Panasonic FP-X Series manual Network,  PLC link MEWNET-W0,  Modbus-RTU compatibility

FP-X series

Network

Different types of equipment need to be linked – FP-X flexibly meet such requirements.

Up to 3 serial communication ports can be used simultaneously

Usable interfaces include RS232C, RS485, RS422 and USB.

* The RS232C tool port can be used as a general-purpose serial communication port.

Communication cassette (two-channel type)

AFPX-COM2 (RS232C + RS232C)

AFPX-COM4 (RS485 + RS232C)

AFPX-COM5 (Ethernet + RS232C)

AFPX-COM6 (RS485 + RS485)

COM1: RS232C, RS485, Ethernet

COM2: RS232C, RS485, USB (The cassette port and the USB port cannot be used simultaneously.) Tool port: RS232C

PLC link (MEWNET-W0)

Bit data/word data can be shared (linked) among up to 16 FP-X units. This is ideal for linking adjacent equipment in a distributed control system.

Links with our other PLCs (FPΣ (Sigma), FP2/FP2SH) are possible.

Simple setting of the number of linked units, linked relays

and starting area address of the own station by using FPWINPro allows contact information and data to be shared without program- ming.

Baud rate of 115.2kbps, the highest rate for a compact model.

A transfer distance of 1200m, the longest distance for a compact model.

FP-X and FPΣ (Sigma) allow a change of the station number by programming (SYS instruction).

Item	Specifications
Number of stations	16 stations
Transmission speed	115.2kbps
Transmission distance	1200m
Shared data	128 words (data register),
	64 words (contacts)
Communication method	Floating master

FP-X requires a communication cassette (AFPX-COM3, AFPX-COM4 or AFPX-COM6)	RS485 16 stations, 115.2 kbps, 1200m	Twisted-pair cable
FP2/FP2SH requires a multi-communication unit (FP2-MCU, FP2-CB485)
FPΣ (Sigma) requires a communication cassette (FPG-COM3-A, FPG-COM4-A)

Modbus-RTU compatibility

Compatible with both the master and slave of the Modbus RTU, the world’s de-facto standard. Great performance is expected for air- conditioning, temperature control, etc.

Usable as a master station [F145 (SEND), F146 (RECV) commands]

Capable of easily communicating with a temperature controller, inverter, FP-e and foreign PLC

Can also be used as a slave station

Temperature Watt-hour meter	Inverter	FP2	FP-e	FP33(Sigma)
controller

Another available application

When 17 or more FP-X units need to be linked, the use of Modbus in- stead of MEWNET-W0 (see above) can accommodate up to 99 FP-X units. Because each FP-X can be a master or a slave, a multi-master link can be constructed by passing a token from a user program.

01/2008

Token passing (by user program)

Master/	Master/	Master/	Master/	Multi-master link of up
slave	slave	slave	slave	to 99 units is possible.

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