Chapter 6: PLC Connection Guide

Introduction
Connection Choices:
The EasyView family of touch terminals can control combinations of many different manufacturers Programmable
Controllers (PLC’s, PAC,s) as well as Instrumentation Systems, Variable Speed Drives, or simple Field I/O, Sensors
and Actuators. Communication is via RS232, RS422, RS485(2W) or RS485(4W) serial links, as well as Ethernet on
the MT-8000 series.

The family of EasyView touch terminals provide the following interface options:
MT-505:
One single serial device connection, RS232, RS422, RS485(2W) or RS485(4W).

MT-6000 series: 3 simultaneous different serial device connections, RS232, RS422, RS485(2W) or RS485(4W).

MT-8000 series: 3 simultaneous different serial device connections, RS232, RS422, RS485(2W) or RS485(4W),
plus an Ethernet device network of further devices, remote touch terminals and PC’s.

Complex Ethernet Networks:

EasyView touch terminals cannot connect directly to a
device family or fieldbus serial network which contains
multiple Masters, such as Allen-Bradley DH+, or where
a PC is connected for remote programming. For the
MT-505/6000 series you may wish to consider data
mapping through one master PLC as network interface,
but generally this function is provided by the Ethernet
connection on the MT-8000 series.

Extended Addressing Mode:

Some serial device drivers feature an extended addressing mode, that allows an EasyView touch terminal to Master
control an RS422/485 network of multidrop connected Slave devices sharing the same driver. All devices must utilise
the same settings and protocols. Some PLCs, however, do not support multidrop or do not include node address
information.

Supported Drivers include:

Device Manufacturer Model Driver
OMRON CPM / CQM / C200H Host Link
Modicon Compact(A/E984) / Momentum / Quantum Modbus RTU / RTU Extended
Koyo(AutomationDirect) All DirectLogic ports set for Modbus Modbus RTU
Mitsubishi FX series ComputerLink via BD communications module
Idec Micro3 / OpenNet Idec DataLink
Facon FB series Fatek protocol
LG Master-K / GLOFA LG Cnet (except K10S/30S/60S)
Delta DVP series DVP protocol
Telemecanique TSX series UniTelWay
Toshiba VF-S11 / T series / S2E T2 LINK port,

The range of devices for EasyView touch terminals is expanding. Consult web site for latest list of drivers.

6–2 EV-USER-M Hardware user manual, 1st Ed. 08/08 0 17 3 7 - 8 2 4 6 0 0

 Chapter 6: PLC Connection Guide

Introduction
Extended Addressing Mode (con’t):
Where only an RS232 port is provided, often found with simple Modbus devices, it is necesssary to convert each
RS232 port to RS422/485 for multidrop connection. The F2-UNICON or isolated FA-ISOCON are ideal for this task.

Isolating I/O channels in PLC equipment greatly improved the reliability of industrial control systems, and likewise we
recommend isolating communications channels in order to avoid data corruption due to sporadic electrical noise and
potential differences between control panels due to poor site earthing and local fault currents.

Cabling Options:
The remainder of this chapter describes each manufacturers family of devices, and offers communication cable
options for different senarios. It does not cover every possible connection arrangement, and the simple rule is that
HMI communication settings must always match those of the PLC or device connected. It is always best to test a
new project connection with a simple screen object before constructing complex project screens. It takes just one
faulty screen obect to halt terminal operation each time that screen object is accessed.

Single Point-to-Point Serial connections:

RS232: is for connection between PLC port, or PLC port adapter, and one HMI within the same control panel.
Multiple HMI’s may then share the same PLC connection via Ethernet (unlimited MT8000 series) or fast 115k baud
serial link (upto three MT500 series). Maximum cable length depends on baud rate of transmission, and proximity to
noise sources (5m at 19,200 baud. 50m at 9600 baud. 2500pf max total line capacitance).
Noise immunity depends on adequate screening of the cable, earthing of PLC and HMI to the same star earth block,
and equi-potential bonding between control panels.
Remote HMI location, and connection of HMI to mult-drop PLC networks.
RS422: is a twin-twisted pair connection with the highest noise immunity, ideal for fast serial HMI connection up to
1200m as data can be transmitted and received simultaneously.
Input sensitivity of line receivers is low, for the highest noise immunity, and up to 9 PLC slave ports may share one
HMI network, if the particular device driver supports Extended Addressing Mode. The HMI will be the master and all
PLCs must be set for slave communication only.

RS485(4-wire): is identical in wiring and function to RS422, but each line receiver has a higher sensitivity and input
impedance than RS422. Up to 31 PLC slave ports may share one HMI network. The pay-off is a lower noise immunity
than RS422. Correct screening and equi-potential bonding between control panels is essential.

w w w. l a m o n d e . c o m EV-USER-M Hardware user manual, 1st Ed. 08/08

6–3
 Chapter 6: PLC Connection Guide

Introduction
RS485(2-wire): is a single twisted pair connection with high noise immunity, ideal for extending the distance
between HMI and PLC up to 1200m. Line drivers and receivers share the same lines, so that PLC’s are polled “One at
a time” by the HMI, and each addressed PLC responds. Turn around delays are required for some PLC types.

Ethernet:
Certain MT-8000 series PLC drivers are now available for connection to PLC Ethernet ports and adaptors, via direct
cross-over cable connection, or Industrial Hub and Switch networks using a mixture of local patch cables and trunk
fibre optics. At the time of writing the following Ethernet drivers are available in the MT-8000 series:

Allen-Bradley - CompactLogix, ControlLogix, FlexLogix

Allen-Bradley - DF1 Ethernet
Mitsubishi QJ71MT91 Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet
Generic Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet
OMRON CJ1 / CS1 Ethernet
Yokogawa FA-M3 Ethernet

Serial HMI Communication Ports:

MT-505:
DB9-S socket 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
RS232 Gnd Tx Rx
RS485(2W) Data- Data+ Gnd
RS485(4W) Rx- Rx+ Tx- Tx+ Gnd

MT-6000 / 8000 series:

DB9-P plug 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
RS232(COM1) Rx Tx Gnd RTS CTS
RS232(COM2) Tx Gnd Rx

DB9-S socket 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
COM1 RS485(4W) Rx- Rx+ Tx- Tx+ Gnd
COM3 RS485(2W) Data- Data+ Gnd
COM 3 RS232 Gnd Tx Rx

6–4 EV-USER-M Hardware user manual, 1st Ed. 08/08 0 17 3 7 - 8 2 4 6 0 0

 Chapter 6: PLC Connection Guide

Introduction
Port Splitter cables for MT-6000 and MT-8000 series:
MT-6000 / 8000 series touch terminals can communicate with up to three serial devices, or networks, simultaneously,
and the following Port Splitter cables allow our standard pre-built cables to be used when connecting multiple devices
to either of the HMI serial ports.

MT8CBL-RZ232 Port Splitter cable:

COM1 (RS232)
2 - RxD
DB9-P HMI Port 3 - TxD
COM1 [RS-232] 5 - Gnd
COM2 [RS-232] 7 - RTS
8 - CTS

DB9-P connectors

COM2 (RS232)
DB9-S connector 2 - RxD
3 - TxD
5 - Gnd

MT8CBL-RZ485 Port Splitter cable:

COM1 (RS422/485-4W)
1 - Rx-
DB9-S HMI Port 2 - Rx+
COM1 [RS-485 2/4W] 3 - Tx-
COM3 [RS-485] 4 - Tx+
COM3 [RS-232] 5 - Gnd

COM3 (RS485 2W)

1 - Data-
2 - Data+
5 - Gnd

COM3 (RS232)
DB9-P connector
2 - RxD
3 - TxD
5 - Gnd

All DB9-P connectors

The Modbus RTU Server driver allows an EasyView touch terminal to become a Slave on an Industry standard
Modbus device network, to be used as a status display or settings device.

Individual default HMI communications settings with PLC choices, and the PLC address ranges covered by each PLC
driver are tabulated at the end of each seperate section.

w w w. l a m o n d e . c o m EV-USER-M Hardware user manual, 1st Ed. 08/08

6–5