Gefran GILOGIK II Distributed I/O System

Method 2: Directly fix on the base plate

Drill holes on the bottom plate according to the size drawing of the back plate (using M4 screws) and fix them through the mounting holes on the back plate. At this point, the backplane loses its grounding connection with the Ω rail, and an additional grounding bar R-BPE (n) needs to be installed for the module's grounding spring contact.

3.3 Grounding System

Each I/O module has a spring-loaded grounding connector on the back, which automatically contacts the mounting rail (metal Ω bar) or grounding bar when the module is inserted into the backplane. If using direct base plate installation, R-BPE4/8/12/18 grounding copper bars must be equipped. At the same time, the system also provides R-BSCH series shielding bars for centralized grounding of cable shielding layers.

Engineering Tip: Poor grounding can lead to analog signal drift, false triggering of digital signals, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues. Be sure to ensure that the Ω rail or grounding bar is connected to the system's main grounding point at a single point.

Gateway module: the core that connects fieldbus and backplane

The gateway module of GILOGIK II is responsible for protocol conversion and I/O management. Different gateways correspond to different upper communication protocols.

4.1 Gateway Types (Partial)

Description of fieldbus supported by gateway models

R-ETH100 GDNET/Ethernet standard Ethernet gateway, used to connect GT-C/GF-BOX or directly serve as a Modbus TCP server

R-SW5-5 Fast Ethernet switch, used for building multi node GDNET networks; Can be used independently as an industrial switch

R-E16 is not clearly defined as a 16 channel expansion gateway (not fully listed in the manual, please consult the manufacturer)

R-U8/R-U16- Universal Gateway, supporting multiple protocol conversions

The gateway module is inserted into the first slot of the backplane (usually the left end) and provides 24 Vdc power (up to 3 A) to the entire backplane. Therefore, the total power consumption of the system cannot exceed the power supply capacity of the gateway. When designing I/O configurations, it is necessary to accumulate the power consumption of all modules to ensure that it does not exceed the limit. If exceeded, modules with external power supply can be selected (some analog output modules support external 24 Vdc power supply).

4.2 GDNET Communication Protocol

GDNET is a real-time deterministic protocol based on Ethernet developed by Gefran, which has the following characteristics:

Low latency: I/O data refresh time is only 100 µ s (single node)

Zero jitter: dedicated hardware synchronization mechanism to ensure accurate arrival time of periodic data

Multi node support: up to 16 nodes, 256 I/O per node

Network topology: Star and tree cascading can be achieved through R-SW5 switches, and the distance between nodes is determined by standard Ethernet specifications (100 m copper cable)

Typical point-to-point application: A GT-C (or GF-BOX+GT-O) is directly connected to a GILOGIK II gateway through a crossover cable for standalone device control. Typical multi-point application: Multiple GILOGIK II nodes are connected to the same GT-C through an R-SW5 switch to form a distributed control system.

4.3 Integration with third-party PLCs

Due to GILOGIK II's gateway supporting standard protocols such as Profibus, DeviceNet, CANopen, etc., it can be used as a slave to access mainstream PLC systems such as Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, etc. Meanwhile, through the R-ETH100 gateway, it can also serve as a Modbus TCP server and communicate directly with the upper computer SCADA.

Typical scenario for replacing old I/O: When distributed I/O systems that originally used Profibus DP (such as Siemens ET200, Phoenix Inline) need to be replaced due to module discontinuation, GILOGIK II's Profibus gateway can be used to keep the Profibus master station of the upper PLC unchanged and only replace the on-site I/O rack. This greatly reduces the workload and downtime of system renovation.

Detailed explanation and selection comparison of I/O modules

GILOGIK II provides a wide range of digital, analog, and special function modules, all of which have a uniform size of 26 mm wide, 90 mm high, and 120 mm deep. They are IP20 protected and use spring clip terminals for wiring (no screws required).

5.1 Analog output module

Model Output Channel Output Range Resolution Order Number

R-D/A4 4 ±10V / 20 mA max 16 bit F027510

R-D/A8 8 ±10V / 20 mA max 16 bit F027064

R-D/A8VI 8 can be configured with ± 10V/0-20mA/4-20mA 16 bit F028004

R-D/A16 16 ±10V / 20 mA max 16 bit F027065

Key parameters: setup time of 50 µ s, optical isolation, external 24 Vdc power supply (0.5 A max)

Application: valve positioning, frequency converter speed setting, servo torque control

5.2 Analog Input and Temperature Module

Model Type Input Range Resolution Order Number

R-A/D8 8-channel analog input 0-10V, ± 10V, 0-20mA, 4-20mA, 0-2V, etc. 16 bit F027063

R-TC8 8 thermocouple/RTD input+16 digital outputs (for temperature control) J, K, R, S, PT100, 0-50mV, 0-2V, etc. 18 bit min F026944

R-D/A8VI already includes analog outputs