LEDs and Connectors

The module’s three DeviceNet-compliant LEDS show its operating and communications status.

The RS-232 serial port is used for a computer connection during firmware upgrades. The

DeviceNet connector is a removable spring-clamp terminal. It provides bus continuity and can

be removed from the module without disrupting bus operation.

The DeviceNet Bus

Devices can be connected directly to the trunk cable, or to drop lines that are joined to the trunk

cable with taps. Taps can be mounted in junction boxes or panels. Drop lines and daisy-chains

are often used inside control panels where multiple devices are grouped together.  When using

drops with daisy-chains and branches, the maximum length from a tap to its farthest drop is 20 feet.

Bus Length

The maximum length of the trunk cable and drops both depend on the cable type and data rate.

Individual drops may not exceed 6 meters and are limited to one network node per drop.

However, the node may have multiple ports.

For each baud rate, the total drop length is the sum of all the drop lines of both cable types in

the network.

In addition, if the distance from a tap to the most distant device on its drop is longer than the

distance from the tap to the nearest terminating resistor, the drop line length also counts as part

of the trunk cable length (as well as the overall drop length).