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The I/O Network The RS485 Network and Hardware Setup • 6-1
6 The RS485 Network and Hardware
Setup
Previous versions of E2 hardware and firmware before
version 2.30F01 only supported one I/O network port,
with an optional expansion card that could be used for
connection to Copeland ISD compressors or IMC/Prodigy
S-Bus rooftop unit controllers. Beginning with E2 version
2.30F01, E2s now have up to three RS485 network ports,
each of which may be configured as an I/O network, IMC/
Prodigy, ISD, or ECT MODBUS port.
Section 5, Serial Configuration of this manual covers
how to assign COM ports COM2, COM4, and COM6 to
different RS485 network types. Section 6 (this section)
explains the network types, the hardware that may be con-
nected to each type, and how to configure the devices.
6.1 The I/O Network
All boards and controllers manufactured by Retail
Solutions for communication with E2 via RS485 are gen-
erally referred to as I/O boards, and the network they are
connected to is referred to as the I/O network (or I/O
Net).
A COM port configured as I/O Net may connect with
up to 127 I/O boards. This network is used by the E2 to
read data from the input boards and to send commands to
the analog and digital output boards. Some unit control-
lers, such as CCB case controllers and MultiFlex RCBs,
also communicate with the E2 via the I/O Network.
6.1.1 I/O Board Names and Termi-
nology
There are many input, relay output, analog output, and
combination I/O boards available from Retail Solutions
for use with the E2. However, separate from the various
MultiFlex unit controller models, E2 only recognizes four
different types of I/O boards: 16AI, 8RO, 4AO, and 8DO.
All E2-compatible I/O boards communicate with E2 as if
they are one or more of these types of boards.
In this manual and in the E2 interface, when you
encounter these board names, bear in mind that they are
terms that represent many types of boards. Table 6-1
describes all the actual boards or board components for
each E2 “board type.”
Board
Type
Max # Translation
Boards That
Match Board Type
16AI 16 Any I/O board that
has digital and ana-
log inputs. The
inputs of a combina-
tion I/O board (8IO
or MultiFlex combo
board) are by them-
selves treated as one
16AI.
•16AI (discontinued)
•8IO (discontinued)
•MultiFlex 16
•The inputs on all Mul-
tiFlex combo boards
(88, 88AO, 168,
168AO, and 1616)
•All versions of the
Gateway board (some
versions behave like
as multiple 16AIs)
8RO 31 Any I/O board with
relay outputs. The
relay outputs of a
combination I/O
board (8IO or Multi-
Flex combo board)
are by themselves
treated as one 8RO.
•8RO
•8ROSMT
•The relay outputs on
all MultiFlex combo
boards (88, 88AO,
168, 168AO, and
1616 (which behaves
as two 8RO boards)
•8IO (discontinued)
4AO 16 Any I/O board with
analog outputs. The
analog outputs of a
combination I/O
board (8IO or Multi-
Flex combo board)
are by themselves
treated as one 8RO.
•4AO
•8IO (discontinued)
•The analog outputs on
the MultiFlex 88AO
and 168AO
8DO 16 Any I/O board with
+12VDC digital
pulse outputs.
•
8DO (including all
versions of the
PMAC and PMAC
II anti-sweat con-
troller)
•Digital outputs on the
MultiFlex 168DO
ARTC/
RTU
32 Rooftop HVAC con-
troller board
MultiFlex RTU and
ARTC (discontinued)
RCB 32 MultiFlex RCB
advanced rooftop
unit controller
MultiFlex RCB
Table 6-1 - Board Types and Boards Included in Each Type