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How to connect several ACE controllers via an RS232 network!

 

In this tutorial we are looking for use the ACE as an expansion unit.

Some ACE includes an RS232 or and RS485  serial port.
  • On RS485 network, we can have up to 250 devices
  • On RS232, usually only have 2 devices. We will see how we can add more than2 devices!
For this operation you must have 2 or more ACE PLC with a free serial port.

Link each ACE by the serial port

RS232/485 ACE plug

  • White: RX / A+
  • Red : TX / B-
  • Green : GND

Choose one of these connections

2 ACE and RS232 ports several ACE with RS485 ports several ACE with RS232 ports
  • RX to TX
  • TX to RX
  • GND to GND
  • TX to TX
  • RX to RX
  • GND to GND
  • RX Master to All TX Slaves
  • TX Master to All RX Slaves
  • GND to GND

In the slave & master AC

Configure the serial port as Custom type

  • RS232 or RS485, Custom type, 9600 bds, None parity and 1 stop bits.

For this you must return to the setup hardware on the top left hand corner of vBuilder software (Green or Blue icon).

or 

Download the subroutines

In the Master

  • Add the 4 subroutines like the image below with [Add Subroutine] button
  • In Master program, add Subroutine from Toolbox on the right
  • Add your local tags

 

If you wish to write in the remote devices, for example, here we:

  • Write 65535 in Common ui16 [0] the Remote Slave number 1
  • Write 65535 in Common ui16 [1] the Remote Slave number 1
  • Write 65535 in Common ui16 [0] the Remote Slave number 2
  • Write 65535 in Common ui16 [0] the Remote Slave number 3

In the Slave