AutomationDirect and Host Engineering offer a 100 Mb Ethernet I/O base controller module and 100 Mb Ethernet communication module for DirectLogic PLCs. AutomationDirect and Host collaborated on H2-EBC100 and H2-ECOM100 Ethernet modules, selecting field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology as the foundation for both modules. FPGAs enabled Host to build the exact processor needed to meet AutomationDirect's product requirements.

H2-EBC100 Ethernet base controller module provides an Ethernet link between DL205 I/O and any PC-based control, SCADA, or monitoring system, or any WinPLC/DL205/DL405 CPUs using AutomationDirect's Ethernet remote master module for remote I/O points. It also can be used to connect DL205 I/O points to a Modbus TCP/IP client (master), and is compatible with TCP/IP, IPX and Modbus TCP/IP protocols for PC communications. EBC modules reportedly offer virtually unlimited I/O points, deterministic I/O updates on dedicated networks, and fast I/O updates (<1 ms per base). On-board serial port can connect to operator panels, ASCII in/out, and other devices.

H2-ECOM100 Ethernet communication module supports Modbus TCP/IP client/server, IP, and IPX protocols. The module can actively issue commands to other nodes or devices on the Modbus TCP/IP network or respond to other connected Modbus TCP/IP clients.

Each module can be configured with a free NetEdit software utility or via HTML from a browser. Also, DHCP server support is included, providing a way to allocate IP addresses dynamically to the modules on a local area network. www.automationdirect.com

• Modules support 10/100 Mb Ethernet transfer rates with auto-detect
• Base module has virtually unlimited I/O points, on-board serial port
• Communication module can actively issue commands via Modbus TCP/IP
• Configuration by using free NetEdit software or HTML configuration