UniOP ePALM10 Handheld HMI

UniOP EXOR ePALM10 Mobile Human Computer Interface Technology Analysis: A Complete Practical Guide from Hardware Specifications, Wiring Specifications to Battery Maintenance and Fieldbus Expansion

Product positioning and design philosophy

UniOP ePALM10 is a handheld human-machine interface (HMI) device launched by EXOR (formerly UniOP brand), equipped with a graphical display screen and a 27 key keyboard with tactile feedback. Its shell is made of sturdy polyamide material, which has high impact resistance and environmental resistance, combined with IP65 protection level, making it an ideal choice for mobile operation scenarios in workshops. This product belongs to the handheld product line of the UniOP family, inheriting the complete set of universal functions of the UniOP control panel, while adding unique hardware level security design for mobile applications.

It should be noted that since October 2001, the wiring method of the Dead man button (self-protection button) has been changed. Engineers involved in second-hand equipment procurement or old machine renovation must verify the equipment version to avoid safety hazards caused by construction according to the old wiring diagram.

Core hardware specifications

The main technical parameters of ePALM10 are as follows:

Display and Memory

Graphics resolution: 120 × 64 pixels, effective display area of 66 × 33mm, capable of displaying 8 lines x 20 characters

Translucent LCD: maintains good readability in both strong light and dim environments, which is a key advantage in mobile work scenarios

Supports scaling fonts, 256 user-defined characters, and contrast can be adjusted through software

User memory 512KB Flash, recipe memory 16KB, maximum alarm capacity 1024, event list 256

front panel

9 function keys (F1~F9), 18 system keys, 20 user LEDs, 5 system LEDs, without touch screen

Built in hardware real-time clock (RTC)

Interface and power supply

PC/printer port, PLC port (RS-232/RS-485/RS-422), Aux port (connected to fieldbus through optional modules)

Programming speed 9600~38400bps

Power supply of 18-30VDC, maximum power consumption of about 300mA at 24VDC, automatic fuse

The total weight of the machine is about 0.5kg (excluding cables), the working temperature is 0-50 ℃, the storage temperature is -20~+70 ℃, the humidity is 5-95% RH, and there is no condensation

Software features

Programming with UniOP Designer 5.08 and above

Supports over 130 communication drivers for industrial equipment

Multiple data display formats including numerical values, text, and bar charts; Dynamic graphic objects; Formula data storage; Keyboard macro editor; Alarm and historical alarm list; Level 8 password protection; Serial port printer report output

Safety circuit design: emergency stop and Dead man buttons

The core value that distinguishes ePALM10 from ordinary panel HMI lies in two hard wired safety functions:

1. Emergency Stop button

The emergency stop button provides two NC (normally closed) contacts and is directly hard wired to the communication cable - this signal does not pass through the internal terminal block. According to the original specifications, the wiring of the emergency stop circuit must be processed according to the SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) circuit, and only low-voltage circuits below 48VDC are allowed to be connected. When used, it must comply with the EN 60950 standard. The color codes for emergency stop cables are: E-Stop 1 (NC) green/yellow, E-Stop 2 (NC) brown/orange, both with a cross-sectional area of 1mm ².

2. Dead man self-protection button

A set of independent NO (normally open) contacts are set on each side, with a total of four wires (CN5 terminals 1-4). The operator must continuously press and hold the Dead man button to allow the device to operate - releasing it triggers a protective action. Typical applications include manual remote control of mobile machinery/cranes/AGVs. The wiring color codes are: DM Right (NO) blue black/blue, DM Left (NO) blue black/blue, with a cross-sectional area of 0.35mm ² (approximately 22AWG).

Compliance reminder: All circuits inside the handheld device, including emergency stop and Dead man button wiring, should be considered as SELV circuits, and the overall installation must comply with EN 61000-6-4 (emission interference) and EN 61000-6-2 (immunity) industrial electromagnetic compatibility standards.

CA01 interface board and terminal definition

The internal terminal block of ePALM10 is a detachable module (CA01 interface board), which includes five wiring terminals:

Terminal function

CN1 Aux Port (pin mapping to standard panel version Aux Port pin1-9)

CN2 PC/printer port (pin7 RXD, pin9 TXD, pin6 GND, pin5+5V output max 100mA, etc.)

CN3 PLC ports (CHA+/CHA -/CHB+/CHB -, RXD, TXD, CTS, RTS)

CN4 power supply (+24VDC, Common, PE)

CN5 additional signal (Dead man button L/R four-way NO contact)

The terminal allocation of CN1 corresponds one-to-one with the Aux ports of the standard panel installation version, which greatly facilitates the adaptation of conventional panel wiring diagrams to handheld devices. Terminals marked as "Reserved" are strictly prohibited from use.

Important limitation: The PLC port of ePALM10 does not include a 20mA current loop interface, and communication modules TCM04 (Interbus), TCM07 (Simatic S7 MPI without optical isolation), and TCM10 (Ethernet) are not supported. When selecting, be sure to check this list to avoid purchasing modules that cannot be used.

Communication Cable Wiring Specification

EPALM10-0061 comes standard with a 5-meter communication cable (ePALM10-0062 is 10 meters), with no connectors at the free end of the cable, designed for direct access to control cabinets. The cables are color coded according to the signal: power cable 0.5mm ² (red=+24VDC, black=Common), PC/printer port and PLC port signal cable 0.14mm ² (26AWG), safety signal cable 0.35mm ².

The following key specifications must be followed when wiring:

Magnetic ring (Ferrite Toroid) is a mandatory component - included with the product and installed above the cable to ensure normal operation. If the magnetic ring is lost during on-site modification, it may cause communication abnormalities;

The shield trace must be reliably connected, with a length of 25cm in the 4 × 1mm ² section and a cable length of no more than 10cm at the terminal;

When communicating with RS-422/RS-485, RXD and CTS signals should not be suspended: RXD should be connected to GND, CTS should be connected to+5V output;

The standard cable layout includes PC/printer port and PLC port signals, which can directly complete programming connections and RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 field device connections; To use the Aux port, the PLC port wiring must be manually moved to CN1.

PC programming connection: At least a power supply and programming port need to be connected. Connect to the PC's COM port (D-Sub 9) as follows: CN2 pin7 (RXD, orange) ↔ PC pin3（TXD）； CN2 pin9 (TXD, white) ↔ PC pin2（RXD）； CN2 pin6 (GND, gray) ↔ PC pin5（GND）。

Expansion of fieldbus module

EPALM can be connected to the fieldbus through a standard TCM communication module, and the currently supported module list is:

Module Bus Remarks

TCM01 Siemens Simatic S7 MPI is suitable for point-to-point configuration

TCM02 Moeller Suconet K is suitable for point-to-point configuration

TCM03 DeviceNet has limitations on bus speed and network configuration

TCM08 Profibus DP bus speed and network configuration have limitations

TCM09 CANopen bus speed and network configuration have limitations

Installation precautions:

Module insertion requires shell opening operation: After inserting the TCM module, the shell must be carefully reset to ensure confidentiality (IP65 integrity depends on this), otherwise the protection level will be invalid;

The default wiring of CN1 must be manually changed: the fieldbus topology does not allow 5-10 meter long drop segments, and all bus signals must include incoming and outgoing line segments (hand in hand topology), and cannot be connected in a single ended star connection;

The CA01 interface board does not support bus termination resistors: ePALM cannot be used as a network endpoint node unless an external termination resistor is applied - this is a common hidden fault source in Profibus/DeviceNet networks. When debugging does not work, first check the endpoint.

Taking the connection of Simatic S7 MPI network as an example: it is recommended to move the necessary wires from CN3 (PLC port) to CN1 (Aux port) - the Blue Red wire (formerly CN3 pin1 CHA+) to CN1 pin4 (signal A), the Blue Black wire (formerly CN3 pin2 CHA -) to CN1 pin5 (signal B), and the Black wire (formerly CN3 pin6 GND) to CN1 pin1. A. The B signal is connected to the MPI network and cannot connect terminating resistors within ePALM.

LED indication and button diagnosis

Five system LEDs on the front panel form a quick fault diagnosis tool:

Meaning of LED color/status

Red eye icon OFF/Blink/ON No hardware malfunction/low battery level/hardware malfunction

Eye icon green OFF/ON no button/any button pressed (visual feedback)

Power icon green OFF/ON hardware failure/device running

Communication icon green BLINK/ON communication error/communication normal

Warning icon red OFF/Blink/ON No alarm/Alarm pending confirmation/Alarm activated

The backup icon is green and user controllable (Macro Editor LED 65), and the recipe/event backup is in progress and lit up

The flashing red LED (low battery level) is a maintenance warning signal, and battery replacement should be arranged in a timely manner. 20 user LEDs are mapped according to RDA standard: L1~L9 correspond to F1~F9 function keys, L18~L28 correspond to numeric and symbol keys (e.g. L20 corresponds to "3/clock", L26 corresponds to "9/print").

Standard process for replacing lithium batteries

The lithium battery (Duracell DL2430) maintains three types of data: hardware real-time clock, event list, and formula data. Attention: Replacing the battery will result in the loss of the above data, so it is necessary to export the recipe and event data backup through UniOP Designer before replacement.

Standard replacement process:

Turn off the power of the device;

Loosen the 6 screws that secure the plastic casing with a screwdriver;

Open the handheld device, with the battery located on the CPU subsystem board;

Remove the old battery;

Install a new battery of the same model;

Close the shell and tighten the 6 screws (pay attention to restoring the seal);

Power on again and check the battery status report as normal.

Attachments and ordering information

EPALM10-0061: Handheld HMI, including 5-meter communication cable

EPALM10-0062: Handheld HMI, including 10 meter communication cable

AHOOK01: Non magnetic hook group

AHOOK02: Equipped with magnetic hook group (can be directly attached to the surface of steel equipment for hanging and placement)