Foxboro FEM100
Foxboro FEM100 - Image 2

Foxboro FEM100

Product Introduction: The Foxboro FEM100 is a Fieldbus Expansion Module designed for the Foxboro I/A Series DCS. It provides four expanded fieldbus ports for the Field Control Processor 270 (FCP270), allowing each port to support up to 32 200-series FBM modules. By expanding the number of available fieldbus ports, the FEM100 significantly increases the I/O capacity of an FCP270, enabling larger systems without adding additional processors. The module is designed for industrial environments and is installed on a dedicated baseboard.

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Category: SKU: Foxboro FEM100

Description

Foxboro FEM100 Technical Specifications:

  • Function: Provides four extended fieldbus ports for FCP270
  • Fieldbus Data Rate: 2 Mbps HDLC (for 200-series DIN FBMs)
  • Maximum FBMs per Port: Up to 32 200-series FBM per port; total up to 128 FBMs when all four ports are used (combined with base ports)
  • Input Voltage Range: 21 to 26 V DC
  • Power Dissipation: Maximum 2.2 W
  • Operating Temperature: –20 °C to +70 °C
  • Storage Temperature: –40 °C to +85 °C
  • Humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing
  • Altitude: –300 to +3000 m (–1000 to +10,000 ft)
  • Mounting: Installed on a dual-slot (P0973CG) or four-slot (P0973CN) expansion baseboard, which can be DIN-rail mounted
  • Dimensions (approx.): 114 mm × 44.6 mm × 105 mm

Functional Features:

  • Expands FCP270 I/O capacity by adding four additional 2 Mbps HDLC fieldbus branches
  • Enables scaling of I/O without adding more controllers
  • Supports remote mounting of FBMs to reduce field wiring
  • Designed to operate in the same G3-class harsh environments as the FCP270 and FBM series

Application Scenarios:

  • Large-scale I/O subsystems attached to a single (e.g., extensive motor banks, large process units)
  • Distributed I/O cabinets where hundreds of I/O points are required per controller
  • Retrofit projects adding more I/O to existing FCP270 nodes without replacing controllers

Performance Parameters:

  • Maintains 2 Mbps HDLC communication performance across expansion ports
  • Allows up to 32 FBMs per port, supporting dense I/O configurations

Material and Structural Characteristics:

  • Rugged extruded aluminum housing to protect internal circuits
  • Connectors designed for fieldbus cables and power; baseboard provides mechanical support
  • PCB designed to withstand vibration and shock in compliance with IEC standards

Working Principle: The FEM100 interfaces with the FCP270 baseboard to extend the internal fieldbus paths, creating four additional 2 Mbps HDLC branches. Each branch behaves like an onboard fieldbus port, supporting communication with up to 32 FBMs. The FEM100 ensures proper signal levels and timing for extended cable lengths (up to 1900 m per specification) and maintains isolation between segments. Installation Requirements:

  • Mount the FEM100 on a compatible expansion baseboard (P0973CG or P0973CN) that is DIN-rail mounted
  • Connect the baseboard to the baseboard via the expansion interface per Foxboro documentation
  • Connect fieldbus cables to each of the four expansion ports; observe termination and maximum length limits
  • Configure FCP270 to recognize the expanded fieldbus ports during system setup

Usage Notes:

  • Ensure total FBM counts per expanded segment do not exceed 32 to maintain communication margin
  • Follow Foxboro cabling practices for 2 Mbps HDLC fieldbus, including termination and shielding
  • Verify that power supply capacity can support the additional FBMs connected via FEM100
  • When adding or removing FBM100 modules on expansion ports, consult system documentation for reconfiguration steps

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