Comtech EF Data RCU108 User Manual
Page 23

RCU108 1:8 Protection Switch
Operation
TM066 - Rev. 1
Page 3-1
Section 3 - Operation
3.0 Definitions
The nomenclature used throughout this manual is meant to imply various roles that each (up or down)
converter assumes depending upon the state of the converters and the settings of the protected
converter system. These descriptions are as follows:
A Protected Converter System consists of the primary converter, backup converter, and the
RCU108 switch and required interface cables.
The Primary Converter is the converter that is connected to any Primary Port on the Switch.
The Backup Converter is the converter that is connected to the Backup Port on the Switch
3.1 Controls and Indicators
Operator Controls and Indicators consist of the front panel LED indicators, Manual and Set buttons.
Refer to Figure 3-1 for an illustration of the RCU108 front Panel.
RCU108 front panel LED indicators include the following:
POWER - Identified as BU, NO. 1 through NO. 8. When illuminated, these LEDs indicate that the
converter has been connected to the switch in the corresponding location and that the converter is
turned on.
ONLINE - This LED, when illuminated, indicates that the corresponding converter has been placed
online.
STANDBY - The Standby LED indicates that the Backup Converter is in Standby Mode and waiting to
back up any Primary Converter.
BU FAULT - Indicates the Backup Converter has a faulted condition and cannot back up a Primary
Converter.
ERROR - When illuminated, indicates that data has changed between the backup and the Primary
Converters or an IF/RF Switch has failed to respond.
BACKUP - When illuminated, indicates that the corresponding converter is offline and that the
Backup is currently passing data.
FAULT - When illuminated, indicates that the corresponding converter has a faulted condition.
MANUAL - When illuminated, indicates that the operator has forced the switch to deselect the
specified converter and put the backup converter online and keep it there. To actuate the Manual
Backup, push the MANUAL BACKUP button, and while keeping it depressed, push the SET button.
All other converters will operate normally, but will not back up another converter in the event of a
failure. To remove a manually simulated fault, push the SET button once to remove it from manual
mode, and push it again to allow the primary converter to take control.
3.2 Operation
The 1:8 protection switch unit provides automatic restoration for one online converter. An RS485
equipment interface allows the backup converter to ‘learn’ the Frequency, Gain and Channel settings
of the primary converters. The learning process is initiated by the user, via the backup converter,
Front Panel Display or User Serial Port RS232/RS485. By entering the Switch menu from the front
panel of the backup converter, it will allow the user to set the priorities of each primary converter.
Entering the ‘Learn’ mode menu from the front panel allows the user to initiate the learning process.
The backup converter will indicate whether the learning process was successful. If the process was
not successful, the converter will indicate the learning process failed. Refer to the converter manual
for more details.