Eaton Crouse-Hinds MTL F300 Series User manual

F300 megablock range
MTL fieldbus device couplers
October 2020
INM F300 rev 7
Instruction manual
MTL fieldbus networks

ii INM F300 rev 7
Declaration of Conformity
A printed version of the Declaration of Conformity has been provided separately within the original shipment of
goods. However, you can find a copy of the latest version at http://www.mtl-inst.com/certificates

iiiINM F300 rev 7
CONTENTS
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ......................................................II
GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION....................................................IV
1 OVERVIEW ........................................................................1
2 DESCRIPTION ......................................................................1
3 COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES ...................................................2
4 MECHANICAL ......................................................................2
4.1 Mounting orientation .....................................................................2
4.2 Enclosure requirements...................................................................2
4.3 DIN-rail mounting........................................................................3
4.4 Removal from DIN-rail ....................................................................3
5 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS .........................................................3
5.1 DC Power Requirements ..................................................................4
5.2 Terminator ..............................................................................4
5.3 Trunk connections .......................................................................4
5.4 Spur port connections ....................................................................5
5.5 Cable screen connections .................................................................5
5.6 Surge protection.........................................................................5
6 TESTING ..........................................................................6
6.1 Power LED ..............................................................................6
6.2 Spur LEDs ..............................................................................6
7 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ............................................................6
8 ATEX SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................7
8.1 General ................................................................................7
8.2 Installation..............................................................................7
8.3 Inspection and maintenance ...............................................................7
8.4 Repair .................................................................................7
8.5 Marking ................................................................................8
9 FM CONTROL DRAWINGS ...........................................................9
10 IECEx SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ......................................................12
10.1 SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF USE ...........................................................12
10.2 IECEx Control drawings ...............................................................13-16

iv INM F300 rev 7
GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION
The following methods are used in this manual to alert the user to important information:-
WARNING !
Warnings are provided to ensure operator safety and MUST be followed.
CAUTION
Cautions are provided to prevent damage to the instrument.
NOTE
These are used to give general information to ensure correct operation.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION AND OPERATING PERSONNEL
The operating instructions provided here contain essential safety instructions for installation personnel and
those engaged in the operation, maintenance and servicing of the equipment.
WARNING !
Failure to comply with these instructions can endanger the lives or health of personnel and risk damage
to the plant and the environment.
WARNING !
The responsibility for planning, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, particularly with
respect to applications in explosion-hazard areas, lies with the plant operator.
Before commencing installation or commissioning:
• Read and understand the contents of this manual and the product datasheet
• Ensure installation and operating personnel have received adequate training for this task
• Ensure that any operating instructions are fully understood by the personnel responsible.
• Observe national and local installation and mounting regulations (e.g. IEC 60079-14).
WARNING !
If these assemblies have been used previously in general electrical installations,
they MAY NOT be used in explosion-hazard area applications.
During operation:
• Make the relevant instructions available at all times to the operating personnel.
• Observe safety instructions.
• Observe national safety and accident prevention regulations.
• Operate the equipment within its published specification.
• Servicing, maintenance work or repairs not described in this manual must not be performed without prior
agreement with the manufacturer.
• Any damage to this equipment may render its explosion protection null and void.
• No changes to any of the components that might impair their explosion protection are permitted.
If any information provided here is not clear:
• Contact Eaton’s MTL product line or one of its representatives.
NOTE
Improper installation and operation of the enclosure can result in the invalidation of the guarantee.

1INM F300 rev 7
1 OVERVIEW
F300 Megablocks are DIN-rail mounted, device couplers for Foundation™ fieldbus
or Profibus PA networks. They allow connection of field devices to the segment
trunk cable and provide short-circuit protection to the segment.
Megablocks minimize hand wiring and allow individual devices to be added to
and removed from the segment without disrupting network communication.
Megablocks are available in four, eight, and twelve port versions. Multiple
Megablocks are easily wired together to allow larger segments to be constructed.
Each F300 Megablock includes an F97 Terminator for installation in the trunk
terminals, which is clearly marked with a large ‘T’ for easy identification by field
personnel.
Individual surge-protector modules (FS32) can also be fitted to any of the
Megablock fieldbus terminals to provide protection against induced surges and
transients that can potentially destroy or degrade certain components inside the
F300 Megablocks.
2 DESCRIPTION
Simple and reliable interconnection
Each Megablock has dedicated connections for the fieldbus “home run” or trunk
cable. Trunk connections are identified by their black connectors. Numbered
(grey) connectors are provided for each spur.
Wiring connections to the Megablock are made using pluggable connectors
(screw terminal type are standard, but other connection styles are available).
These allow wire terminations to be made to the individual connectors, which are
then plugged into the Megablock. Devices can be connected and disconnected
easily during commissioning. On completion, the connector retaining screws are
tightened to secure each connector to the Megablock.
F300 megablock range
MTL Fieldbus device couplers
Figure 1.1 - Megablock models F312, F308 and F304

2INM F300 rev 7
Short-circuit protection
To minimize susceptibility to single points of failure, F300 Megablocks are provided
with built-in SpurGuard™ short-circuit protectors, which prevent the entire Fieldbus
segment from being pulled down in the event of a short circuit on any one of the
individual field devices or spur cable runs.
NOTE
During a short circuit, the shorted spur draws more current than a normal
Fieldbus device - this must be taken into account in segment design.
Diagnostic aids
Each Megablock comes with a green LED to indicate whether DC Power is present,
and a red LED next to each numbered spur indicates when the spur is in short circuit.
3 COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Product part numbers and their descriptions are listed below.
Part Number Description
F304[-PC]* 4-way Megablock
F308[-PC]* 8-way Megablock
F312[-PC]* 12-way Megablock
F97 Terminator for F300 range of Megablocks
F300-A01-5 Trunk-spur partition – pack of 5
FS32 Spur surge protector module
F300-BAR-5 FS32 grounding bars for trunk - pack of 5
F304-BAR-10 FS32 grounding bars for F304 - pack of 10 †
F308-BAR-10 FS32 grounding bars for F308 - pack of 10 †
F312-BAR-10 FS32 grounding bars for F312 - pack of 10 †
* The standard connector for the Megablock is a pluggable screw terminal (elevator type).
Pluggable spring-clamp connectors rely on constant spring pressure to maintain contact with the
wire. To order Megablocks with pluggable spring-clamp connectors, add a –PC suffix to the part
number (i.e. F304-PC).
† Up to two bars may be required for each Megablock.
4 MECHANICAL
4.1 Mounting orientation
Megablocks mount vertically or horizontally on 35mm DIN rail within a field junction
box The use of DIN rail end stops are recommended to prevent sliding (especially for
vertical installations).
Eight, and twelve port Megablocks have areas on their body for labelling so that
segments can be easily identified according to plant standards.
4.2 Enclosure requirements
4.2.1 General requirements
Megablocks may be mounted in hazardous (classified) areas – see section 8. The
following conditions must also be satisfied to ensure safe and reliable operation.
a) Prevent any form of pollution that could compromise the operation of the unit.
For example, choose an unpolluted location or a suitable enclosure to protect the
assembly.
b) Provide an adequate level of mechanical protection. This can be achieved by
selecting a protected location, a suitable enclosure, or a combination of both.
c) Ensure that all cable entries and connections are secure by making provision for
the careful routing and securing of all cables.

3INM F300 rev 7
d) Provide adequate security against unauthorized interference.
e) Conform to the permitted ambient temperature range of –45°C to +70°C.
4.2.2 Outdoor mounting
In addition to the General Requirements above, if the Megablock is mounted in an
outdoor location, use a suitable enclosure with a minimum of IP54 ingress protection.
A higher level of ingress protection rating will be necessary if the working atmosphere
is, or can be, corrosive, or if the enclosure is subject to wet or dusty environments.
4.3 DIN-rail mounting
The Megablocks are designed for mounting on 35mm x 7.5mm T-section “top hat” DIN
rail to EN50022 and use built-in DIN rail clips to attach to the rail.
4.3.1 Mounting procedure
Megablocks are attached to the DIN rail using a “push-and-tilt” method- as illustrated
on the body label and in Figure 4.1 below.
Tilt the Megablock towards the trunk-connector side of the Megablock and then
engage the DIN-rail clips under the ledge of the DIN rail. Push the Megablock against
the edge of the rail then rotate the Megablock until it sits flat onto the DIN rail, then
release the pressure to allow the clips on the other side to engage.
1Remove
Install
Push
2
Figure 4.1: DIN Rail Installation and Removal
4.4 Removal from DIN-rail
Refering to Figure 4.1, push the Megablock against the edge of the DIN rail, tilt the
other side of the Megablock up and away from the DIN rail, then release the side
pressure to disengage the DIN rail clips from the DIN rail ledge.
5 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
The Trunk and Spur connectors are pluggable (with securing screws) and available
in the standard screw-terminal version or a spring-clamp version. Megablocks with
spring clamp connectors have a –PC suffix on the Megablock part number (-PC). See
Figures 5.1 and 5.2. The terminals can accept the following conductor sizes:
Type Conductor size
Screw terminals 0.14 to 2.5mm2
Spring clamp terminals (-PC) 0.20 to 2.5mm2
NOTE
A torque screwdriver set between 0.5 - 0.6Nm is recommended for tightening all
terminal screws.

4INM F300 rev 7
Figure 5.3
F97 terminator
Figure 5.1: Screw Terminal Figure 5.2: Spring Clamp
NOTE
When wiring to spring-clamp terminals, use a screwdriver with a 3-4 mm blade to
depress the spring-clamp button before inserting the termination cable. See Figure 5.2.
5.1 DC Power Requirements
Megablocks draw DC power from the fieldbus trunk segment they are connected
to. The minimum DC input voltage, and current required, vary with the Megablock
type. Refer to the F300 datasheet for exact current requirements. The maximum
input voltage is 32V DC, but a lower voltage may be required in order to achieve safety
in some hazardous area applications- refer to the Control Drawings in Sections 9 & 10
of this manual.
5.2 Terminator
A terminator (Model No. F97) is provided with each
F300 Megablock. The terminator should be installed on
the trunk of the last Megablock in order to correctly
terminate the bus. The terminator is placed in the
second set of terminals on the trunk connector.
For spring clamp terminals, push the terminator firmly into
place. Take care to orientate the terminator so that the “T–F97” molded logo is facing
inwards towards the body of the Megablock, otherwise difficulty will be experienced
in accessing the spring-clamp buttons to remove it. For screw terminals, loosen the
screws, insert the terminator so that the molded logo is visible and then tighten the
screws. The F97 terminator has no specific polarity but inserting it with the ‘T’ visible
clearly identifies the component, and its purpose.
When not in use, the F97 should be stored in the convenient storage slot provided in
the F300 body close to the trunk connection (Figure 1.1 shows it mounted this way on
the F304 model).
5.3 Trunk connections
Each trunk connector provides two sets of interlinked (+), (–) and cable screen (S)
connections.
The second connection enables the user to onward connect the trunk to a further
Megablock and avoids breaking the connection if an “upstream” Megablock needs to
be removed.
The second connection can also be used, as mentioned above, to install the F97
terminator if it is the last Megablock on the segment. See Section 5.5 for information
on cable screen grounding.
WARNING !
It is not permitted to connect or disconnect the trunk wiring in a hazardous
area without a gas clearance certificate or unless the circuit to which it is
connected has been de-energised.

5INM F300 rev 7
5.3.1 Ex nA [ic] & Ex ec [ic]
When the equipment is installed in an Ex nA [ic] or Ex ec [ic] application, a trunk-spur
partition* must be installed to segregate the trunk and spur wiring - see Figures 5.4
and 5.5.
* available in packs of five as Part No. F300-A01-5
Partition
Terminator
Trunk
terminal
Figure 5.4: Trunk-Spur partition
installation
Figure 5.5: Trunk-Spur partition in
position
Position the partition as shown in Figure 5.4 and locate the fingers into the channels
on the sides of the device body. Press the partition onto the body until the fingers
click into place at the bottom of the case- see Figure 5.5. The channels have different
sizes so the partition cannot be installed backwards.
5.4 Spur port connections
Each spur port connector provides (+), (–) and cable screen (S) connections. See
section 5.5 for information on cable screen grounding.
Cable screen connections
The ‘S’ screen terminals for the trunk and the spurs are interconnected/commoned within
the F3xx device and should be grounded at only one point for the whole segment (i.e. a
single-point ground). The recommended position for that connection is in the control room
close to the power supply at the DCS, or else in accordance with local system practice.
5.5 Surge protection
Each fieldbus terminal, trunk or spur, on a Megablock can be fitted with an FS32 surge
protector to prevent damage to the internal components. The FS32 uses the same
pluggable connector as the field connector; so the field connector is removed, the
FS32 inserted and the original field connector is fitted to the FS32. See Figure 5.6 &
5.7.
Trunk - F300-BAR Spur - F312-BAR M4 ground screw locations
Figure 5.6: Typical grounding bars Figure 5.7: With some FS32 modules

6INM F300 rev 7
Mounting brackets, known as “grounding bars”, can be fitted into ready moulded
positions on both sides of the Megablock. (Grounding bar types are chosen to suit the
model - see page 2.) The FS32 has a central mounting screw to provide a mechanical
and electrical connection to the grounding bar. The bar must then be wired to a low-
impedance, protective local ground point in order to dissipate any induced surge currents.
NOTE
If a trunk-spur partition is to be fitted (Section 5.3.1), install it before mounting the
FS32 modules adjacent to it.
To mount FS32 surge protection modules on a Megablock:
1. Remove and retain the pluggable terminals from one side of the Megablock.
2. Locate the grounding bar lugs in the moulded positions on the side of the
Megablock and press it firmly into place- see Figure 5.6.
3. Repeat 1 and 2 for the other side of the Megablock, if required.
4. Use an M4 screw and ring terminal to connect each grounding bar to a suitable
low-impedance ground point- see Figure 5.7.
5. Mount an FS32 into one of the empty sockets and tighten its two plug screws,
then tighten the grounding screw into the mounting bar.
6. Insert one of the pluggable terminals into the FS32 and tighten its securing screws.
7. Repeat 5 and 6 for all the other FS32 modules.
A separate grounding bar (F300-BAR) is used for the trunk connector, which must be
similarly connected to ground- see Figures 5.6 & 5.7 Follow a similar procedure to the
one above for the trunk circuit.
NOTE
The FS32 surge protector is not certifed for installation in a Zone 2 hazardous area
and should be used only in applications where the Megablock is installed in a safe
(non-hazardous) area. Consult Eaton’s MTL product line for information on surge
protection in Zone 2 hazardous areas.
6 TESTING
6.1 Power LED
Each Megablock has a green power LED (labelled PWR). This LED lights when the
segment DC voltage exceeds 10V to indicate power is present.
6.2 Spur LEDs
A red LED is located next to each Megablock spur port. The LED lights when the
SpurGuard™ current-limiting function is activated by a short-circuit on the spur.
7 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Check the general condition of the installation periodically to make sure that no
deterioration has occurred. At least every twoyears (and more frequently for particularly
harsh environments) check that:
• cable, wire connections, terminations, and screens are in good condition
• the green Power LED is lit
• no red spur LEDs are lit
• no signs of damage or corrosion are present
WARNING !
The plastic parts can store static charge. Clean only with a damp cloth to
prevent static buildup.