“COM Interface” page

Use this page to set the communication parameters for all physical interfaces (RS232, RS485, USB, Ethernet) and to specify the interface to the control device (PLC).

Use the wizard to make COM interface and port settings

The wizard guides you through the steps to configure a connection between the FP-I4C unit and a PLC. After completing the wizard you can skip the configuration of the “COM Interface” and the “Port” page.

The wizard overwrites the current settings on the “COM Interface” and “Port” page. If you want to keep your settings, go to “Backup/Restore” and make a backup of your application settings before you start the wizard.

  1. Go to “COM Interface” and select “Start wizard”.
  2. Select a configuration mode.

    The simple mode provides all basic settings to connect a PLC. The advanced mode provides additional options to set a Modbus/TCP gateway and restrict access to the DT memory area.

  3. Follow the instructions in the wizard to make your settings.

    Don't forget to save your settings.

    You can cancel the wizard at any time by selecting “Cancel wizard”.

Make settings for FP-I4C interfaces

Enable one or more interfaces of the FP-I4C unit and make communication settings for each interface.

  1. Go to “COM Interface” > “COM settings - FP‑I4C” and enable one or more interfaces.

    Each interface can only be used by one application. If you use HMWIN Studio, make sure to select a separate interface for this application. For instance, if COM1 RS232 is enabled, you cannot use this interface in HMWIN Studio.

  2. Specify any of the following parameters:
    • “Protocol”: Select the protocol used by the interface: MEWTOCOL, MEWTOCOL7, or Modbus.

    • “Autobaud”: If this switch is enabled, the FP-I4C unit detects the baud rate of the connected PLC automatically.

      Select the “Save” button on this page to trigger the autobaud setting again, or restart the FP-I4C unit. Otherwise, a changed PLC baud rate will not be detected

    • “Baud rate”: Set the baud rate of the serial ports.

    • “Parity”: Set the parity of the serial ports.

    • “Mode”: Set the mode of the COM2 RS485/RS232 port. COM2 is an insulated serial port that can be used in RS232 or RS485 mode.

    • “Timeout”: Set the communication timeout.

    • “IP address”: For Ethernet communication, you need to set the IP address of the destination device. For multiple communication links (e.g. for data logging or script function), you need to set an address offset.

    • “Port”: Set the port number of the server.

    • “Address offset”: Set an offset for the IP address if you have multiple Ethernet connections.

      Values: -255 to 255

      The supported address range depends on the protocol and the PLC type.

      When you set an offset value, the IP address is calculated by adding the last field of the “IP address” value, the station number, and the address offset.

      Example: IP address: 192.168.10.0, address offset: 200. The station number is specified with the script command FPWEB_COPY_DT("ETHERNET",6,40,"ETHERNET",7,100,30). Result: Data is written from 192.168.10.206 (0+200+6=206) to 192.168.10.207 (0+200+7=207).

  3. Save your configuration.

    If you have changed any settings, a “Save” button appears in the top right corner of the screen. You can make changes in multiple pages and then save your settings.

    To reset all settings on the current page to the default configuration, select the “Reset” button at the bottom of the page.

Configure the service control interface

Specify the interface to which the PLC is connected that controls the services, and set the station number of this PLC.

  1. Go to “COM Interface” > “Service control interface” > “COM interface to control device (PLC)”.
  2. Set the FP-I4C interface that is used to poll control or status flags and registers.

    Example: To use the FTP client function, you must set an address range for control registers in the PLC. These addresses will be polled via the selected COM interface.

    Select “INTERN” if the internal memory of the FP-I4C unit is used instead of a PLC to control the services. The interface INTERN refers to the addressable internal memory areas of the FP-I4C unit which are accessible via Modbus/TCP or the script function.

  3. For “Station number of control device (PLC)”, set the station number of the connected control device.
    • Use the default setting 0 for RS232.

    • Set a number greater than 0 for RS485 and Ethernet. For Ethernet, the station number corresponds to the last octet of the IP address.

  4. Save your configuration.

    If you have changed any settings, a “Save” button appears in the top right corner of the screen. You can make changes in multiple pages and then save your settings.

Make restart settings

The FP-I4C unit can be set up to restart either using timer control, PLC control or both.

  1. Go to “COM Interface” > “Restart settings”.
  2. Specify any of the following parameters:
    • Enable “Restart by time” to automatically restart the FP-I4C unit after the set number of hours.

    • Enable “Restart by PLC”.

      If enabled, the PLC connected via the specified COM interface can restart the FP-I4C.

      Specify any of the following parameters:

      • “Control flag”: Set the address of the flag that controls the restart function.

        For Modbus, the R memory area corresponds to the coil area.

      • “Restart trigger”: Select the desired trigger type.

        You can choose between “Rising edge” (control flag changes from FALSE to TRUE) or “Falling edge” (control flag changes from TRUE to FALSE).

      • “PLC polling time”: Set the interval in seconds to poll the PLC's control flag.

        A low value (e.g. 1s) will cause high data traffic. We recommend a value between 3s and 7s.

  3. Save your configuration.

    If you have changed any settings, a “Save” button appears in the top right corner of the screen. You can make changes in multiple pages and then save your settings.