Black Box IC470A User manual

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 2000. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.

FEBRUARY 2000
IC470A-F IC471A-F IC472A-F IC473A-F IC630A-F IC631A-F
IC470A-M IC471A-M IC472A-M IC473A-M IC630A-M IC631A-M
Async RS-232↔RS-422 and
RS-232↔RS-422/530
Interface Converters
CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION
Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500)
FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
RS-232↔RS-422
Converter

1
FCC/IC RFI STATEMENTS, TRADEMARK USE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND
INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO-FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if
not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It
has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing
device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules,
which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation of
this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case
the user at his own expense will be required to take whatever measures may be
necessary to correct the interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the
trademark owners.

2
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the European
Union’s Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) directive and its Low-Voltage
Directive (LVD).

3
NOM STATEMENT
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes
de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para
referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de
operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo,
cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca,
etc..
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales
que sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea
recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más
allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio
deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no
interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama,
sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se
debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los
orificios de ventilación.

4
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor
como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo
amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del
tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el
aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la
polarización del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no
sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos,
poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen
del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las
recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las
lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no
sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean
derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del
aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en
su desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications ........................................................................................ 6
2. Introduction ......................................................................................... 9
2.1 Overview ..................................................................................... 9
2.2 Features and Benefits ............................................................... 10
3. Configuration (Models with RS-232 on DB25 Only) ....................... 12
4. Installation .......................................................................................... 14
4.1 Connecting Cables to the RS-422 or RS-530 Interface .......... 14
4.1.1 Making an RS-422 or RS-530 Connection to a DB25
(IC471A and IC472A Models) ................................... 15
4.1.2 Making an RS-422 Connection to an RJ-12
(IC630A Models) or RJ-45 (IC631A Models) ........... 16
4.1.3 Making an RS-422 Connection to a 5-Position
Terminal Block (IC470A and IC473A Models) ........ 19
4.2 Connecting Devices or Cables to the RS-232 Interface ......... 27
5. Operation ......................................................................................... 28
6. Troubleshooting ................................................................................ 29
6.1 Calling Black Box ..................................................................... 29
6.2 Shipping and Packaging .......................................................... 30
Appendix A: Cable Guidelines .................................................................... 31
Appendix B: RS-232 Pinouts ....................................................................... 33
B.1 Pinout on DB25 (IC470A through IC472A Models) ............. 33
B.2 Pinout on DB9 (IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A Models) ....... 35
Appendix C: Block Diagrams ...................................................................... 36
C.1 IC470A through IC472A Models ............................................. 36
C.2 IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A Models ..................................... 37

6
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
1. Specifications
Cable Required — Between Converters: 4-wire (2-pair)
unconditioned twisted-pair cable
Compliance — CE; FCC Part 15 Subpart J Class A,
IC Class/classe A
Interfaces — To devices: EIA/TIA RS-232C:
IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A models:
Original pinning on DB25;
IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A models:
Pinned according to TIA-574 on DB9;
To line: EIA/TIA RS-422 or (IC471 and
IC472 models only) RS-530 (transmit- and
receive-data signals only)
Protocol — Asynchronous
Data Format — Transparent to data format
Flow Control — Transparent to software flow control
(X-ON/X-OFF, etc.); loops back RS-232
hardware flow-control signals (RTS, CTS,
DTR, DSR, and CD)
Operation — 4-wire; transparent to half- or full-duplex
Data Rate — Transparent to data rates up to 19,200 bps

7
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
Maximum
Distance — Between device and Converter (RS-232):
50 ft. (15.2 m);
Between Converters (RS-422/530):
4000 ft. (1219 m)
User Controls — IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A models only:
(1) DTE/DCE slide switch (default setting
is DCE)
Indicators — None
Connectors — All end-mounted:
RS-232:
IC470A-F, IC471A-F, IC472A-F:
(1) DB25 female;
IC470A-M, IC471A-M, IC472A-M:
(1) DB25 male;
IC473A-F, IC630A-F, IC631A-F:
(1) DB9 female;
IC473A-M, IC630A-M, IC631A-M:
(1) DB9 male;
RS-422:
IC470A and IC473A models:
(1) 5-position terminal block;
IC630A models: (1) RJ-12 (“6-wire
RJ-11”) female;
IC631A models: (1) RJ-45 female;
RS-422/530:
IC471A models: (1) DB25 female;
IC472A models: (1) DB25 male

8
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
Power — Very low voltage at 3 mA from the attached
device’s RS-232 interface
MTBF — Approximately 240,000 hours
Maximum
Altitude — 10,000 ft. (3048 m)
Temperature
Tolerance — 32 to 140˚F (0 to 60˚C)
Humidity
Tolerance — Up to 95% noncondensing
Enclosure — ABS plastic
Size — IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A models:
2.2"H x 1.8"W x 0.8"D (5.6 x 4.5 x 1.9 cm);
IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A models:
2.5"H x 1.2"W x 0.8"D (6.4 x 3 x 1.9 cm)
Weight — IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A models:
2 oz. (57 g);
IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A models:
3 oz. (85 g)

9
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2. Introduction
2.1 Overview
With our Async RS-232↔RS-422 Converters (IC470A,
IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A product codes) and
RS-232↔RS-422/530 Converters (IC471A and IC472A
product codes), your computers, terminals, and
modems with RS-232 serial ports can communicate with
other devices using balanced RS-422 or RS-530 electrical
signals. These Converters derive the necessary power for
their operation from the data and control voltages on
the RS-232 interface. They perform full-duplex
bidirectional data conversion at RS-422/530 distances
up to 4000 feet (1219 m).
Some converter models (the IC473A, IC630A, and
IC631A models) have DB9 RS-232 connectors for easy
attachment to the current generation of computers and
serial cables. The other Converter models (IC470A
through IC472A models) have DB25 RS-232 connectors
for attachments to modems, older computers and
terminals, serial printers, etc. To make it possible for you
to directly connect them to such a wide range of
equipment, the DB25 models have a DCE/DTE slide

10
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
switch you can set to complement your devices. (The
DB9 models don’t have this switch—they’re always
DCE—so you’ll need a DB9 null-modem cable to
connect them to a modem or a similar device.)
Converters are available with any of several RS-422 and
RS-530 interface options. Of the models that carry
RS-422 only, IC470A and IC473A models carry it on
5-position terminal blocks (strain relief included);
IC630A models carry it on RJ-12 (“6-wire RJ-11”) jacks;
and IC631A models carry it on RJ-45 jacks. The IC471A
and IC472A models carry either RS-422 or the transmit-
and receive-data leads of RS-530 on DB25 female and
DB25 male connectors respectively.
2.2 Features and Benefits
• Bidirectionally convert RS-232 signals to balanced
RS-422 signals or RS-530 transmit- and receive-data
signals.
• IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A models can be set as
DTE or DCE on RS-232 side.
• Passes software flow control, loops back RS-232
hardware flow-control signals.

11
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
• Data rates to 19,200 bps; RS-422/530 distances to
4000 ft. (1219 m).
• Powered through its RS-232 interface.
• Extremely compact.
• Models available with a variety of RS-422/530
connectors and either DB25 or DB9 RS-232
connectors.

12
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
3. Configuration (Models with RS-232
on DB25 Only)
The Async RS-232↔RS-422 Converters and Async
RS-232↔RS-422/RS-530 Converters are easy to use.
They have no internal jumpers or DIP switches to set, so
you won’t need to open the case at all unless your unit
has terminal-block connectors (see Section 4.1.3).
You will have to configure units that carry RS-232 on
DB25 connectors—IC470A, IC471A, and IC472A
models—as DTE or DCE, using their external
DTE/DCE switch. (The IC473A, IC630A, and IC631A
models, which carry RS-232 on DB9, are always DCE and
have no such switch.)
Refer to Figure 3-1 on the next page: If you’ll be
plugging the Converter into a DTE such as a computer,
terminal, or serial printer, make sure the Converter’s
DTE/DCE switch is in the complementary “DCE”
setting. (“DCE” is the factory-default setting for this
switch.) If you’ll be plugging the Converter into a DCE
such as a modem or multiplexor, make sure the switch is
in the “DTE” setting.

13
Figure 3-1. The DTE/DCE switch on the IC470A, IC471A,
and IC472A models of the Converter.
DCE DTE
CHAPTER 3: Configuration
RS-232 Connector
(Other end has RS-422/530 connector—
terminal block or DB25)

14
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
4. Installation
4.1 Connecting Cables to the RS-422 or RS-530 Interface
The Converter can communicate with another RS-422
or RS-530 device as far away as 4000 feet (1219 m). To
do this, the cable you run between them must contain
two twisted pairs of dry, unconditioned metallic wire
with a gauge between 19 and 26 AWG. Once you
terminate it properly, bulk Category 3 UTP cable such as
our product code EYN712A should do fine.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Please be aware, as you run RS-422 cable from the
Converter to the RS-422 device, that the Converter’s
polarity might be the reverse of the device’s. If connecting +
to + and – to – doesn’t work, try connecting + to – and – to +.
Different models of the Converter have different
RS-422 and RS-530 interface connectors:
• IC470A and IC473A models have a 5-position
terminal block with strain relief.
• IC471A models have a DB25 female connector.
• IC472A models have a DB25 male connector.
• IC630A models have an RJ-12 (“6-wire RJ-11”) jack.
• IC631A models have an RJ-45 jack.

15
CHAPTER 4: Installation
For models whose RS-232 and RS-422/530 connectors
are both DB25 male (IC472A-M) or DB25 female
(IC471A-F), the connector farthest from the DTE/DCE
switch is the RS-422/530 connector.
4.1.1 M AKING AN RS-422 OR RS-530 C ONNECTION TO A DB25
(IC471A
AND IC472A M ODELS )
The IC471A and IC472A models of the Converter have
DB25 female and DB25 male RS-422/530 connectors
respectively. These are pinned according to RS-530,
although only the transmit- and receive-data signals are
supported. When you run cable from the Converter to
another RS-422 or RS-530 device, make sure the cable is
pinned as shown below, with the XMT→RCV wires in
one pair and the RCV←XMT wires in another pair:
RS-530 DB25 RS-422 RS-422 DB25 RS-530
Signal Pin Signal Signal Pin Signal
TD A 2 XMT+ ...................RCV A+ 3 RD A
TD B 14 XMT– ...................RCV B– 16 RD B
RD A 3 RCV+ ...................XMT A+ 2 TD A
RD B 16 RCV–.....................XMT– 14 TD B
>
>
<
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16
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
4.1.2 M AKING AN
RS-422 C ONNECTION TO AN RJ-12 (IC630A
M
ODELS ) OR RJ-45 (IC631A M ODELS )
The IC630A and IC631A models of the Converter have
RJ-12 (“6-wire RJ-11”) female and RJ-45 female RS-422
connectors respectively. These are pinned in a USOC
style for a standard telco wiring environment, as shown
below:
IC630A: IC631A:
RJ-12 RJ-45 Lead/
Pin Pin Signal
1-----------N/C
1 ------------2 ---------GND*
2 ------------3 ---------RCV–
3 ------------4 ---------XMT+
4 ------------5 ---------XMT–
5 ------------6 ---------RCV+
6 ------------7 ---------GND*
8-----------N/C
*You don't have to connect the GND (ground) pins to anything;
ground connections are strictly optional, although you can connect
a cable shield to ground at one end only.

17
In most modular RS-422 applications, you’ll need to
run a “crossover” cable between the Converter and the
other RS-422 device. This cable should be pinned as
shown below for the IC630A models, and as shown on
the next page for the IC631A models, with the
XMT→RCV wires in one pair and the RCV←XMT wires
in another pair:
IC630A: RJ-12*
Lead/ Pin Pin Pin Pin Lead/
Signal* No.* Color† Color† No.* Signal*
XMT+ 3 Green ...............................Black 5 RCV+
XMT– 4 Red ................................Yellow 2 RCV–
RCV+ 5 Black ...............................Green 3 XMT+
RCV– 2 Yellow ................................Red 4 XMT–
*If the cable is shielded, you can attach one end of the shield to GND (ground, Pin 1 or
Pin 6). Do not run wire from a ground at one end of the cable to a ground at the other
end; the Converter does not reference ground for RS-422 data transmission and you
could create an electrical “ground loop” that could severely damage your equipment.
†These are standard AT&T®color codes. The RJ-45 connectors on your cables or
other equipment might have different-colored pins.
1
2
3
4
5
6
CHAPTER 4: Installation
Blue*
Yellow
Green
Red
Black
White*
>
>
<
<

18
RS-232↔RS-422 INTERFACE CONVERTERS
IC631A: RJ-45
Lead/ Pin Pin Pin Pin Lead/
Signal* No.* Color† Color† No.* Signal*
XMT+ 4 Red ................................Yellow 6 RCV+
XMT– 5 Green ...............................Black 3 RCV–
RCV+ 6 Yellow ................................Red 4 XMT+
RCV– 3 Black ...............................Green 5 XMT–
*If the cable is shielded, you can attach one end of the shield to GND (ground, Pin 2 or
Pin 7). Do not run wire from a ground at one end of the cable to a ground at the other
end; the Converter does not reference ground for RS-422 data transmission and you
could create an electrical “ground loop” that could severely damage your equipment.
Also, remember that Pins 1 and 8 are not connected to anything inside the Converter,
so do not connect any wires to them.
†These are standard AT&T®color codes. The RJ-45 connectors on your cables or
other equipment might have different-colored pins.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Blue*
Orange*
Black
Red
Green
Yellow
Brown*
Slate*
>
>
<
<