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I/O FAQs

  1. How many digital I/O points can exist on a single controller?

    2600XM and 2700-5 controllers: 160
    2600XM-10 and 2700-10 controllers: 320
    2700-16 controllers: 512
    Any 2700 controller with a Model 2716D DeviceNet Master module: 2048
    5100: 50
    5200: 48 per unit; 192 per system using expansion units
    5300: 512

  2. How many outputs are on:
      1. the 2202 Digital Output Module?

    24 outputs

      1. the 2221 Digital Output Module?

    32 outputs

  3. What special purpose registers can be used to access controller digital inputs?

    2001 - 29999 for individual inputs 1 to 999
    11001 - 11032 for inputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 32
    11101 - 11064 for inputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 16
    11101 - 11128 for inputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 8

  4. What special purpose registers can be used to access controller digital outputs?

    1001 - 1999 for individual outputs 1 through 999
    10001 - 10032 for outputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 32
    10101 - 10064 for outputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 16
    10101 - 10128 for outputs 1 to 1024 in groups of 8

  5. What special purpose registers can be used to access controller analog inputs?

    8001 - 8128 for analog inputs 1 to 128

  6. What special purpose registers can be used to access controller analog outputs?

    8501 - 8628 for analog outputs 1 to 128

  7. Can I add an external power supply to the Model 2700's controller’s backplane? How do I connect an external supply to a controller?

    Using the white plug on the right side of the controller, an external 24 VDC supply can be brought into the controller. You can order the 2885 pigtail for external power supplies, or the 2895 connector kit if you wish to make your own cable.

  8. How much current can the Model 2700 backplane support?

    The backplane can support up to 10 amps.

  9. Where do I buy an external 24VDC supply?

    They are available online, or through your local industrial or electrical supplier.

  10. Are CTC modules I/O isolated?
    • Digital I/O modules are optically isolated from the main processor but the power supply and return are directly connected to the main 24 VDC supply.
    • Analog I/O modules have their own isolated power supplies and are optically isolated from the main processor.
  11. How much current can the digital outputs drive?

    Model 2700:

    • Max current per output: 500 mA
    • Max current per module: 5A

    Model 5100/5200:

    • Max current per output: 375 mA - 500 mA per output, depending on the module
    • Max current per module: 3A

    Model 5300, digital output modules (VDC):

    • Max current per output: 375 - 500 mA per output, depending on the module
    • Max current per module: 3A

    Model 5300, wide range digital output modules (VDC/VAC):

    • Max current per output: 4A
    • Max current per module: 16A

     

  12. What are sinking and sourcing I/O? Which type does CTC support?
    • On sourcing digital outputs, power is provided to one side of the load when the output is turned on. The other side of the load is already connected to the return (common) on the power source.
    • On sinking digital outputs, one side of the load has power applied to it at all times. The other side is tied to the output device. When the output is turned on, it completes the circuit by connecting the load to the power supply return (common).
    • On sourcing digital inputs, power is supplied to the switch or other device at all times and the other side of the device is connected to the input. When the switch is closed, power is applied to the input causing a change in state.
    • On sinking digital inputs, the input has power on it and is connected to one side of the switch or other devise. The other side of the switch is connected to the power supply return (common). When the switch is closed, the voltage level on the input is pulled down to common, changing the state of the input.

    CTC provides sinking and sourcing I/O modules for the Models 2700 and 5x00 controllers.

  13. What is the difference between the 2208 and the 2208 U/D high speed counter modules?
    1. The 2208 accepts a quadrature encoder input and can accept pulse rates up to 1 MHz.
    2. The 2208 U/D accepts an up/down counter input (counts up on channel A, down on channel B) and can also accept pulse rates up to 1 MHz. This module can also be used to count pulses of a digital input by using only Channel A on the module.
  14. What is thresholding on the Model 2220, and how do I use it?

    The Model 2220's thresholding feature enables you to quickly turn an output on or off based on the value of a specific analog input. This enables you to quickly and easily program a digital output and automatically maintain a digital feedback loop for a value represented by an analog input.

    The thresholding feature is managed by the 2220's on-board processor. This threshold management allows very fast response of the digital output to changes of the analog input value, independent of any other operations occurring in the controller.

    To threshold a digital output to an analog input, the output must use the digital output on the 2220 module that corresponds to the analog input being used. Then, the threshold values need to be stored to special purpose registers. The minimum threshold value, sometimes referred to as the "on" threshold, is stored in register 19001, 19002, and so on for analog input 1, analog input 2, and so on. The digital output will turn on whenever the input value is below the value stored in these registers. The maximum threshold value, or the "off" threshold, is stored in register 19501, 19502, etc. The digital output will turn off whenever the analog input value exceeds the value in this register.

    When using the thresholding feature, the values in registers 19001 and 19501 should be separated enough so that noise on the analog input signal does not repeatedly pulse the output on and off by quickly passing through both threshold values on a continuous basis. For example, if your analog input has 10 millivolts of background noise, the maximum threshold value should be at least 10 millivolts greater than the minimum threshold value.

    Additionally,the output can be manually turned off by storing a 0, or turned on by storing a 1, to register 18001, 18002, etc. for the first, second, etc. digital outputs that are on the Model 2220 modules. Keep in mind that if thresholding is active, it may cause the output to quickly revert back to its previous state.

    You can disable either or both threshold values simply by storing a value less than -10,000,000 to the minimum threshold registers 19001, 19002, etc. or a value greater than +10,000,000 to the maximum threshold registers 19501, 19502, etc. This allows the thresholding feature to be used only to automatically turn off the output, while the output can be manually turned on by using the store commands to the 18001, 18002, etc.

    More details about the thresholding feature may be found by referring to the Model 2220 Installation Guide or by contacting CTC Technical Support.

  15. What types of thermocouples are supported by CTC?

    Model 2700: J, K
    Model 5100, 5200 and 5300: E, K, J, R, S, T

  16. Do I have to do my own conversion on the Thermocouple analog inputs on the 5x00?

    No, when you read the thermocouple inputs you get the actual temperature already compensated by the Cold Junction in degrees F, C or K, (whichever “units of measure” you selected via the Ain conv. type registers and Ain units registers). See the Model 5200 Analog Modules Application Guide for information on register settings.