Basic ControlNet:

Media Options &

Topologies

May 2009

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only)

Copyright © 2008
2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved.

1
 So we have an application that is a good fit,

Where do we go from here?

We need to select the media to be
used…
The objective of this module is to
teach you about ControlNet
media choices and topologies.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 2
 Coax media choices are

• Coax with 4 shields with solid center

conductor, 1786-RG6
• Coax with 4 shields and flexible center
conductor, 1786-RG6FA
• Use flex cable when the cable must move
when the machine is running (e.g.-
festooning cable system is shown to the
right)

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 3
 Coax connector type choices are

• BNC connectors are

IP20. No ingress of
particles 12.5mm or
greater. Provides no
protection from water.

• TNC connectors are

IP67. IP67 means dust
tight and water
submersible. IP67
exceeds NEMA 4X.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 4
 Devices connect to the coax cable via a tap

•A tap is fixed in length at 1 meter.

•Connections at the coax are either out the side (as shown) or out of the top.
•Connection to the device (shown below is a 1756-CNB) is either straight or a
right angle.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 5
There are six tap choices.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 6
With coax, taps, & connectors we create a
network segments joined into links
Coax segments must be terminated on
either end with a 75 ohm terminating
resistor.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 7
 With coax, taps, & connectors we create a
network segments joined into links
A segment is limited to 48 nodes.
A link or network is limited to 99 nodes.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 8
 How far can you go on 1786-RG6 cable
before you need a repeater? (less distance for flex cable)
terminator terminator
tap tap tap

trunk-cable section trunk-cable section

The equation for the line found below is

Max. distance in meters = (1000m – [(number of taps -2) * 16.3m])
or 2 nodes at 1000 m or 48 nodes at 250 m

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 9
 ControlNet repeaters require the use of a Repeater
Adapter

•Fiber and Coax

repeaters exist
Repeater
•Convert to and from Adapter
The repeater adapter
coax with the 1786- translates the network
RPA or Repeater signal between the coaxial
trunk cable and fiber cable
Adapter
Repeater
•Like repeaters may Adapter

connect to each other

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 10
You can use more than 1 repeater with the
Repeater Adapter to create a star topology.
1786-RPCD
1786-RPFM

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 11
 How far can you go before you need another
fiber repeater?

The longer the distance, the more

expensive the repeater.

1786-RPFS <300m - short

1786-RPFM <3km - medium
1786-RPFRL <10km - long
1786-RPFRXL <20km - x-long
“F” stands for Fiber

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 12
Maximum distance of ControlNet

Stop at 20 Km!
(12.4 miles)
Max. of 99 nodes per
network

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 13
Redundant Media – Break one cable and the
messages still gets there on the second cable
Red = Message on upper cable.
Yellow = Message on lower
cable.
Cable breaks
here.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 14
 In the ring the same message gets delivered
twice; once in each direction

*One break is supported.

When the ring is broken, only 1 of the

messages makes it to the end device.

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 15
ControlNet Topology; Bus or Trunk line

Linear Repeaters
1786-RPCD <1km - long coax
1786-RPFS <300m - short fiber
1786-RPFM <3km - medium fiber
1786-RPFRL <10km - long fiber
1786-RPFRXL <20km - x-long fiber
Requires 2 1786-RPA and 2 like repeaters for each end.
(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 16
 ControlNet Topology; Ring

Each node requires a 1786-RPA with either:

1786-RPFRL (long fiber)
or stands for ring repeater
1786-RPFRXL (x-long fiber)
(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 17
 ControlNet Topology; Star

1786-RPCD (long coax)

1786-RPFS (short fiber)
1786-RPFM (medium fiber)
1786-RPFRL (long fiber)
1786-RPFRXL (x-long fiber)
Requires 2 1786-RPA and 2 like repeaters for each end.
(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2009 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 18