Panasonic Programmable Controllers FP-X Series - Manual (Page 13)

Master/
slave
Master/
slave
Master/
slave
Master/
slave
13
FP-X series
Another available application
When 17 or more FP-X units need to be linked, the use of Modbus in-
stead of MEWNET-W0 (see above) can accommodate up to 99 FP-X
units. Because each FP-X can be a master or a slave, a multi-master link
can be constructed by passing a token from a user program.
 Token passing (by user program)
Multi-master link of up
to 99 units is possible.
PLC link (MEWNET-W0)
Bit data/word data can be shared (linked) among up to 16 FP-X units. This is ideal for linking adjacent equipment in a distributed
control system.

Item Specifications
Number of stations 16 stations
Transmission speed 115.2kbps
Transmission distance 1200m
Shared data
128 words (data register),
64 words (contacts)
Communication method Floating master
Links with our other PLCs (FP S (Sigma), FP2/FP2SH) are possible.
Simple setting of the number of linked units, linked relays
and starting area address of the own station by using FPWINPro
allows contact information and data to be shared without program-
ming.
Baud rate of 115.2kbps, the highest rate for a compact model.
A transfer distance of 1200m, the longest distance for a
compact model.
FP-X and FP
S (Sigma) allow a change of the station number by
programming (SYS instruction).





16 stations, 115.2 kbps, 1200m
RS485 Twisted-pair cable FP-X requires a communication cassette (AFPX-COM3, AFPX-COM4 or AFPX-COM6)
FP2/FP2SH requires a multi-communication unit (FP2-MCU, FP2-CB485)
FP
S (Sigma) requires a communication cassette (FPG-COM3-A, FPG-COM4-A)
Different types of equipment need to be linked – FP-X flexibly meet such requirements.
Modbus-RTU compatibility
Compatible with both the master and slave of the Modbus RTU, the world’s de-facto standard. Great performance is expected for air-
conditioning, temperature control, etc.

Can also be used as
a slave station
Temperature
controller
Watt-hour meter Inverter FP-e FP2 FP 3
Usable as a master station [F145 (SEND), F146 (RECV) commands]
Capable of easily communicating with a temperature controller, inverter, FP-e and foreign PLC
Up to 3 serial communication ports can be used simultaneously 
Usable interfaces include RS232C, RS485, RS422 and USB.
* The RS232C tool port can be used as a general-purpose serial communication port.
Network
Communication cassette (two-channel type)
AFPX-COM2 (RS232C + RS232C)
AFPX-COM4 (RS485 + RS232C)
AFPX-COM5 (Ethernet + RS232C)
AFPX-COM6 (RS485 + RS485)
COM1: RS232C, RS485, Ethernet
COM2: RS232C, RS485, USB (The cassette port and the USB port cannot be used simultaneously.)
Tool port: RS232C
01/2008