Fieldbus linking devices for plant-wide process control

Two new linking devices from Rockwell Automation provide PlantPAx process automation system users with connectivity to Foundation Fieldbus devices. The Allen-Bradley 1788-EN2FFR and 1788-CN2FFR linking devices provide a direct link from EtherNet/IP or ControlNet networks to the Foundation Fieldbus H1 device-level network, making the integration of Foundation Fieldbus devices intuitive and seamless, the company said.

"The Foundation Fieldbus standard is a popular choice among many process industry companies because of the wiring, commissioning and support savings a digital network offers,” explained Graham Proctor, product manager, Rockwell Automation. “With these linking devices, PlantPAx system users can access data for improved diagnostics, troubleshooting, maintenance and uptime.”

The 1788-EN2FFR and 1788-CN2FFR linking devices offer simplified setup into RSLogix 5000 software from Rockwell Automation, thanks to an Add-On-Profile (AOP) and auto-configure tool. The auto-configure tool helps save hours of setup time by applying the most frequently used configuration, while the AOP provides a graphical environment for more detailed field device configuration. In addition, the AOP provides built-in diagnostics, including information on network voltages and currents, internal temperature, and device status, which also can be viewed directly from the on-device display, simplifying troubleshooting for plant operators. A built-in webserver also provides remote access to network and field device data.

Both devices support up to 16 field devices on a single H1 segment and feature multiple redundancy configurations, including redundant linking devices, H1 media, ControlNet media, and EtherNet/IP Device-Level Ring. No external software or user licenses are required for operation, and each device features a built-in power conditioner, which minimizes the equipment’s installed footprint. 

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