ValuPoint® VP4-0630 Smart I/O for BACnet MS/TP

Control Solutions’ Model VP4-0630 ValuPoint® Smart I/O for BACnet MS/TP is a BACnet Application Specific Controller (B-ASC) that includes programmable control. The VP4-0630 is a scaled down, low cost version of the VP4-2330 featuring 2 universal inputs that may be configured as analog or discrete, 2 dedicated discrete inputs, and 2 Form A relay outputs. The ValuPoint VP4-0630 is useful as slave I/O or as a very small soft PLC.

The ValuPoint® series of controllers is designed to be a building block in a distributed control system where controllers communicate peer to peer via BACnet MS/TP. Each ValuPoint controller can access BACnet objects in other BACnet devices, both ValuPoint controllers and other manufacturer’s devices. Remote objects are mapped to local objects that mirror the value of the remote object. Access to the remote objects is via periodic polling. Other devices can subscribe to COV’s in the ValuPoint controller.

All of the ValuPoint features available to local objects are also available to the remote mapped objects. This means the remote objects can be incorporated into the local i.CanDrawIt® program.

The user has the ability to assign object allocation as part of setup of the controller. Resources are allocated from a common pool, and the user has the ability to decrease the number of one type of object in order to increase the number of another type. Total object count will range from approximately 100 commandable objects (with full priority array) to 200 read/write objects. Object types include analog, binary, and multi-state variations of input, commandable output, and writeable value.

ValuPoint® support software, available for download at no cost, includes the VP4-0630 configuration tool, i.CanDrawIt graphical programming tool, and the pliWrite line programming tool. Both programming tools support both simulated execution and live debug. The tools connect via a BACnet IP to MS/TP router, or via Control Solutions’ MTX002 USB to MS/TP adapter.

The VP4-0630 configuration tool connects to the MS/TP network using the MTX002 MS/TP to USB adapter (if not using a BACnet IP router). This intelligent adapter plugs into your PC's USB port, and offloads the MS/TP token passing from the PC to make it more reliable. The MTX002 allows you to connect your PC to an MS/TP network running at 76800 baud, something not possible with a generic RS-485 port adapter.

The MTX002 functions as an MS/TP device itself. The combination of the MTX002 and configuration tool running on your PC will appear on the network as a discoverable BACnet device. The diagnostic pages in the configuration tool can be used to read and write any objects in any MS/TP device on the network. The configuration pages provide templates for reading and writing the multiple properties per BACnet object that define its configuration or client/server mapping. All configuration parameters exist as properties of BACnet objects which are accessible to any BACnet client. The Control Solutions configuration tool simpy provides a user friendly template for accessing those properties.

The ValuPoint VP4-2330 Configuration Tool is a user friendly configuration tool that provides simple templates for assigning the BACnet object properties that configure the device. Connect the ValuPoint to your laptop via a USB to MS/TP adapter (MTX002) or via a BACnet IP router.

i.CanDrawIt® is included at no additional cost with every ValuPoint® controller from Control Solutions. i.CanDrawIt® works just like an electrical schematic CAD program, except you draw control programs that look like circuits. The resulting software will function like the circuit you draw. i.CanDrawIt® includes visual program simulation as well as visual live debugging where supported by the target device. Set breakpoints or step through the program one visual function block at a time. Update variables and I/O objects in simulation or live.

VP4-0630 Hardware Features

• 2 Analog/universal inputs
    • 0-10VDC, discrete, pulse count
    • 10-bit A/D resolution
    • Software selectable input types
    • Non-volatile totalizing count inputs
• 2 Discrete Inputs
    • Dry contact closure to ground
    • Pulse count (10 Hz) capability
    • Non-volatile totalizing count inputs
• 2 Discrete outputs
    • Form A relay, 2A @ 120VAC, 2A @ 30VDC
• BACnet MS/TP at 9600 to 76800 baud
• Hardened RS-485 port
• 128KB non-volatile EEPROM configuration file capacity
• 64K Flash for user program
• ARM 32-bit processor, 512K Flash, 56K RAM
• Powered by 18-30VDC or 24VAC 50/60 Hz
    • 0.2A @ 24VDC max.
• DIN rail mounting, 100mm H x 105mm W x 60mm D
• LED indicators for power, RS-485 RX/TX & error
• Pluggable screw terminal blocks
• -40C to +70C, 5%-95% RH non-condensing
• Certifications: FCC, CE, UL 916

VP4-0630 Software Features

• Implements B-ASC BACnet Standard Profile
• Freely programmable - i.CanDrawIt® graphical programming
• COV Subscription support
• BACnet client for interface to other slave devices
• I/O points and undedicated BACnet objects
    • Input objects: AI, BI, MSI
    • Commandable output objects: AO, BO, MSO
    • Writeable value objects: AV, BV, MSV
• Configurable object allocation, up to 200 objects