Ethernet I/O Simplifies Communication Between One PLC and Multiple Remote Locations

Defining the Problem:

A customer has multiple remote locations linked over an Ethernet network, each requiring discrete outputs. They all need to be sent the same communication signal at the same time.

Implementing the Solution:

1. Set up Ethernet communication between master PLC device and the BusWorks XT discrete I/O module (XT1111).
2. Connect the XT1111 module and the remote site discrete I/O modules (989EN) to an Ethernet network.
3. Configure the XT module to use Acromag’s i2o peer-to peer communication to replicate the PLC’s discrete signal to 8 other multiple locations by IP address.

Featured Products:

• 16-Channel Discrete I/O, Modbus/TCP XT1111-00
• 16-Channel Discrete I/O, with Counter/Timers 989EN-4C16
• Software Interface Package XT-SIP

Why Acromag:

Our BusWorks XT Modbus/TCP remote I/O modules include a peer-to-peer feature known as i2o, where two or more slaves can talk to each other without requiring a master. With i2o communication, one signal from the PLC is split by the XT1111 module and sent to multiple locations. The XT1111 automatically re-transmits the discrete level to each 989EN module’s IP address, thus reproducing the status of the original PLC input.

System Requirements

All remote sites need to be controlled simultaneously from one central control room via Ethernet protocol