adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
ASI Network
Created Date: October 01,2007
Created By: sgsims
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Is it possible to use an AD PLC w/ just an Ethernet Card, No I/O cards, to communicate with an ASI Master that is connected to all the field level I/O? I know the AD Ethernet modules can use Modbus and so can the ASI Masters but still not sure if I can achieve what I am describing with an AD PLC.
Created Date: October 01,2007
Created by: GKiser
The "Ethernet card " (ECOM100) can talk Modbus TCP , but doesn't the ASI Master only communicate serially over the special ASI cable? If, however, the ASI Master has an Ethernet port that supports Modbus TCP, then I'm sure the ECOM100 could communicate with it.
Greg Kiser
Host Engineering, Inc.
support@hosteng.com
Created Date: October 01,2007
Created by: jackson
The DL06 and the D2-260 also have Modbus RTU master/slave capability via RS232 or RS485 as well.
Created Date: October 02,2007
Created by: sgsims
Thanks for the replies. Yes, the ASI master uses the ASI protocol to communicate with the devices and also has a port to connect to a higher level fieldbus such as Modbus. So, I agree I think the communication is not a problem. I guess my real question is I would like to use the ASI master to be the only conection point to the field I/O and use the AD plc to execute the program and update the I/O connected to the ASI master via the Modbus network...will the AD CPU send/receive I/O updates via Modbus without actually having I/O cards installed in the AD base?
Created Date: October 02,2007
Created by: jackson
None of the Modbus Master capable AD PLCs require I/O in order to send or receive Modbus commands.
If the ASI master you are speaking of allows for a Modbus device to send a command directly to it that will control the I/O, then it should work.
It's hard to give much of a definitive answer to your question without knowing exactly what this "ASI Master " device is.
Created Date: October 01,2007
Created by: sgsims
Is it possible to use an AD PLC w/ just an Ethernet Card, No I/O cards, to communicate with an ASI Master that is connected to all the field level I/O?
I know the AD Ethernet modules can use Modbus and so can the ASI Masters but still not sure if I can achieve what I am describing with an AD PLC.