Foxboro Evo™ FCP280 Process Automation System Field Control Processor 280

The FCP280 connects to The Mesh control network via standard fiber optic or copper 100 Mbps Ethernet cables from network adapters installed on its baseplate (shown in Figure 1). 

The FCP280 requires Foxboro Evo Control Core Services v9.0 or later. A system with the FCP280 and this software is called a Foxboro Evo Process Automation System.

The fault-tolerant version of the FCP280 consists of two processor modules. These modules are installed in adjacent FCP280 slots in a baseplate for high speed communication between the modules. 

The FCP280 accepts four PIO channels (that is, four separate HDLC fieldbuses) via the four Fieldbus ports on its baseplate. These four Fieldbuses are referred to collectively as the “Expanded fieldbus.” For a description of the FCP280 baseplates, refer to DIN Rail Mounted Modular Baseplates (PSS 21H-2W6 B4).

The number of FBMs which an FCP280 can support varies depending on the types of FBMs used:

 200 Series FBMs exclusively used with FCP280 - Each Fieldbus port on the FCP280 baseplate can connect to a baseplate chain with up to 32 Compact or standard 200 Series FBMs per chain via the 2 Mbps HDLC fieldbus (up to 128 modules). 

 200 Series and 100 Series FBMs (dual baud configurations) used with FCP280 - The FCP280 can support a total of 64 100 Series FBMs (Ymodule) or competitive devices (such as Foxboro Evo System migration FBMs) in one or more baseplate chains, with the remainder of the FCP280’s 128 module limit being 200 Series FBMs, depending on the Fieldbus loading of the FCP280. For example, an FCP280 could support 64 100 Series FBMs and 64 200 Series FBMs (as 128 - 64 = 64). See Figure 2 and Figure 3 below.

When supporting 200 Series and 100 Series FBMs, each Fieldbus port (PIO channel) is dedicated to supporting either a 268 Kbps HDLC fieldbus (for 100 Series FBMs) or a 2 Mbps HDLC fieldbus (for 200 Series FBMs) - not both. For connections to 100 Series FBMs over 60 m (198 ft), an FBI200 pair is required to extend communications up to 1830 m (6000 ft). See Figure 2 below.