION.....................................................................

5.2. ACUPORT DIMENSIONS AND MOUNTING ..................................................................

5.3. CABLE INSTALLATION............................................................................................

6. SOFTWARE..........................................................................................................

6.1. INSTALL THE ACUPORT CONFIGURATION UTILITY.................................................

6.2. CONFIGURE THE ACUPORT 1000 NETWORK IP ADDRESS.....................................

6.3. CONFIGURE THE ACUPORT 1000 PROGRAMMABLE SETTINGS..............................

6.4. CONFIGURE THE ACUPORT 1100 NETWORK IP ADDRESS.....................................

6.5. CONFIGURE THE ACUPORT 1100 PROGRAMMABLE SETTINGS..............................

6.6. INSTALL ACUCOM08 ...........................................................................................

6.7. CONNECTING TO THE ACU-TROL CONTROLLER WITH ACUCOM 08........................

7. QUICK START CHECKLIST................................................................................

7.1. ACUPORT 1000, 1100.........................................................................................

8. PACKING LIST.....................................................................................................

8.1. ACUPORT 1000, 1100.........................................................................................

6
6
7

12

12
13
14
18
19
24
24

25

25

26

26

9. ACCESSORIES....................................................................................................

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1. Safety

PLEASE READ THIS USERS MANUAL

completely before installing or operating the equipment.

Be sure to observe the following safety precautions:

a– Never service the Acu-Trol controller or AcuPort device with power applied. Always turn

OFF the main circuit breaker to the units and all equipment when servicing.

a– Be careful not to damage the control wires or the power cord insulation. Should these

become damaged, contact your dealer for a replacement. Continued use may result in
fire or electric shock.

a– To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not use an extension cord to connect the AcuPort

power adapter to the electrical source, provide a properly located GFCI receptacle.

SAVE THIS INSTRUCTION GUIDE

2. Warranty

Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. warrants the AcuPort to be free from defects in
manufacturing and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of manufacture for the
electronic module. Other equipment is covered by manufacturer’s own warranty. During the
warranty period, any defective parts will be repaired or replaced as necessary by Pentair
Water Pool and Spa, Inc.

This warranty does not cover: (a) the buyers’ labor or any servicing fees related to
replacement of the Product; (b) damage resulting from the use of this Product in other than
its normal manner; (c) damage from misuse, accident or neglect; (d) damage from improper
testing, operation, or installation; (e) not operating the Product under conditions other than
those recommended or at voltages other than the voltage indicated on the Product; and (f)
acts of Mother Nature (i.e. lightning, electrical storms, floods, etc.). In addition, attempting
to service or modify the Product will render this warranty void. Defective parts should be
returned immediately to the local Pentair Acu-Trol dealer, any parts returned to the factory
require a return of material authorization code to subsequently generate an RMA (Return
Material Authorization form). A Pentair Acu-Trol Technician will analyze the returned part
and determine the cause of failure and process accordingly.

A WARRANTY CARD MUST BE COMPLETED AND

RETURNED AT ONCE TO BE KEPT ON FILE

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3. AcuPort Specifications

• Power Source 120 VAC, 60 Hz, 10 watts maximum, North American standard outlet.

Contact the factory for 220V/60Hz and International Voltages.

• Safety Approval Fiberglass Enclosure Rating: UL/cUL Listed, Type 4x, CSA IP66

Serial Device Server: UL/cUL Listed, CE, FCC Class A

• Dimensions 6.5” x 6.5” x 4.5” (165mm x 165mm x 114mm)

• Weight 2.8 lbs (1.28kg)

• Operating Environment 32°F to 118°F (0°C to +48°C)

5 to 95% RH non-condensing
Shaded from direct sunlight

• Serial Port RS-232, DB9 Male (to Acu-Trol Programmable Controller)

57600 baud, 8 data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit, No flow control

3.1. Network Configurations Available

Model 1000, Serial RS-232 to Ethernet

• Ethernet Port 10/100 Mbps, RJ45, 802.3 with built-in 1.5kV magnetic isolation

Connection through weatherproof bulkhead RJ45 receptacle.

Model 1100, Serial RS-232 to WiFi or Ethernet

• Ethernet Port 10/100 Mbps, RJ45, 802.3 with built-in 1.5kV magnetic isolation

Connection through weatherproof bulkhead RJ45 receptacle.

• WiFi Port 802.11 a/b/g, DSSS/OFDM modulation

Network Modes: Infrastructure, Ad-Hoc

Optional remote antenna with 6 foot long cable provides range up to 100 meters

Wireless Security: WEP 64-bit/128-bit data encryption, WPA, WPA2, 802.11i

Model 500, Serial RS-232 to RS-422/485

• RS-422/485 Port RS-422 or RS-485 2/4-wire with RTS/CTS support.

Connections: Terminal block through weatherproof strain-relief.

4. Introduction

The AcuPort is a general-purpose connectivity solution to provide communication with an Acu-Trol
controller via an Ethernet, WiFi, or RS-422/485 connection. It serves to extend the reach of the
controller’s standard RS-232 serial communication interface beyond the inherent limit of 50 feet (15
meters). An RS-422/485 interface can reach as far as 4,000 feet (1,220 meters). Ethernet can
extend without limitation, including connection to the internet.

Navigating firewalls and TCP/IP port settings requires extensive expertise that must be provided by
the network administrator or IT professional at the installation site. Pentair Acu-Trol, the
manufacturer, will provide technical assistance for setting up a connection with a LAN (local area
network) only if the network administrator is present. Due to the technical complexity of internet
security, the manufacturer does not offer assistance for connections through a firewall.

Each AcuPort is dedicated to communicating with a single controller; specifically commercial products
such as the Acu-Trol AK110, AK400, and AK600. Mounted in its own enclosure, the AcuPort interfaces
the RS-232 serial communication port with an alternate industrial standard communications port such

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as Ethernet or RS-422/485. The latest version of AcuCom (08) Windows™ software application offers
new connection features that allow direct connection to a TCP/IP device at a specified Static IP
address and TCP port number.

The following block diagrams depict connectivity for the AcuPort series of products.

LEDS: Power,

RS-232 Rx/Tx,

& LAN Link

Acu-Trol
AK Model
Controller

Serial

(RS-232)

AcuPort

Ethernet

Model 1000

Ethernet

(Cat-5)

DC Power

LEDS: Power,

RS-232 Rx/Tx,

WLAN Link,

& Signal Strength

Acu-Trol
AK Model
Controller

Serial

(RS-232)

AcuPort

WiFi

Model 1100

WLAN

(WiFi)

DC Power

LEDS: Power,

& RS-232 Rx/Tx

Acu-Trol
AK Model
Controller

Serial

(RS-232)

AcuPort

RS-422/485

Model 500

Serial

(RS-422/485)

DC Power

Management

/ Control

System

Management

/ Control

System

Management

/ Control

System

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This manual describes the construction and features of the AcuPort product. It serves as a guide for
installing the unit and configuring the ports for the desired operation. The following sections provide
detail of the enclosure, the serial and network ports, and the power supply requirements.

4.1. Enclosure

The enclosure is rated NEMA 4X, UL 508A Type 4, 4X, 12, and 13 with an ingress rating (IEC

60529) of IP66 which provides for total protection against dust and strong jets of water.
Connectors are UL recognized and meet or exceed the same ingress rating to maintain the
integrity of the enclosure. The front cover is not lockable; however, screws provide tamper­resistant access.

CAUTION: Warranty is void

Once installed, the enclosure must remain sealed in order to prevent moisture and

corrosive fumes, common in a pump room, from deteriorating the electronic

DC Power

Model 1000: RS-232 to Ethernet Model 1100: RS-232 to WiFi

RS-232

equipment inside.

RJ45

if cover is not securely fastened.

WiFi

Antenna

RS-232

DC Power

RJ45

4.2. RS-232/Serial Port

All three AcuPort models are designed for connecting Acu-Trol AK-series programmable
controllers to other networks via the versatile embedded RS-232 serial port. The six-foot (6’)
long serial cable is provided with a weatherproof DB9F plug on one end for connection to the
RS-232 weatherproof DB9M bulkhead receptacle connector on the AcuPort. The opposite end of
the cable must be routed to the AK-series Acu-Trol controller and connected to the RS-232
terminal block inside the unit.

Two RS-232 adapter circuit boards are provided with the AcuPort. One is suited for adapting to
the AK110, the other is suited to adapting to the AK600. The AK400 uses the existing screw
terminals and does not require an adapter board. Refer to the wiring directions in Section 5.3.
Custom cable lengths shall not exceed the 20 ft (6 m) allowed by the standard RS-232 port
specifications.

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4.3. Network Ports

Each AcuPort model serves to connect to one of the following network configurations. Port
specifications are listed in section 3.1.

• Model 1000, Ethernet RJ45

This is the standard interconnection module used to hook an Acu-Trol controller to a
hard-wired Ethernet network. At the installation site, the network administrator will need
to provide assistance to determine the network parameters including the subnet mask
an available IP address

access will be provided through a router. Although the units can be configured for DHCP

(dynamically assigned IP address), the method described in this installation manual are
for a static IP address assigned by the network administrator.

• Model 1100, WiFi Antenna

This is similar to the Model 1000, above, with the addition of the WiFi port allowing

802.11 wireless connectivity to a network. A shared wireless access-point must be
provided at the installation site. Configuration parameters include those listed above with
the additional requirements of the WLAN address and wireless security settings.
Installation of this product requires an experienced IT professional onsite.

• Model 500, RS-422/485

The RS-422/485 network is a long-distance serial interface capable of ranges up to 4000
feet (1220 meters). Many configurations allow for various degrees of signal conditioning
to accommodate long cabling and electrically noisy environments. Rather than providing
a limited DB9 connector for the RS-422/485 port, a strain-relief cable gland is provided
in a ½” hole in the bottom of the unit. A 9-pin terminal block on the module inside the
AcuPort allows for custom signal configurations.

The methods described in this installation manual are for static IP address assigned

INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT REQUIRES AN EXPERIENCED IT

and a TCP port number. The gateway address is required if

NOTICE

by the network administrator.

PROFESSIONAL ONSITE.

,

4.4. DC power from AC power adapter

Each of these units requires a 12VDC input from a wall-mount power adapter. Power
consumption is as follows:

AcuPort Model 12 VDC **

Model 1000, Ethernet 260 mA
Model 1100, WiFi 560 mA
Model 500, RS-422/485 300 mA

** All units accept an input voltage range of 12-48VDC

Each AcuPort is supplied with an AC power adapter. Various styles are available including
115VAC and 230VAC; international wall plugs are also available. The standard configuration is
North American, 115VAC/60 Hz. Adapters are modified for the AcuPort by adding a
weatherproof 2-pin connector that mates to the NEMA 4X enclosure’s bulkhead fitting.

There is no ON|OFF power switch. Power is established by connecting the 2-pin weatherproof
connector to the AcuPort and plugging the DC power adapter into an energized wall receptacle.

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5. INSTALLATION

5.1. Required Tools and Information

The installation of the AcuPort will require the following tools and supplies:

 Mounting screws for securing AcuPort to the appropriate wall surface
 Slot-head screwdrivers, 1/8” and 1/4”
 Phillips-head screwdriver, #1
 3/16” hex nut driver (AK600 only) for jack screws on DB9 connector of the RS-232 board
 Cat.5e cable, crossover if connecting direct to a computer, straight-through if connecting to a hub/switch
 RJ45 plug connector crimp tool
 Ethernet network cable tester
 Two ¾” open-end wrenches or similar sized adjustable wrenches for tightening strain-relief and RJ45 plug
 Paper Clip to reset the module
 Small cable zip tie

The following network information will be required from the IT administrator:

 Ethernet MAC address of AcuPort device (see label inside front hinged cover)
 Ethernet port:

o Static IP address
o Network Mask
o Gateway address (if communicating beyond the local network or through firewall)

 Model 1100 only

o WiFi Static IP address
o WiFi Network Mask
o WiFi Gateway address (if communicating beyond the local network or through firewall)
o SSID
o Network Type, Infrastructure or Ad-hoc
o Authentication and encryption security settings

, WiFi port:

5.2. AcuPort dimensions and mounting

The AcuPort requires a mounting area of 6.5” x 6.5”, with a 6” area below the unit reserved for
routing cables to the environmentally-sealed bulkhead connectors. In order to use the provided
serial cable, locate the AcuPort within five (5) feet of the Acu-Trol controller.

Four (4) mounting screws should be
used to mount the device at the
desired location as indicated in the
figure to the right.

(4) Mounting tabs

Reserve 6” area

below for cables.

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5.3. Cable installation

The AcuPort 1000 requires:

• 12V DC power adapter

• DB9 RS-232 serial cable

• RJ-45 Cat-5 network cable

12VDC Power

to wall adapter

Serial DB9, RS-232

to Acu-Trol controller

Ethernet RJ45, Cat-5

to network switch/hub

The AcuPort 1100 requires:

• 12V DC power adapter

• DB9 RS-232 serial cable

• Choice of either:

o RJ-45 Cat-5 network cable
o WiFi Antenna

WiFi Antenna

12VDC Power

to wall adapter

to Acu-Trol controller

Serial DB9, RS-232

Ethernet RJ45, Cat-5
to network switch/hub

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