EPE5-T: four RS-485 serial ports
EPE5-ST: four RS-232 serial ports

The EPE5 comes in two versions. Both versions have a 10BaseT Ethernet port and four serial ports. The serial ports of the EPE5-T are RS-422/485. The serial ports of the EPE5-ST are RS-232 ports.

The EPE5-T replaces the EPE5-TCP-D and the EPE5-TCP-A. An Ethernet media converter is needed to go from twisted-pair to other Ethernet media.

The EPE5 now has several new features previously unavailable:
     * An Ethernet I/O scanner table with 128 entries.
     * The termination and bias of the serial ports is now configurable (-T only).
     * The backplane interface is now 16-bits wide.
     * Module configuration can be written to EEPROM "on-the-fly" or to FLASH when in download mode.

Applications

Modbus Master to Ethernet Gateway
     * Supports up to four Modbus master devices, either RTU or ASCII
     * Each master can talk to up to 128 devices on the EPE5's serial ports or over Ethernet
     * Use with DCS systems to talk to PLCs and other equipment
     * Supports 200 destination IP addresses

Ethernet to Modbus Slave Bridge
     * Supports up to four Modbus master devices, either RTU or ASCII
     * Each master can talk to up to 128 devices on the EPE5's serial ports or over Ethernet
     * Use with DCS systems to talk to PLCs and other equipment
     * Supports 200 destination IP addresses

Modbus/TCP to SY/MAXR Ethernet Protocol Converter
     * Allows bi-directional communication between Modbus Ethernet and SY/MAX Ethernet devices
     * Reap the benefits of Transparent ReadyT without abandoning or replacing your existing SY/MAX equipment

Ethernet to POWERLOGICR Bridge
     * One EPE5 can support up to 128 POWERLOGIC devices
     * Mix POWERLOGIC and Modbus devices on the same serial port
     * Simultaneous System ManagerR and PLC access to POWERLOGIC devices
     * Connect to POWERLOGIC devices using Modbus/TCP

SY/MAX Ethernet NIM
     * Interconnect SY/MAX PLCs over Ethernet
     * Emulate on Ethernet any of the specialty NIMs
     * Supports register reads/writes as well as PLC programming commands
     * NR&D DC1 cable connects the EPE5-T to a SY/MAX PLC
     * NR&D SC902 Smart Cable connects the EPE5-ST to a SY/MAX PLC or NIM
     * Can serve as hot standby Ethernet transfer NIM
     * Make an Ethernet to SY/NETR bridge by connecting an EPE5 to a blue

PLC programming access point
     * Plug a PC into an EPE5 serial port and program Modicon and SY/MAX PLCs over the same connection.
     * The NR&D SC902 Smart Cable will connect an EPE5-T serial port to a PC COM port.
     * The NR&D RS3 Cable will connect an EPE5-ST serial port to a PC COM port.

Radio Master
     * Control radio networks
     * Mix Modbus devices onto RNIM radio networks Serial Protocol Converter

Serial Protocol Converter
     * Devices with different protocols can communicate with each other on separate serial ports

Data Concentrator
     * Store data in the 2,048 mailbox registers accessible through any port
     * Auto-scan devices on the serial ports or on Ethernet with register reads and writes
     * Allows slave devices to share data with no PLC intervention

Ethernet troubleshooting device
     * Statistic registers are available for troubleshooting the Ethernet and serial ports

The EPE5 supports twisted pair Ethernet cabling with its RJ45 jack. The Ethernet port can speak Modbus/TCP, SY/MAX 802.3, or both protocols simultaneously. The EPE5 supports BOOTP and DHCP for easy IP configuration. An Ethernet I/O scanner table supports 128 entries.

The serial ports support 18 separate modes including all of the Square D and Modicon serial protocols. Each port can be independently configured. Some modes allow devices with different protocols to exist on the same physical media. Each serial port has an auto-scan table of 48 entries.

The serial ports of the EPE5-T support 4-wire RS-422 point-to-point or 2-wire or 4-wire RS-485 multidrop. An SC902 can be used with the EPE5-T for an RS-232 connection. A DDC2I-5 converter with a DC1 cable can be used to provide an optically-isolated RS-232 connection.

The serial ports of the EPE5-ST support point-to-point RS-232. An SC902 can be used with an EPE5-ST to provide an RS-422/485 connection. Or, a Niobrara DDC2I-5 can be used to provide an optically-isolated RS-422/485 connection. A pair of DDC2I-5 can be used to extend the RS-232 connection beyond 50 feet

The EPE5 is in the form factor of a SY/MAX rack module. When used in a SY/MAX rack it has a register interface to the PLC but can also be used as a stand-alone solution by including a Niobrara NRK2 single slot rack (below).

The configuration of the EPE5 is stored in registers available from any port. The configuration can be changed "on-the-fly" without rebooting the module. The configuration registers are stored in capacitor-backed RAM. For long-term module storage the configuration can be written to EEPROM "on-the-fly" or to FLASH when the module is in download mode.

The module comes with a CD containing a manual and EPE5SW32 configuration software for the PC. Firmware upgrades are available free of charge for one year after date of purchase. The EPE5 carries a one-year warranty.

The EPE5 is available as:
     * EPE5-T     with 4 RS-422 ports (9-pin female D-sub connector), 1 Ethernet port (10BaseT RJ45 connector.)
     * EPE5-ST     with 4 RS-232 ports (9-pin male D-sub connector), 1 Ethernet port (10BaseT RJ45 connector.)

EPE5-T Accessories
     * SC902       RS-232<=>RS-422 Converter cable for configuring the EPE5-T and upgrading its firmware.
     * NRK2       Single slot rack with built in power supply for stand alone installations.
     * DC1          RS-422 cable for connecting the EPE5-T to a SY/MAX PLC or NIM.

EPE5-ST Accessories
     * RS3       RS-232 cable for configuring the EPE5-ST and upgrading its firmware.
     * DDC2I-5       An RS-422/485 <=> RS-232 optically-isolated converter for providing an RS-422/485 port for an EPE5-ST.
     * NRK2       Single slot rack with built in power supply for stand alone installations.
     * SC902          RS-232<=>RS-422 Converter cable for connecting an EPE5-ST to a SY/MAX PLC or NIM.

Specifications

Dimensions: Standard SY/MAX register module. 1.5" wide by 13" tall by 6.5" deep. Approximately four pounds net. Rugged welded steel enclosure with baked on finish. All serial connectors and indicators are on the front, except the SY/MAX bus card edge connector is on the back and the Ethernet connector is on bottom.

Power Requirements: From SY/MAX bus or NRK2: 5 VDC, 1.5 A

EPE5-T Serial Ports SY/MAX compatible pin-out. Four RS-422/RS-485 serial ports. 50, 75, 110, 134.5, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600, 14,400 or 19,200 baud; 7 or 8 data bits; odd, even or no parity; 1 or 2 stop bits. Selectable checksum (BCC or CRC) supported in some modes. SY/MAX compatible DB9 female connectors with slide-lock posts. When used in RS-485 mode, ports are 2- and 4-wire compatible. Handshaking. Auto-scan and Auto-transfer enabled. Configurable Bias and Termination.

EPE5-ST Serial Ports: PC COM: port compatible pin-out. Four RS-232 serial ports. 50, 75, 110, 134.5, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600, 14,400 or 19,200 baud; 7 or 8 data bits; odd, even or no parity; 1 or 2 stop bits. Selectable checksum (BCC or CRC) supported in some modes. PC COM: port compatible DB9 male connectors with screw posts. Handshaking. Auto-scan and Auto-transfer enabled.

Serial Port Modes: Each serial port can independently operate in any of the following modes: SY/MAX, Net-to-Net, Peripheral, PLogic, Multidrop, IDEC, Modbus Host (RTU - Master and Slave), Modbus Gate (RTU - master and slave), Modbus ASCII, Gateway, Transparent, Share, PNIM, RNIM Master, RNIM Slave, Transfer, Chevron, or Dual Slave.

Ethernet Port: 10BaseT (Twisted pair) with RJ45 connector. 128 entry I/O scanner.

Ethernet Port Modes: SY/MAX 802.3, Modbus/TCP, or Modbus/TCP+SY/MAX. E-Peer compatible (SY/MAX 802.3 mode only).

IP Configuration: BOOTP, DHCP, or configuration register writes.

Mailbox Registers: 2048 processor equivalent registers addressed 1 through 2048. Any number of these may be rack addressed as needed for user applications. Any rack addressed register can be a PLC input or a PLC output as required by the application.

Module Configuration: Module configuration is stored in registers in capacitor-backed RAM and can be changed "on the fly". For long-term storage, configuration can be stored to EEPROM "on the fly" or to FLASH when module is in download mode.

Indicators: Transmit and Receive LEDs for each serial port. Transmit, Receive, Link, Collision, and Error LEDs for the Ethernet port. Active, Error, and Busy LEDs for the Module. Sixteen total indicators.

Operating Conditions: 0 to 50 degrees C operating temperature; -40 to 80 degrees C storage. Humidity up to 90% noncondensing. Pressure altitude -200 to +10,000 feet MSL.

Buttons & Switches: Clear button erases RAM and restores module configuration from EEPROM, FLASH, or Factory Defaults. Download switch allows for module firmware download or configuration storage to FLASH.