Fieldbus segment checkout procedure

Appendix A
Fieldbus segment checkout procedure
Topics covered in this appendix:
• Using the segment checkout procedure to verify the installation
• Before performing the segment checkout procedure
• Tools required to check out a segment
• Segment checkout procedure
• Sample waveforms
• Fieldbus segment checkout form

Using the segment checkout procedure to

verify the installation
Use the segment checkout procedure to check each segment for proper power,
grounding, and isolation before you commission field devices on the segment.

• First, measure resistance, capacitance, DC voltage, and the AC waveform (steps 1, 2,

and 3 in the checkout procedure) with simplex power installed.
• Then measure DC and the AC waveform (steps 4 and 5) again with redundant power
installed. Verify that the measured DC voltage allows for the additional voltage drop
if a short circuit should occur.
• Record the readings for steps 1-5 on the Fieldbus Checkout Form.

Before performing the segment checkout

procedure
Before performing the checkout procedure:

• Ensure that you have the correct tools to perform the procedure.
• Ensure that the field wiring is completed and properly terminated and that all field
devices are attached.
• Remove the fieldbus segment cable (+, -, and shield) from the connectors on the
fieldbus power supply. Remove only the connector to the field wiring. It is not
necessary to remove the connector to the H1 card. Removing the connector to the
field wiring isolates the field wiring from the H1 card and power supply, isolates the
shield from ground, and enables you to make the resistance and capacitance
measurements in the checkout procedure. If your field wiring connections differ
from the connections described in this manual, isolate the field wiring from both the
H1 card and power supply and isolate the shield from ground.

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Fieldbus segment checkout procedure

Note
Make sure that your bare hands do not come into contact with meter leads or segment wiring. The
body acts as a capacitor and body contact with leads or wiring could result in false readings.

Note
Some fieldbus segments with isolated couplers or barriers used in hazardous area applications may
indicate a low resistance measurement for "+ to - " and/or a high capacitance measurement for "+ to -
". These readings can be acceptable providing that the fieldbus signal's waveform and voltage
compare to that shown in the sample waveforms.

Tools required to check out a segment

Use the following tools to check out a fieldbus segment:

• Fluke 123 or 124 Digital Scope Meter or equivalent scope with resistance, DC
voltage, and capacitance measurement capability. (Most capacitance meters
measure components only and will not provide the expected results when
measuring a complete segment.
• Small screwdriver
• Fieldbus segment checkout form

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Segment checkout procedure
Table A-1: Segment checkout procedure
Step 1: Measure resistance on the H1 segment conductors at the removed connector coming in from the field.
Measure resistance from the:
+ signal conductor to - signal conductor
+ signal conductor to drain/shield wire
- signal conductor to drain/shield wire
+ signal conductor to instrument ground bar
- signal conductor to instrument ground bar
drain/shield wire to instrument ground bar
Step 2: Measure capacitance on the H1 segment conductors at the removed connector coming in from the field.
Measure capacitance from the:
+ signal conductor to - signal conductor
+ signal conductor to drain/shield wire
- signal conductor to drain/shield wire
+ signal conductor to instrument ground bar
Fieldbus segment checkout procedure
Expected result:
> 50 K ohms (increasing)
This value will change due to the capacitor charging in the
termination RC circuit and the capacitance in the fieldbus
cables.
open circuit >20 MΩ
open circuit > 20 MΩ
open circuit > 20 MΩ
open circuit > 20 MΩ
open circuit > 20 MΩ
Expected result:
1 µF (0.80 to 1.20 µF acceptable)
A reading of <.5 µF indicates no terminator on the seg-
ment. A reading of a nominal 2 µF indicates a second ter-
minator on the segment. The acceptable values assume
that the power supply terminator is used as the second ter-
minator and only one additional terminator is connected in
the field. Otherwise, the expected result would be 2 µF.
Note
The values for this measurement will be invalid on the Pep-
perl+Fuchs FieldConnex® Field Barrier for I.S. applications.
< 300 nF
< 300 nF
< 300 nF
An actual reading that is much greater or varies in a capaci-
tor charging manner to a high capacitance value (>1 µF) in-
dicates a poor quality noisy ground on the shield ground
bar. Be sure to correct this ground problem to prevent
communication errors on the fieldbus segment. A reading
of 300 nF indicates noise on the ground system. Field data
has shown that readings of up to 500 nF can be acceptable
providing the fieldbus signal waveform and voltage com-
pare to that shown in the sample waveform with two ter-
minators and 1000 feet of cable. Refer to
Sample waveforms for information.
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Fieldbus segment checkout procedure
Table A-1: Segment checkout procedure (continued)
- signal conductor to instrument ground bar
drain/shield wire to instrument ground bar
Step 3: Verify the terminator switch.
Procedure
Verify if the power supply has a terminator switch. Switch
On or Off depending upon application.
Verify if the device connection block has a terminator
switch. Switch On or Off depending upon application.
Step 4: Measure DC voltage at the connector going to the field.
Procedure
Reconnect the previously removed terminal block connec-
tors to the power supply.
Measure the output DC voltage at the power supply termi-
nals and verify that the voltage is appropriate for the field-
bus power supply installed.
Step 5: Measure the AC waveform at the connector going to the field.
Procedure
Set the scope to AC, 200 mV/division, 10 micro seconds/
division for best results and press HOLD to capture the
waveform
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< 300 nF
An actual reading that is much greater or varies in a capaci-
tor charging manner to a high capacitance value (>1 µF) in-
dicates a poor quality noisy ground on the shield ground
bar. Be sure to correct this ground problem to prevent
communication errors on the fieldbus segment. A reading
of 300 nF indicates noise on the ground system. Field data
has shown that readings of up to 500 nF can be acceptable
providing the fieldbus signal waveform and voltage com-
pare to that shown in the sample waveform with two ter-
minators and 1000 feet of cable. Refer to
Sample waveforms for more information.
< 300 nF
An actual reading that is much greater or varies in a capaci-
tor charging manner to a high capacitance value (>1 µF) in-
dicates a poor quality noisy ground on the shield ground
bar. Be sure to correct this ground problem to prevent
communication errors on the fieldbus segment. A reading
of 300 nF indicates noise on the ground system. Field data
has shown that readings of up to 500 nF can be acceptable
providing the fieldbus signal waveform and voltage com-
pare to that shown in the sample waveform with two ter-
minators and 1000 feet of cable. Refer to
Sample waveforms for more information.
Expected result
2 terminators total per segment
2 terminators total per segment
Expected result
• H1 with Integrated Power card: 28-30 VDC
• Relcom Fieldbus Power System: 25-28 VDC
• P+F Fieldbus Power Hub: 28-30 VDC, 21-23 VDC, or
15-17 VDC
Expected result
500 mV and 900 mV peak to peak
 Fieldbus segment checkout procedure

Table A-1: Segment checkout procedure (continued)

Verify the waveform against the expected waveform
shown in Sample waveforms. Note the differences in the
signals with 1 terminator and with 3 terminators .

Sample waveforms
This figure shows a waveform with two terminators and 1000 feet of cable. This is the
expected waveform.

Figure A-1: Waveform with two terminators and 1000 feet of cable

This figure shows a waveform with one terminator and 1000 feet of cable.

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Fieldbus segment checkout procedure

Figure A-2: Waveform with one terminator and 1000 feet of cable

This figure shows a waveform with three terminators and 1000 feet of cable.

Figure A-3: Waveform with three terminators and 1000 feet of cable

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 Fieldbus segment checkout procedure

Fieldbus segment checkout form

Company/Location.................................................................................................................
Unit/Description......................................................................................................................
Controller number.................................................
Fieldbus card number...........................................Port number..............................................
Technician.............................................................Date.............Pass.......Fail.......

Step 1: Resistance measurement at the H1 segment conductors coming in from the field (1)
(+) to (-) signal Expected = > 50 KΩ (increasing) Actual =...............................
(+) to shield Expected = open circuit >20 MΩ Actual =...............................
(-) to shield Expected = open circuit > 20 MΩ Actual =...............................
(+) to ground bar Expected = open circuit > 20 MΩ Actual =...............................
(-) to ground bar Expected = open circuit > 20 MΩ Actual =...............................
Shield to ground bar Expected = open circuit > 20 MΩ Actual =...............................
Step 2: Capacitance measurement at the H1 segment conductors coming in from the field(1)
(+) to (-) signal Expected = 1 µF ( ± 20%) Actual =...............................
(+) to shield Expected = < 300 nF Actual =...............................
(-) to shield Expected = < 300 nF Actual =...............................
(+) to ground bar Expected = < 300 nF Actual =...............................
(-) to ground bar Expected = < 300 nF Actual =...............................
Shield to ground bar Expected = < 300 nF Actual =...............................
Step 3: Terminator switch verification
Terminator (Power Supply) Expected = Application dependent Actual = On....Off.....N/A.......
Terminator (Connection block) Actual = On.....Off....N/A.......
Step 4: DC voltage measurement at power supply
(+) to (-) signal Expected: Actual =...............................
• 28-30 VDC for H1 with Integra-
ted Power card or P+F Fieldbus
Power Hub
• 25-28 VDC for Relcom Fieldbus
Power Supply
Step 5: AC measurement (waveform) power supply
(+) to (-) signal Expected = 500 - 900 mV pp Actual =...............................

(1) Some fieldbus segments with isolated couplers or barriers used in hazardous area applications, may indicate a low resistance measure-
ment for "+ to - " and/or a high capacitance measurement for "+ to - ". These readings can be acceptable providing that the fieldbus signal's
waveform and voltage compare to that shown in the sample waveforms.

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