IMAC2B009 V2
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Page 18 of 53
Ampcontrol Pty Ltd
– ABN 28 000 915 542
iMAC System User Manual
iMAC2B009 V4
– 10/18
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Networking
The iMAC2 Controller is equipped with two fieldbus ports, the L1 driving port and the L2 listening port.
Controllers can be networked together by connecting the listening L2 fieldbus port of one Controller to the
parent driving L1 fieldbus of another Controller.
Controllers can be networked in a tree structure, with the Master Controller being at the top of the tree. The
Master Controller drives a line, to which many Slave Controllers can be connected. Each Slave Controller
can drive its own L1 fieldbus which may have many Slave Controllers connected to it. A maximum of 16
iMAC2 Controllers can be networked together on the iMAC system.
Figure 4.2: Tree Network of iMAC2 Controllers
WARNING!
The L1 fieldbus lines from two Controllers must
never be connected
together
. This would
violate the Intrinsic Safety Approval
and may
damage the drive circuits.
In a networked iMAC system, each individual Controller will drive its own fieldbus, via the L1 port.
The L2 fieldbus port shall only be used for connection to a
‘Parent L1 Line’ owned by a Controller further up
the tree. The Controller
’s L2 connection terminals are electrically isolated and the Controller responds to
parent L1 signals like any other module connected to the parent L1 fieldbus.
The iMAC2
Controller’s application (SLP) software can be programmed to utilise the iMAC2 Controller’s 16-
position rotary switch to select the Controller’s network address.
Networking can also be achieved by connecting each iMAC2 Controller to a PLC, which then allows
communication over the site’s PLC network.
L2
L1
iMAC2 Controller
#1
iMAC2
Controller #1
Local Network
L1
L2
iMAC2
Controller #3
Local Network
L1
L2
iMAC2
Controller #4
Local Network
L1
iMAC2 Controller
#2
iMAC2 Controller
#3
iMAC2 Controller
#4
iMAC2
Controller #2
Local Network
