Introduction

Use these instructions to create a Control Expert project that allows communication between the I/O scanner and RIO modules.

Stages

Here are the basic stages of the Control Expert configuration:

Stage

Description

1

Select a CPU and a power supply to create a new Control Expert configuration. (Refer to the Modicon M580 Hardware Reference Manual).

2

Configure a rack assembly for the RIO drop (in this section).

To help secure a Control Expert project against unwanted modifications, refer to the Modicon M580 Hardware Reference Manual.

NOTE: These instructions assume that you have a working knowledge of Control Expert.

Rack Considerations

RIO rack considerations:

  • The number of the first slot in a X80 rack is 0. Therefore, a 4-slot rack includes slot numbers 0, 1, 2, 3.

  • You can cut or copy other devices in the remote drop and paste them in any rack of the same type, but you cannot move objects from a local rack to the drop or from a drop to the local rack. Also, you can only perform these actions (cut, copy, paste) in the same device editor.

Configuring a Remote Main RIO Drops

When a BME•58••40 CPU module in the main local rack Control Expert automatically creates a second bus, the EIO Bus.

Use these instructions to configure a main RIO drop (on a EIO Bus):

Step

Action

Comment

1

In the Project Browser, double-click EIO Bus to see the (empty) RIO local rack.

Tools > Project Browser > Structural view > Project > Configuration > EIO Bus

2

In the EIO Bus window, double-click the square link connector to access the available racks.

The New Device dialog appears.

3

Select a rack.

This example uses the 4-slot BMEXBP0400 rack: New Device > Part Number > Modicon M580 remote drop > Rack > BME EEP 0400 .

4

In the Drop end communicator area, select a CRA adapter.

This example uses the default BMECRA31210 adapter.

5

Click OK .

The rack with the CRA adapter opens.

6

Click the rack to the left of the CRA adapter to add a power supply.

This example uses a BMX CPS 2000.

7

Double-click empty slots to add Modicon M580 remote drop modules to the EIO Bus.

For this example, none are added.

8

Save the file.

Click File > Save.

To add:

  • another RIO drop, click the rounded square at the bottom of the dialog

  • a remote drop extension rack, click the >> on the right side of the remote drop main rack

    NOTE: When physically installing a remote drop extension rack, add Bus Extender modules and cables.

Maximum Channel Configuration

The maximum number of channels that can be configured for an X80 RIO drop is either:

  • 1024 digital channels

  • 1024 channels that include 256 analog channels

The number maximum of input channels that can be configured for analog modules is 236. In such a configuration, no other modules can be configured in the RIO drop.

NOTE: If a serial Modbus network is added to an RIO drop, take in to account the number of channels declared when calculating the number maximum of channel supported by the RIO drop.

Control Expert Configuration Tabs

After you have placed your modules in the remote drop, double-click the RIO drop adapter module to see the available Control Expert configuration tabs: