Serially-Driven Meters and 6-Digit Remote Displays

Description

Micro Remote Displays accept RS232 or RS485 inputs from computers, programmable controllers, Micro meters or Micro counters to provide a remote numeric LED display from -999,999 to +999,999. Multiple remote displays can be individually address on a single data line.

Choice of Two Digit Heights

Micro Remote Displays are available in two digit heights: 0.56″ for use in a control panel, and digit heights of 5.0″ (Mighty-5) for reading across a plant floor or outdoor yard. The 5″ version is available with indoor or outdoor brightness.

The popular 0.56″ digit version comes with a red or green LED display and utilizes a 1/8 DIN case. It is similar to a digital panel meter or counter in appearance for a blended look when installed in a control panel. The 1/8 DIN case is environmentally sealed to NEMA-4X (IP65) from the front when panel mounted to allow washdown.

Interface to Computer or PLC

Multiple Micro remote displays can be connected in parallel to a single data line in multidrop fashion and be addressed from a single data port, thereby minimizing wiring. Each unit will only display the value transmitted for its unique address. The recognition character preceding the address is programmable. The data rate is selectable from 300 to 19,200 bps.

With the RS485 interface, up to 31 remote displays can be individually addressed and be connected in parallel. With the RS232 interface, only 5 remote displays can be connected in parallel for impedance reasons.

Interface to Micro Meters & Counters

All Micro meters and counters allow the display of the sending unit to be duplicated by a remote display.

The simultaneous display of multiple parameters using multiple remote displays is possible if the sending unit is a Micro counter equipped with an FR (frequency) or VF (voltage-to-frequency) signal conditioner board. The sending unit may be set up to display any of up to four parameters: Item #1, Item #2, Item #3 or peak. These four parameters are transmitted in sequence, and a remote display can be set up to display any one item in that sequence.

One possibility is to install up to three remote displays in the same control panel as the main Micro counter to augment its single display. For example, a batch controller can show the batch total. The remote displays can show rate, peak rate, and either grand total or number of batches. A yellow indicator light shows which item in the transmitted sequence has been chosen for display.

Isolated Analog Output Option

A Micro remote display can be equipped with an optional isolated analog output board with 0-10 V and 0-20 mA outputs to serve as a low-cost, serially-driven, 12-bit digital-to-analog converter. Either output can be scaled to the displayed value. With this board, the remote display can drive a chart recorder or serve as a highly accurate, isolated 4-20 mA transmitter.

Alarm & Setpoint Control Options

Each Micro remote display can also be equipped with a relay output board with dual contact relays or dual opto-isolated AC/DC solid state relays to provide remote alarm and setpoint control capability.

• The relays can respond to the data values transmitted via RS232/485. The setpoints can be programmed locally from the front panel of the remote display or remotely via RS232/485.

• The relays can respond to any of eight control characters transmitted via RS232/485. These characters can be transmitted by a Micro meter or counter, thereby assuring that the local and remote alarm points are identical.

With the addition of the scaled analog output and alarm/setpoint capabilities, Micro remote displays can become significant components of any supervisory monitoring and control system.