1
User Manual
MN032EN
Effective October 2017
215U-2 802.11
wireless I/O and gateway
EATON
www.eaton.com
Introduction
Overview
The ELPRO 215U-2 Ethernet Networking I/O and Gateway is a
multiple I/O node that extends communications to sensors and
actuators in local, remote, or difficult to reach locations. Designed to
work with wired and wireless devices, the ELPRO 215U-2 is capable
of providing IP-based I/O across sprawling industrial environments
typical of industrial applications.
The ELPRO 215U-2 communicates using standard 802.11 (WiFi)
communications and will interoperate with existing 802.11 products
and networks operating on the 2.4GHz band.
The 215U-2 can serve as an end node or network gateway and is
scalable to thousands of nodes. Gather-scatter and block mapping
technology offers the efficient use of network resources, allowing
point-to-point transfer of process signal within complex monitoring
and control systems. Integrated Modbus
®
server capability allows
further I/O expansion through the use of ELPRO 115S expansion
modules.
The module can monitor the following types of signals:
•
Digital (on/off) signals, such as a contact closure or switch
•
Analog (continuously variable) signals, such as tank level, motor
speed, or temperature
•
Pulsed signal, frequency signals, such as metering, accumulated
total, or rainfall
•
Internal signals, such as supply voltage, supply failure, or battery
status
The modules monitor the input signals and transmit the values by
radio or Ethernet cabling to another module (or modules) that have
been configured to receive this information.
Input signals that are connected to the module are transmitted and
appear as output signals on other modules. A transmission occurs
whenever a change of state (COS) occurs on an input signal. A
COS of a digital or an internal digital input is a change from “off”
to “on,” or a change from “on” to “off.” For an analog input, internal
analog input, or pulse input rate, a COS is a configurable value
referred to as sensitivity. The default sensitivity is 1000 counts (3%),
but you can change this value using the device’s sensitivity block
configuration web page.
In addition to COS messages, update messages are automatically
transmitted on a configurable time basis. These updates ensure
system integrity. Pulse inputs counts are accumulated and the
total count is transmitted regularly according to the configured
update time.
The 215U-2 modules transmit the input/output data using radio
or Ethernet. The data frame includes the address of the sending
module and the receiving module, so that each transmitted message
is acted upon only by the correct receiving unit. Each message
includes error checking to ensure that no corruption of the data
frame has occurred due to noise or interference. The module with
the correct receiving address will acknowledge the message with a
return transmission (acknowledgment). If the original module does
not receive a correct acknowledgment, it will retry multiple times
before setting the communications status of that message to “fail.”
For critical messages, this status can be reflected on an output on
the module for alert purposes. The module will continue to try to
establish communications and retry each time an update or COS
occurs.
The 215U-2 comes from the factory with ELPRO WIB and Modbus
TCP/RTU protocols as standard. WIB protocol provides powerful
enhanced features, including IP addressing, and it allows thousands
of modules to exist in a system. Modbus TCP protocol provides a
standards-based interface to a multitude of commercially available
controls systems, including PLCs, DCS, and SCADA.
A system can be a complex network or a simple pair of modules.
An easy-to-use configuration procedure allows you to specify any
output destination for each input. Each 215U-2 device can have up
to 19 expansion I/O modules (ELPRO 115S) connected by RS-485
twisted pair cable. Any input signal at any module may be configured
to appear at any output on any module in the entire system.
The units can be configured by accessing the internal Web pages
using a Web browser. See section “Connecting to the device” on
page 12
for more information.
