ComMENT Network

The FES ComMENT (Communications Management) Network provides exceptional peer-to-peer communications among industrial control products manufactured by FES and others. The ComMENT RS-485 interface is standard on all FES Micro III panels. This interface may be installed in earlier FES or non-FES microprocessor panels allowing all panels to reside on a common communications network. The ComMENT Gateway provides a simple means to transfer information to and from the network via an RS-232 interface. Protocols supported are Allen-Bradley DF1, Modbus RTU and General Electric SNP (Series Ninety Protocol).

Features

·RS-485 network speed is user selectable from 312 KBPS to 2.5 MBPS

·RS-485 network distances from 800 feet to 3600 feet (based on network speed)

·Repeater allows for extended distances

·Up to 255 nodes can reside on the network

·Automatic network reconfiguration with the addition of new nodes

·Each Micro III panel and ComMENT Gateway provides built-in network diagnostics

·ComMENT Gateway provides an RS-232 interface with speeds selectable from 2.4 KBPS to 57.6 KBPS supporting the protocols of Allen Bradley DF1, Modbus RTU and GE-SNP

Benefits

·Easy access to network data via published protocols widely used in the industry

·Available protocols are supported as standard by most PC based HMI software packages and by many DCS systems (These protocols are also used by FES’ MicroLINK and LiteLINK PC-based HMI systems.)

·All data is accessed from the network in a consistent manner, regardless of the microprocessor panel type

·Block reads, combined with extremely high communication rates, provide instantaneous data updates

·Multiple Gateways may reside on the network allowing for simultaneous access to network data from multiple devices

·ComMENT boards are easily installed in any existing FES Micro II, Micro IIE, or MicroMASTER panel

·ComMENT boards may be added to non-FES microprocessor panels that support a serial communications interface and have a published protocol