1. Basic configuration of the AE system
Determine how many AE channels will be needed for inspection and how many of the 4 and 16 channel units can serve them. Think on number of environmental parameter channels and digital in/out control signals, too. Accordingly, set all devices with the proper module codes.
Set the IP address of the “leading” device for matching the local network. For all other units, set the IP address to default.
Connect the “leading” and, if necessary, some “midway” devices to a suitable power supply. Enable the power supply output to the expansion port(s) where needed.
The module codes, IP addresses and the power supply settings are stored directly in the devices.
Each 4-channel (AED404) and 16-channel (AED416) device is assigned with its own unique module number, which determines the numbering of AE channels (as well as of parametric channels and lines of digital inputs / outputs). The module number is saved by the device itself and displayed on the front panel of the device.
One of all devices (the “leader”) is set with the IP address of the computer to which the system is connected in accordance with the local network used. Also set the IP address of the device itself. When changing the default IP addresses, this fact is indicated by the flashing segment of the seven-segment indicator on the front panel of the device. All other “driven” devices have to have IP addresses reset to the original default value, they have this segment not blinking. IP addresses are saved by the device.
The “leader” device is connected to a computer (local network). All additional devices are connected to the Expander port of the previous device with an Ethernet cable through their Upstream port on the rear panel. AED404 devices have one Expander port, AED416 devices have three such ports. A multi-instrument system can thus have a linear or tree structure. The length of each standard Ethernet cable should be no more than 100 m.
To power the “leader” device use an external power source +12 .. +48 V through the connector on the rear panel. Powering the “driven” devices can be provided with the interface cable through the connector of their “Upstream” port, if the setting of the power mode of the previous device permits this. The setting of the power mode is saved by the device itself. With each step of such expansion, the supply voltage for the next device decreases by 3 V. It is also necessary to take into account the voltage drop and the current limit in the interface cable itself. If powering the next device via its interface cable is impossible, use an additional external power source.
For proper operation of the multi-instrument system, all devices have to be synchronized with each other. The “leader” device operates autonomously; all “driven” devices are synchronized to the previous device with their interface cable.