Hub - Hardware Features
Suitable for 12 or 24 volt systems
The MasterPlex system is suitable for 12 or 24 volt systems and certain split voltage systems. Batteries 1, 2 and 3 must all be the same voltage. Either all 12 volt or all 24 volt. The final battery channel can be either 12 or 24 volt irrespective of the first 3 battery channels.
Relay based split charge system for up to 4 battery banks
There are 3 independant split charge systems contained within the MasterPlex hub. This allows split charging from a single or multiple charge sources to up to 4 individual battery banks. Based up the
SmartBank split charge system but entirely user configurable in the MasterPlex Configuration software. The relay drivers (which include user adjustable pulse width modulation of the relay coils for reduced power consumption and extended relay life) are built in to the hub. All that is required to be installed is the cabling from the hub to the relay coil and the heavier cabling between the relay contacts and the batteries.
Flat battery protection for each individual battery bank
MasterPlex operates remote relays for battery isolation. These relays are also used as a means of flat battery protection. Each battery channel has it's own flat battery protection system. These are dual channel (for each battery bank) low voltage and delay systems. Each bank has two independant thresholds and two independant timers. All user configurable from the Configuration Software. As with the split charge system all the relay drivers are contained within the hub.
Remote battery isolation
The same relays used for flat battery protection are also used for remote battery isolation. No longer is it necessary to run long lengths of heavy duty battery cable in order to site the battery isolators where they are most convenient. The relays can remain close to the batteries, with a simple push button switch being used to isolate each battery bank. The isolation relays are "latching" types and therefore only consume power when actually changing state.
Dedicated LED driver outputs
Individual LED drivers dedicated to each of the three split charge systems give indication of disabled, dormant or active. A further dedicated LED driver is available for indication of the status of the flat battery protection systems. This leaves all 8 programmable LED outputs free for other uses.
Programmable LED driver outputs
8 individual programmable LED drivers. Each LED has its own independant, user configurable, "switch on" delay. Each LED driver is user configurable to activate on any of the following events:-
Battery channel manually connected
Battery channel manually disconnected
Split charge system active
Flat battery protection system entering timer mode
Flat battery protection system disconnected
High or low voltage alarm
Any combination of one or more of the above
Volt free relay outputs
The first 4 LED driver outputs also have volt free relay outputs associated with them. This means up to four internal events can be programmed to operate the relays which can then be used to drive further external equipment such as further relays, turning external equipment on or off, alarms etc.
Programmable Switch inputs
8 individual switch inputs which can be connected to any voltage source up to 50 volts. Above 7 volts is read as being active. Below 4 volts is read as being inactive.
Each switch input can be user configured to carry out any of the following tasks:-
Reset a flat battery protection system
Force a manual emergency connect of a battery paralleling relay
Manually connect a battery isolator
Manually disconnect a battery isolator
Manually toggle a battery isolator
Reset an activated voltage alarm
Kill an activated voltage alarm
Any combination of one or more of the above
PC serial interface
RS232 interface (on RJ11 socket) to connect directly to a PC (or via a USB to serial converter for PCs with no serial port). The interface is used for configuring the hub from the MasterPlex Configuration software and also for reception of the diagnostics information constantly streamed out from the hub. This data stream contains information on all internal activity. Certain details of the data stream (such as battery voltages, relay and input/output status, alarm timers etc) are available following negotiation with the manufacturer, Smartgauge Electronics, for interfacing directly to other OEM systems.
Dual Multiplex Network Busses
Two high speed network busses (on RJ45 sockets) are available for interface to the multiplex expansion modules. These busses carry power to the modules and the data is balanced, full duplex, RS422 operating at 250kbs. Using full duplex roughly doubles the throughput of the multiplex system without resorting to interference and error prone higher communication speeds.
Multiplex System
The MasterPlex hub becomes the main "server" for a complete multiplex control system. This allows remote power modules, switch panels, voltage and state of charge displays etc to be connected via industry standard RJ45 leads. Gone are the days of enormous, expensive, wiring looms.
The multiplex network system is a true intelligent network as opposed to a simple multiplex communications protocol. All modules added to the network are automatically deteced by the hub and given an address automatically on the network. There are no switches to set in each module as is common with more primitive multplex systems.
Each output module has a "default" state for its outputs which it will instantly (within 50mS) switch to in the event of a communications or hub failure. This ensures that an installation can be set up to default to an acceptable emergency state in the event of partial failure of the system. The default states are set up in the normal MasterPlex Configuration software. Access to the output modules is
not required to program this feature. The data is held in the hub and the output module is programmed automatically by the hub. This makes replacement of output modules a simple "plug n play" operation. No further configuration is required.
Low power consumption
The internal power supply automatically switches its power feed to the battery (from batteries 1 to 3) with the highest voltage thus ensuring sensible power consumption from the correct source. Overall power consumption is below 15mA which is roughly 1/10th that of even far more primitive comparable products.