National Instruments FP-CTR-500 User manual

323323B-01 June 2003
©2002–2003 National Instruments Corp. All rights reserved.
FieldPoint™, National Instruments™, NI™, and ni.com™ are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation.
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For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software,
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FieldPoint Operating Instructions
FP-CTR-500 and
cFP-CTR-500
Eight-Channel, 16-Bit Counter Module
These operating instructions describe how to install and use the
National Instruments FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 counter
modules (referred to inclusively as the [c]FP-CTR-500). For
information about configuring and accessing the [c]FP-CTR-500
over a network, refer to the user manual for the FieldPoint network
module you are using.
Features
The [c]FP-CTR-500 is a FieldPoint counter module with the
following features:
• Eight 16-bit counters with individual count input terminals
• Four gate-input channels configurable as either gates or digital
inputs
• Four output channels configurable as either generic digital
outputs or associated outputs for the count-input channels
• Sinking inputs and sourcing outputs, compatible with
12 or 24 VDC devices
• Internal frequency references of 1 kHz and 32 kHz
• Internally cascadable counters
• Software-enabled 50 kHz or 200 Hz lowpass filter on
count-input channels
• On/Off LED indicators
• 2,300 Vrms transient overvoltage protection
• Hot swappable

FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 2 ni.com
Installing the FP-CTR-500
The FP-CTR-500 mounts on a FieldPoint terminal base (FP-TB-x),
which provides operating power to the module. Installing the
FP-CTR-500 onto a powered terminal base does not disrupt the
operation of the FieldPoint bank.
To install the FP-CTR-500, refer to Figure 1 and complete the
following steps:
1. Slide the terminal base key to either position X, used for any
module, or position 8, used for the FP-CTR-500 module.
2. Align the FP-CTR-500 alignment slots with the guide rails on
the terminal base.
3. Press firmly to seat the FP-CTR-500 on the terminal base.
When the module is firmly seated, the terminal base latch locks
it into place.
Figure 1. Installing the FP-CTR-500
Installing the cFP-CTR-500
The cFP-CTR-500 mounts on a Compact FieldPoint backplane
(cFP-BP-x), which provides operating power to the module.
Installing the cFP-CTR-500 onto a powered backplane does not
disrupt the operation of the FieldPoint bank.
To install the cFP-CTR-500, refer to Figure 2 and complete the
following steps:
1. Align the captive screws on the cFP-CTR-500 with the holes
on the backplane. The alignment keys on the cFP-CTR-500
prevent backward insertion.
2. Press firmly to seat the cFP-CTR-500 on the backplane.
Alignment
Slot
Key
Latch
Guide Rails
Terminal BaseI/O Module

© National Instruments Corp. 3 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500
3. Using a number 2 Phillips screwdriver with a shank of at least
64 mm (2.5 in.) length, tighten the captive screws to 1.1 N ⋅m
(10 lb ⋅in.) of torque. The nylon coating on the screws prevents
them from loosening.
Figure 2. Installing the cFP-CTR-500
Wiring the [c]FP-CTR-500
The FP-TB-xterminal base has connections for each FP-CTR-500
channel and for an external power supply to power the output
channels and field devices. The cFP-CB-xconnector block
provides the same connections for the cFP-CTR-500. The V and
VSUP terminals are all internally connected, as are the C and COM
terminals.
Use a 10–30 VDC external power supply for the output channels.
The power supply must provide enough current to power all of the
loads on the output channels, up to 1 A per channel. Connect the
external power supply to multiple V and VSUP terminals and to
1 cFP I/O Module
2 Captive Screws
3 cFP Controller
4 Screw Holes
5 cFP Backplane
2
2
1
3 5
4
4

FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 4 ni.com
multiple C and COM terminals as needed to ensure that the
maximum current through any terminal is 2 A or less.
Install a 2 A maximum, fast-acting fuse between the external
power supply and the V or VSUP terminal on each channel. Install
a 1 A maximum, fast-acting fuse suitable for the load at the VOUT
terminal. The detailed wiring diagrams in this document show
fuses where appropriate.
Table 1 lists the terminal assignments for the signals of each
channel. Terminal assignments are also listed on the side panel of
the cFP-CTR-500 and under the slide-in card on the front of the
FP-CTR-500.
Table 1. Terminal Assignments
Channel Name
Terminal Numbers
VIN or VOUT1VSUP2COM
Count Inputs
Count Input 0 117 18
Count Input 1 217 18
Count Input 2 319 20
Count Input 3 419 20
Count Input 4 521 22
Count Input 5 621 22
Count Input 6 723 24
Count Input 7 823 24
Gate Inputs
Gate 0 925 26
Gate 1 10 25 26
Gate 2 11 27 28
Gate 3 12 27 28

© National Instruments Corp. 5 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500
Inputs
Each input channel has one input terminal, VIN. Each channel also
has VSUP and COM terminals that can supply power to field
devices. You can connect the eight count-input channels and four
gate-input channels to devices with sourcing outputs. The
[c]FP-CTR-500 has sinking inputs, which means that the VIN
terminal provides a path to common.
The [c]FP-CTR-500 input channels are optically isolated from the
rest of the FieldPoint bank and have current-limiting circuitry. All
the input channels are referenced to the C and COM terminals.
When the voltage across VIN and COM is 10 V or greater, current
flows through VIN and turns on the optoisolator, registering in an
ON state for the channel. When the voltage across VIN and COM
is 6 V or lower, current does not flow through VIN and the channel
is in the OFF state.
Ensure that the sourcing-output devices have OFF state leakage
currents of less than 0.2 mA so they do not generate false ON state
readings.
Outputs
Output 0 13 29 30
Output 1 14 29 30
Output 2 15 31 32
Output 3 16 31 32
1Install a 1 A maximum, fast-acting fuse on each VOUT terminal.
2Install a 2 A maximum, fast-acting fuse on each V and VSUP terminal.
Table 1. Terminal Assignments (Continued)
Channel Name
Terminal Numbers
VIN or VOUT1VSUP2COM

FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 6 ni.com
Figure 3. Wiring a Count-Input or Gate-Input Channel to a
Sourcing-Output Device
Figure 4. Wiring a Count-Input or Gate-Input Channel to an Externally
Powered Sourcing-Output Device
Outputs
Each output channel has one output terminal, VOUT. Each channel
also has VSUP and COM terminals that you can use to supply power
to field devices. You can connect the four output channels to
devices with sinking inputs. The [c]FP-CTR-500 has sourcing
outputs, which means that the VOUT terminal provides a path to a
voltage supply.
To next channel
[c]FP-CTR-500
VC
+–
COM
VSUP
VIN Input
Circuitry
Sourcing-
Output
Device
10–30 VDC
External
Power
Supply
2 A max
To next channel
[c]FP-CTR-500
VC
+–
COM
V
SUP
V
IN
Input
Circuitry
Sourcing-
Output
Device
External
Power
Supply
(Optional)
2 A max

© National Instruments Corp. 7 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500
The [c]FP-CTR-500 output channels are optically isolated from
the rest of the FieldPoint bank and have short-circuit protection
circuitry. In the ON state, a transistor is turned on between the
positive external supply voltage (V and VSUP) and the output
(VOUT). In the OFF state, this transistor is turned off, allowing only
a small leakage current to flow. Ensure that the load on any channel
does not draw more than 1 A.
Caution For a cFP-CTR-500 operating in the 50–60 °C
temperature range, the output current must not exceed
0.75 A on any channel.
In the ON state, the effective resistance between the output (VOUT)
and the supply voltage (V and VSUP) is 0.3 Ω. This resistance
causes a voltage drop between the external supply voltage and the
output voltage. Table 2 lists the actual output voltages based on the
voltage provided by the external power supply.
If the external power supply you are using does not provide one of
the voltages in Table 2, use the following equation to calculate the
actual voltage output.
ActualOutput = Vext – (Iflow × 0.3 Ω)
where ActualOutput is the voltage sourced by VOUT
Vext is the voltage provided by the external power supply
Iflow is the current flow through the VOUT terminal
Table 2. [c]FP-CTR-500 Output Voltages for a 0.5 A Current Flow
VVOUT
10 9.85
12 11.85
24 23.85
30 29.85

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Figure 5. Wiring an Output Channel to a Sinking-Input Device
Configuring Count-Input Channels
Channels 0–7 are count-input channels. In FieldPoint software,
you can configure each count-input channel to operate with
attributes and commands. In the Channel Configuration dialog
box, select attributes for each channel from the Attributes menu
and commands from the Commands menu. The following sections
describe the different attributes and commands you can select
when you are configuring the count-input channels. For more
information about using FieldPoint software, refer to the
FieldPoint software help file.
Terminal Count
To set the terminal count, enter a value from 0 to 65,535 in the
Value field. The default value is 65,535. When the count-input
channel exceeds its terminal count, the count resets to 0 and
triggers any outputs associated with it. For more information about
associating outputs with a count-input channel, refer to the
Configuring Output Channels section. The count-input channel
also sends a count trigger to the next count-input channel if that
channel is set to use the previous channel as the count source.
Channel Status
In FieldPoint software, the [c]FP-CTR-500 reports one of the
following statuses: Successful or Overflow since last
read. The default channel status is Successful. If a count-input
channel exceeds the terminal count, the channel resets to 0 and
Load
To next channel
[c]FP-CTR-500
VC
COM
V
OUT
V
SUP
1 A max
Sourcing-
Output
Circuitry
+
–
10–30 VDC
External
Power
Supply
2 A max

© National Instruments Corp. 9 FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500
starts counting again, and the channel status changes to Overflow
since last read.
Count Source
Select one of the following count sources from the Value menu:
External Count Input, Previous Channel, 1kHzReference,
or 32 kHz Reference. Select External Count Input, 1 kHz
Reference, or 32 kHz Reference to configure the channel so that
it counts low-to-high (off-to-on or rising-edge) transitions of the
count source.
Select Previous Channel if you want the channel to count the
number of times that the previous count-input channel reaches
its terminal value and resets to 0. You can configure multiple
counters to operate as one large counter. You can slave Channel 1
to Channel 0, Channel 0 to Channel 7, Channel 7 to Channel 6, and
so on. If you select this option for all of the channels, no counting
occurs.
Gate Source
Select Gate Input 0–3 from the Value menu to associate a
gate-input channel with a count-input channel. If the count-input
channel uses one of the external gate inputs, counting is enabled
when the gate-input signal is high and is disabled when the signal
is low, as shown in Figure 6. The external device determines the
high and low intervals of the gate-input signal. If you do not
associate a gate-input channel with the count-input channel, select
Always Disabled or Always Enabled. Select Always Enabled if
you want the count-input channel to count at all times, even if there
is nothing wired to the gate input. Always Enabled is the default
value.
Figure 6. Gate Source Set to an External Gate Input
001233334566
Gate
Input
Count
Input

FP-CTR-500 and cFP-CTR-500 10 ni.com
Read Reset Mode
You can configure each count-input channel to reset each time the
FieldPoint network module reads it by selecting Reset on Read
from the Value menu. A read-initiated reset also resets any outputs
associated with the target channel. The default is Don’t Reset
On Read.
Note Read Reset mode is not intended to be used with
FieldPoint Ethernet network modules.
Noise Rejection
Each count-input channel has a software-enabled lowpass filter
that you can set to reject frequencies above 200 Hz or 50 kHz.
Select 200 Hz or 50 kHz from the Value menu to configure noise
rejection. The default is 50 kHz.
Control
You can set the Control command to increment or reset by selecting
Increment or Reset from the Action menu. The increment-control
command increases the count-input channel in value by one. The
reset-control command resets the count-input channel. The control
commands ignore the gate-source setting and gate-input state.
Configuring Gate-Input Channels
Channels 8–11 are gate-input channels. The only difference
between the input circuits of the gate-input channels and those of
the count-input channels is that the gate-input channels do not have
a programmable lowpass filter. The states of the gate inputs can
always be read as simple digital inputs on Channels 8–11.
You do not need to configure anything in software for the
gate-input channels.
Configuring Output Channels
Channels 12–15 are digital output channels. In the Channel
Configuration dialog box of FieldPoint software, you can select
attributes for each output channel from the Attributes menu. The
following sections describe the different attributes you can select
for output channels.