Foxboro I/A Series® Hardware DIN Rail Mounted Fieldbus Module Baseplate

The DIN rail mounted Fieldbus Module baseplate

provides a convenient, secure facility for the mounting

of DIN rail mounted Fieldbus Modules (FBMs) and

Fieldbus Communications Modules (FCMs). Its eight

mounting positions can accommodate up to eight

FBMs or a combination of FBMs and FCMs.The

baseplate also provides the necessary connectors for

redundant power, redundant module Fieldbus, and

termination cables.

PLUG-IN MODULES

The DIN rail mounted FBMs accommodated by the

baseplate are compact, plug-in modular assemblies

used to interface field devices with the host control

station. The FCMs, having the same form factor as

the FBMs, perform signal interface functions.

For example, FCM10Es are used to interface the

Ethernet trunk Fieldbus with the 2 Mbps module

Fieldbus, and FCM2Fs are used for fiber optic

communications extensions between baseplates. The

FBMs and FCMs plug onto the baseplate by means

of their two, 48-pin connectors, and each is fastened

in place by two screws.

BASEPLATE MOUNTING

The baseplate is available in two basic mounting

configurations — horizontal DIN rail mount or vertical

DIN rail mount. Either of these configurations can be

employed internal to, or external to an enclosure;

however, in all cases the DIN rail must be amply

supported, whether by means of metal braces, a

backplate, or a supporting wall.

In addition to DIN rail mounting of the baseplate, a

mounting kit is available for mounting the baseplate

horizontally in a standard, 483 mm (19 in) rack. The

kit provides a 25.4mm (1 in) mounting depth, to meet

clearance requirements at the front of the 19-inch

rack.

BASEPLATE IMPLEMENTATION

A grouping of up to four baseplates per FCM (pair)

can be connected together, for mounting of up to 32

modules (30FBMs and 2 FCMs). Multiple groups of

baseplates can be connected to the Ethernet trunk

Fieldbus, either directly (via Ethernet connectors) or

through one or more multiport fiber optic converters

(hubs). (Refer to PSS 21H-2W1 B3 for information on

the various DIN rail mounted FBM subsystem

communication topologies). Module Fieldbus

interconnection between baseplates is made by

shielded twisted-pair cable for local configurations

and/or by fiber optic cable for remote configurations.

Using fiber optic topologies (refer to

PSS21H-2W1B3), baseplates can be separated up

to 10 km (6.2 mi).

Figure 1 shows baseplate implementation using only

shielded twisted-pair cable connections. This

configuration is used when the four (maximum)

baseplates are mounted in the same general location.

Using shielded twisted-pair cable, the baseplates can

be interconnected up to 60 m (196 ft) total cable

distance. Shielded twisted-pair cables are available in

lengths of 0.25 m (10 in), 1 m (3.3 ft), 3 m (9.9 ft), 5 m

(16.5 ft), 10 m (33 ft), 20 m (66 ft), 30 m (99 ft) and

60m (198 ft), allowing placement of the baseplates

(up to four in a group) in one or more enclosures.

Figure 2 shows how baseplate implementation can be

extended using fiber optic cabling. In this

configuration, up to three module Fieldbus segments

can be fiber optic, allowing the baseplates to be

dispersed over a wider area. The FCM2Fs provide

three different fiber optic cabling distances between

baseplates: 2km (1.24 mi), 4 km (2.48 mi), or 10km

(6.2 mi). Refer to PSS21H-2Y3 B3 for additional

information on baseplate implementation using this

configuration.

Figure 3 shows the key elements of a typical baseplate.