Any two pieces of asynchronous serial equipment can communicate at half or full duplex over two fibers at rates up to 460 kbps for RS-422/485 or 115.2 kbps for RS-232 with a pair of these converters. Fiber lines are inherently resistant to EMI/RFI and transient surges, so they are ideal for data communications near heavy electrical equipment and other electrical or radio interference.

Standards can be mixed and matched so RS-232 devices can be connected to RS-422/485 devices, replacing a converter and isolator. When working with RS-485 signals, B&B Electronics’ Automatic Send Data control eliminates the need for driver software. Serial connections are on terminal blocks; multimode fiber side has two ST connectors. Requires external power supply not included.

If your application requires the fiber optic light to be off in the idle state, choose the FOSTCDRI-INV.

Fiber Optic Modems

Transmit RS-232 data at 115.2 kbps 4km (2.5 miles) with port-powered fiber optic converters. Models 232FLST and 9PFLST allow any two pieces of RS-232 equipment to communicate full or half duplex over two fibers at a distance up to 2.5 miles with no external power. RS-232 data signals at up to 115.2 kbps. RTS/CTS handshake lines are supported. The 232FLST and 9PFLST provide a transparent cable connection between devices with the EMI/RFI and transient immunity of optical fiber.

The modems are powered from the RS-232 data and handshake lines. A power jack is provided for connecting an optional +12 VDC supply, allowing use with low power ports. The RS-232 connector on the 232FLST is a DB25 female, while the 9PFLST has a DB9 female. The multimode fiber is connected via two ST connectors.

Fiber Optic Converter Hub
 

Create a network using fiber optics with range up to 2.5 miles

• Monitor and control dozens of RS-232 nodes by cascading — FDS4FE
• RS-422/485 data rates to 460 kbps, RS-232 to 115.2 kbps
• RJ-45 expansion port extends RS-422 from each unit

Model FDF4SE is a serial to fiber converter and network hub. Up to four pairs of fiber cable can be connected to a single RS-232/422/485 serial port. If the PC port is RS-485, each fiber port can be addressed individually. Each fiber pair can be connected to a Model FDS4FE to monitor, poll or control four or more serial devices.

Model FDS4FE converts a fiber signal to serial and acts as a network hub to monitor and control up to four RS-232 serial devices.

If only one pair of fiber cables will be used, a Model FOSTC or FOSTCDR serial to fiber converter (above) may be used in place of the Model FDF4SE. Both Models FDF4SE and FDS4FE have RJ-45 RS-422 expansion ports. By using the expansion ports and cascading devices to similar hubs you can increase the network size.

Panel mount cases are 14.1 x 9.7 x 3.2 cm (5.6 x 3.8 x 1.3 in)

Each unit requires power of 10-30 VDC.

Optional 15 VDC power supply is available.