Watlow EZ-ZONE RME - Manual (Page 9)

Watlow EZ-ZONE ® RME Module • 6 • Chapter 1 Overview
A Conceptual View of the RM System
The flexibility of the RM system software and hard-
ware allows for a large range of configurations. Fo-
cusing on the RME module, acquiring a better under-
standing of its overall functionality and capabilities
while at the same time planning out how this module
can be used will deliver maximum effectiveness in
your application.
The RM system at a high level can have a total
of 17 modules installed, one of which can be an Ac-
cess module and the others (16 maximum) can be any
combination of available RM modules. Each installed
RM module must have a unique Standard Bus ad-
dress ranging from 1-9, A-F, H (10 -16). The Access
module will be delivered with a default Standard Bus
address of 17 (J). If not using the default zone ad-
dress the user will need to define each zone address
via the button on the face of each module.
The RME can be considered an accessory RM
module in that by itself it has no PID control loops.
However, used in conjunction with an RM Control-
ler (RMC) or RM High Density (RMH) module the
RME provides increased I/O capabilities. Outputs of
the RME can be used to drive output loads of various
kinds. For instance, an RME module could be placed
in a remote location (up to 200 feet away) from a PID
controller such as an RMC or RMH to drive a heater.
Some of the user selectable ordering options are
listed below:
1. Class 2 or SELV (Saftey Extra Low Voltage) equiv-
alent Power Supplies:
• 90-264 Vac to 24Vdc @ 31 watts
• 90-264 Vac to 24Vdc @ 60 watts
• 90-264 Vac to 24Vdc @ 91 watts
2. RM Expansion Module can provide:
• 1 to 24 Digital Inputs/Outputs (I/O)
• 4 to 12 Form A Mechanical Relays
• 2 to 4 Form A 10A Solid-State Relays
• 4 inputs for external Current Transformers
(CT)
When using this module, either as a stand-alone
module or used in conjunction with any other RM
module it is useful to remember that each process
needs to be thought out carefully and the controller’s
inputs, functions and outputs configured properly.
Note:
Zones can communicate with one another over the
backplane (local and split rail). Once the system is
configured and running changing zone addresses
without careful deliberation may cause disruption in
operation.
Functions
Outputs
Process
Alarm
High
*PID
Heat
Power
Sequencing
Outputs
Silence
Alarms
Inputs
* Output is driven from another
RM PID controller module
What is an Instance?
The RM system can have many I/O points, in some
cases, as described above, I/O can be placed in re-
mote locations. For example, an RME module can
have 24 digital I/O where each would be numbered
from 1 to 24 and each would be considered a unique
instance. They are named Digital I/O 1, 2, 3, etc...
These instance numbers are then used when you
link inputs, functions and outputs within a module
or when linked to other modules. For example, when
configuring an RME output for heat the control loop
instance (1, 2, 3 or 4) and zone (1 to 16) to drive the
output must be defined.
Functions
Functions, in simple terms, use input signals (real-
world or internal), to calculate a value and deliver an
output. A function may be as simple as configuring
the function of the digital output, e.g., alarm, heat,
etc..., or defining a set point for an alarm state to
turn on or off.
To set up a function, one of the first things that
must be considered is the function source and in-
stance. For example, if the control is equipped with
Digital Inputs (source) and it was decided to use DI
9 (instance) it can then be associated with an Action
to reset an individual alarm or all alarms. The steps
below, walk through this configuration:
Setup Page (Digital I/O Menu)
1. Navigate to the Setup Page and then to the Digital
I/O menu.
2. Select the desired instance and set the direction to
input voltage or input dry contact.
Setup Page (Action Menu)
3. Navigate to the Setup Page and then the Action
menu.
4. Set the Action Function to Alarm
5. Select which alarm instance will be reset (0 equals
all)
6. Select the Source Function to Digital I/O
7. Select the Source Instance (step 2 above)
8. Select the Source Zone (0 equals the module being
configured).
9. Select the Active Level to execute the desired func-
tion.
When the selected digital input is active the alarm or
all alarms that are latched without a currently exist-
ing alarm condition will be reset. If a specific alarm
instance (1 - 8) is selected (step 5 above), it will be