AlphaSense Digital I/O Module
The AlphaSense Digital I/O Module (AFN_I14) provides 14 channels. The module interfaces to the AlphaSense host (or virtual) serial port. Simple ruleset entries provide detection and messaging immediately upon change of state to a high or low condition on any input. Additionally, AFN ruleset messages may be sent to the I/O Module to make any channel a TTL Digital Output and set it to a high or low state. AFN_I14 includes the module board, insulating material, power supply, serial data cable, and AFN firmware to support the Digital I/O Module's features.
The Digital I/O Module may be ordered as an add-on to existing AFN systems, or at a lower price if chosen as an option at time of original AFN purchase.
Below are complete instructions for installing and configuring the Digital I/O Module. Please read these instructions completely, and have all needed items and information available before proceeding.
1) Remove the module board, the rectangle of yellow insulating material, and power supply from its packing material. With the board on top of the insulating material, set the material and board on a clean work surface, oriented so the screw-terminal connector block is facing you. Connect the power supply wires to the two left-most screw terminals, making sure that the terminal marked "+" receives the power supply also marked "+".
2) The "hot side" of the 14 channel terminals are marked A-N and a common ground is found at the terminal marked "gnd". All channels have 100k ohm resistor pull-ups; therefore in the unconnected state, all channels are initialized as inputs and are "open". As inputs, all channels are intended to be form-C relay or similar dry-contact inputs. Application of any voltage above 5vdc voids the warranty and can destroy circuitry! Instructions for controlling channels as TTL outputs are found below. Connect the channels as needed for your application.
3) A serial data cable labeled "I14 Host" is supplied with I/O Module. Connect that cable between the I/O Module's RS232 "host" port (on the right, as oriented above) and AFN Port2. Finally, plug in the Module's power supply. AFN will detect the I/O Module and initialize it automatically.
4) IMPORTANT: The I/O Module has a second serial port marked slave. Do NOT connect anything to this port! It is for future expansion purposes only, and will not pass data.
For channel input state monitoring, follow the simple table below to find the ruleset "actrule" field content for the condition you want to trigger on. Put your descriptive message content in the "msgbody" field, and complete whatever remaining fields are needed for your desired messaging result. Using the AFN browser interface, edit the ruleset file, save it, and your AlphaSense Digital I/O Module is operational!
| actrule content | what that content will trigger on |
|---|---|
| AAL | channel A transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AAH | channel A transitioned from lo to hi state |
| ABL | channel B transitioned from hi to lo state |
| ABH | channel B transitioned from lo to hi state |
| ACL | channel C transitioned from hi to lo state |
| ACH | channel C transitioned from lo to hi state |
| ADL | channel D transitioned from hi to lo state |
| ADH | channel D transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AEL | channel E transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AEH | channel E transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AFL | channel F transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AFH | channel F transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AGL | channel G transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AGH | channel G transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AHL | channel H transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AHH | channel H transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AIL | channel I transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AIH | channel I transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AJL | channel J transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AJH | channel J transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AKL | channel K transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AKH | channel K transitioned from lo to hi state |
| ALL | channel L transitioned from hi to lo state |
| ALH | channel L transitioned from lo to hi state |
| AML | channel M transitioned from hi to lo state |
| AMH | channel M transitioned from lo to hi state |
| ANL | channel N transitioned from hi to lo state |
| ANH | channel N transitioned from lo to hi state |
Any channel of the AlphaSense Digital I/O Module may be set to a TTL-compatible high or low state. This is achieved by using a special designator in a ruleset "emaddr" field, and entering the proper code into the "msgbody" field of that ruleset which sets the desired channel and state. Entering "^S" into a ruleset "emaddr" field instructs AFN to deliver that message out via the serial port. To designate the channel and state, the contents for the "msgbody" field are should be in the following format:
...where H or L is for high or low state, and chn is the channel (A through N). When the I/O Module receives such a command, it will activate that specific channel as an output, and set it to the designated state, where it will remain until a different output command is received.
Important: When using outputs, it should be noted that each output can individually sink or source not more than 25 mA. Maximum current sunk by all output channels should not exceed 90mA. Excessive current draw voids the warranty and can destroy circuitry! If controlling larger loads, an intermediate amplifier, relay or contactor should be deployed as is appropriate for the specific application.
If wireless or other message delivery is desired as part of the I/O Module output command action, the recipients of AFN messages would probably not want to see the cryptic channel output command code as the message content. So, simply set up another ruleset using the same trigger conditions as the one used to send the I/O Module control message. Enter descriptive text in the "msgbody" field, and define dialout, email or SNMP message delivery destinations. When the desired ruleset conditions are met, both rulesets will "trigger", and the I/O command will be issued plus recipient message(s) sent.