A-Link over Fiber

[DCIM_Support]

This question was originally posted on DCIM Support by John Smith on 2019-01-04

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Has anyone had any luck connecting A-Link connectors using Ethernet to Fiber converters?

I am not sure if I have a bad module or the A-Link doesn't use the same communication type. I did power the Netbotz 155 Sensor Pod and it is online but not communicating.

Regards,

J

(CID:137729701)

[DCIM_Support]

This answer was originally posted on DCIM Support by Steven Marchetti on 2019-01-04

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Hi John,

A-link is actually a proprietary protocol and isn't the same as Ethernet. That being said, I do not know that this would be possible. We have not done any testing to this configuration. I'll defer to any customer that may be watching that may have tried it but I don't think it's something we can support if you have issues.

Steve

(CID:137729705)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by John Smith on 2019-01-04

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That what I was worried about. Thanks for the quick reply.

J

(CID:137729719)

[DCIM_Support]

This answer was originally posted on DCIM Support by Garry Priestland on 2019-01-04

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I don't think it would work since the A-Link bus carries DC voltage (24VDC I think) to the Sensor Pod to power it up.

(CID:137729713)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by Steven Marchetti on 2019-01-04

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Good point...forgot about that 😃

(CID:137729716)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by John Smith on 2019-01-04

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The DC voltage can be replaced with the DC power supply input in the Sensor Pod. The power supply is provided in the box. I figured that is what it was for...

(CID:137729722)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by Steven Marchetti on 2019-01-04

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You can use it and it's for augmenting the available power should there be a power drop. I'm assuming you've already tried that then?

(CID:137729726)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by Garry Priestland on 2019-01-04

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Sorry should have been more clear.  You can use the PSU to power the Sensor Pod.

However the 24VDC on the A-link would be pushed onto the fibre converter and I am not sure how it would like that since that is not what it is designed for so probably best avoided.

I considered this arrangement some time ago and came to the conclusion that the A–Link does not use 'normal' ethernet but may use RS485 or similar serial protocol which means you might be able to use a Serial to Fibre converter at one end and a Fibre to Serial at the other.  Even then, since A-Link has a custom pinout on the 'standard ethernet' connector some sort of breakout would be needed (to remove the 24VDC from the converter) and you would need to know which of the other wires are TX and RX which APC/Schneider don't publish.

I came to the conclusion that it was all getting a bit messy and more effort than it was worth.

(CID:137729728)

[DCIM_Support]

This comment was originally posted on DCIM Support by John Smith on 2019-01-04

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Sounds like a challenge! Thanks for the Info.

J

(CID:137729769)

[DCIM_Support]

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