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Getting to know the pointe controller base, 2 getting to know the pointe controller base – Nematron Pointe Controller User Manual

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Pointe Controller User Guide

Chapter 4: System Design and Installation

73

4.2

Getting to Know the Pointe Controller Base

The figure below shows the layout of a Pointe Controller base:

The Pointe Controller base consists of a card cage containing the motherboard.
The base unit has a built in Ethernet port, as well as an RS232 port. The Ethernet
port is the interface to the larger system. The RS232 port is provided for general
purpose communications (as defined by your application program). It is also
designed to allow you to load future program upgrades (to incorporate the
ability to interface future I/O boards and operator panels) into the base.

Both communications ports have status indicator LEDs which provide you with
visible indications of each port’s operation. The RS232 serial port indicates when
it is transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX). The Ethernet port provides indications
for good Ethernet link connection (L) and Ethernet port access by the base
processor (S), as well as transmit (T) and receive (R) indicators.

Power must be provided to the unit by an external DC power supply. Any DC
voltage within the range of 8-30VDC is acceptable.

Input and output modules can be plugged into the slots in the base. Most
modules can plug into any base slot (including slot 0).

NOTE: Slot 0 includes additional features used by certain 12-pin specialty
modules. These modules are documented as slot 0-specific.

The OptiLogic base can snap onto any standard DIN rail, including the rail molded
into the back of all OptiLogic operator panels. When attaching an OptiLogic base
to an OptiLogic operator panel, the 10-pin cable connection on the side of the
base is used.