T100MD-888+ PLC Installation Guide

+ 12 to 24V DC

- Power Supply
for PLC
LCD Display Module 1N4007
(optional)

1000µF 50V
Contrast Two-wire E.Cap (Optional)
Adjust RS485 + -
Jumper CPU Status Output LED
14-pin LCD for 12V Indicators Indicators (Red)
Display port

High current
To Host PC (20A)
RS232C (COMM1) ground return
WP J1
Analog 5V
Ref. Adjust J2 10A @24VDC
Enable
EEPROM PWM x 2
Adjust D/A1
Write-Protection
when J2 at WP To Expansion
Board
6 x ADC (10 bit, 0-5V) and

4.200”
T100MD+
8 x ADC (10 bit, 0-5V)

2 x DAC (8-bit, 0-5V)

Super PLC
Warning: Warranty Void
if this label is damaged Digital and
Special
or

Inputs
62256LP-12
CMOS RAM

4.575”
(Optional battery-back Input LED Digital Input
Real Timer Clock & RAM) Indicators (Green) Terminals

Figure 1 - T100MD-888+ and a LCD Module

1. Introduction
T100MD888+ is a new member in the highly popular T100MD+ PLC family. The
basic unit comprises 8 analog I/Os, 8 digital Inputs and 8 digital outputs. Two of the
digital outputs which can be defined as PWM outputs can each deliver up to 10A
peak and 2A continuous, 24VDC current to the load. The 8 analog I/Os are
configurable as 8 AI, no AO or 6 AI and 2 AO. All analog inputs are 10-bit resolution
and all analog outputs are 8-bit resolution.

T100MD888+ is expandable up to a total of 88 digital inputs and 88 digital outputs

with the optional expansion module. It has an RS232 and an RS485 port, both of
them are conversant in MODBUS protocol. The built-in LCD port allows simple
interface to industry-standard LCD modules from 8 characters to 80 characters!

2. Physical Mounting & Wiring

The compactly designed T100MD888+ PLC can be easily installed in many kinds of
plastic or metal enclosures. You need to use 4 PCB standoffs (or some screws and
nuts) to support the controller and fasten it to a console box.

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

Analog I/O Ports: The 8 channels of analog I/Os are available via a DB15
connector along the left edge of the T100MD888+ PLC. The T100MD888+ PLC also
supplies a +5V analog reference-voltage output and the analog ground on the
female DB15 connector, as shown in the following pin-out diagram:

Signal Pin #
A/D #1 8
A/D #2 7
A/D #3 6
A/D #4 5
A/D #5 4
8 1
A/D #6 3 9
A/D #7 or D/A #1 2
A/D #8 or D/A #2 1
Analog Ref. AVCC 13 - 15
Analog ground AVSS 9 - 11
The specifications and programming methods for the analog I/Os are detailed in
Section 7 of this Installation Guide.

Digital I/O Ports: Detachable screw terminals are provided for quick connection to
all digital inputs, outputs and power supply wires. Each block of screw terminals can
easily be detached from the controller body, enabling easy replacement of the
controller board when necessary. Since the terminal block for digital I/Os is inserted
vertically to the board surface, you need to remove the terminal block before you
can start wiring. Use a small flat-head screwdriver and insert underneath the terminal
block, apply even pressure to raise the terminal block until it becomes loosened
from the connecting-pin strip, as shown below:
Maximum AWG 24 w
Insulated crimp
ferrules

Tightening
screw
Connecting-pin strip

Flat-head
screw driver

Figure 2 - Removing Screw Terminal block

Although wires of up to 24 AWG may be connected directly to the screw terminal,

insulated crimp ferrules should be used to provide a good end termination to multi-
stranded wires. Use of ferrules reduces the possibility of stray wire-strands short-
circuiting adjacent terminals and their use is therefore highly recommended.

10A Ground Terminals:: Along the right edge of the T100MD888+ PLC you will see
a single two-pole terminal block marked “10A GND”. This terminal should be
connected to 0V of the PLC’s power supply to provide a high current ground return
path for the two 10A PWM outputs (7 & 8).

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

EEPROM Write Protection Jumper: The T100MD888+ PLC features an EEPROM

write protection jumper J2. For normal programming, the jumper block for J2 should
be placed at the “Enable” position. If J2 is placed at the “WP” position, the PLC’s
EEPROM is write-protected. In this case, the SAVE_EEP statement will not work and if
you transfer a new program to the PLC, the new program will reside temporarily in
RAM and will not be saved in the EEPROM. It will also be lost when the PLC powers
down.

3. Power Supply
The T100MD888+ PLC requires a single regulated, 12 to 24V (+/- 5% ripple) DC
power supply for both the CPU and the I/Os. It is recommended that whenever
possible, use a higher power supply voltage since the voltage difference between
ON and OFF state is wider for operation at higher voltage. To use the T100MD888+
at 12VDC you should place a jumper block on the two-pin header marked “J1-12V”
near the power supply terminals. You must remember to remove the jumper when
operating the PLC above 18V, otherwise the voltage regulator may overheat.

Please use only industrial grade linear or switching regulated power supply from
established manufacturers. Using a poorly-made switching power supply can give
rise to a lot of problems if the noisy high frequency switching signals are not filtered
properly. Note: If your application demands very stable analog I/Os you should
choose a linear power supply instead of a switching power source for the CPU.

Always place the power supply as near to the PLC as possible and use a separate
pair of wire to connect the power to the PLC. Keep the power supply wires as short
as possible and avoid running it along side high current cable in the same cable
conduit. The T100MD-888+ PLC will be reset when the power supply voltage dips
below 9V. It is a good idea to connect a 470µF to 1000µF, 50V electrolytic
capacitor near the power supply connector to suppress any undesirable voltage
glitches from conducting into the PLC. If other high current devices such as a
frequency inverter were to affect the operation of the PLC, then you should also
connect a diode before the capacitor to prevent reverse current which might flow
back to the power supply, as shown in the following diagram:
1N4007
+24V DC
Power Surge suppressor
Supply (Recommended)
470uF 50V
+24V 0V

Figure 3
If the AC main is affected by nearby machines drawing large currents (such as large
three-phase motors), you should use a surge-suppressor to prevent any unwanted
noise voltage from being coupled into the T100MD power supply. The required
current rating for the power supply depends mainly on the total output current,
taking into consideration the peak current demand and the duty cycle of the
operation. Normally, a 2A, 24V DC switching power supply should be sufficient.

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

4. LCD Display Module

The built-in 14-pin LCD DISPLAY MODULE PORT (hence the suffix “MD”) is
compatible to the Hitachi HD44780 display controller which is a de facto industry
standard. This allows low cost, easily available LCD modules from third-party
manufacturers to be connected directly to the PLC to implement very economical
man-machine interface. You simply connect the LCD module to the T100MD’s LCD
port using a 14-way IDC ribbon cable and header. Make sure that the pin number on
the PLC matches that of the LCD module. Wrong cable connection can destroy the
LCD port or LCD module.

The +5V logic power required by the LCD module is supplied by the 14-pin header.
However, NEVER connect the LCD backlight terminals to the +5V pin of the 14-pin
header or the +5V output of the analog power supply as this will overheat the PLC’s
voltage regulators. For modules with LED backlight, you can simply connect the
backlight terminals in series with a 150Ω to 220Ω 5W resistor to the 24V power supply.
The backlight wiring is illustrated in the Appendix section of this guide.

You may use any of the industry standard 14-pin LCD modules. There are many
different display sizes or character formats to choose from, e.g., 1x8, 1x16, 1x20,
2x16, 2x20, 1x40, 2x40 and 4x20. We strongly recommend those with Super-Twisted
Nematics (STN) type which gives high contrast and wide viewing angle. The contrast
of the LCD can be adjusted using the preset potentiometer R7 marked with the word
“contrast” below the LCD connector.

Programming the LCD Display

The SETLCD y, x, string TBASIC command allows you to easily display any string of up
to 20 characters on the yth line starting from the xth column. E.g., to display the
message “T100MD-888+” on the 3rd line starting from the 5th character position from
the left end of the screen, you use the command:
SETLCD 3, 5, “T100MD-888+”
Normally, y = 1,2,3, 4; x = 1, 2, …. 20. Integers must be converted to strings using
the STR$( ) or HEX$( ) before they can be displayed using SETLCD. You can use the
concatenation operator “+” to combine a few components together in the
command. E.g.
SETLCD 1,1,“Rm Temp = ”+ STR$(ADC(1)/100,3)+CHR$(223)+”C”
The function STR$(ADC(1)/100,3) reads the content of ADC channel #1, divides it by
100 and converts the result into a 3-digit string, the CHR$(223) appends a special
character which corresponds to the ‘ o ‘ symbol. E.g. if ADC(1) returns the value 1234,
the final string being displayed will be : Rm Temp = 012 oC.

Special Commands For LCD Display

Action Command
1. Clear screen SETLCD 0,1, CHR$(1)
2. No cursor SETLCD 0,1, CHR$(12)
3. Underline Cursor SETLCD 0,1, CHR$(14)
4. Blinking Cursor SETLCD 0,1, CHR$(13)
5. Underline + Blinking Cursor SETLCD 0,1, CHR$(15)

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

If you use the SETLCD command with line #0, then the strings will be treated as
special “instructions” to be sent to the LCD module to program it for various modes of
operation. This includes blinking cursor, underline cursor or no cursor as well as
display shift mode. You have to refer to the LCD manufacturer’s data sheet for the
detailed commands. Some of the most useful commands are listed below:

5. Digital Input Circuits

All inputs have green color LED indicators. Every 8 inputs are grouped together into
a single strip of detachable screw terminal. All inputs are NPN types, meaning that to
turn ON input, you should connect it to low-voltage rail (0V terminal) of the power
supply as shown in the following diagram. The input numbers are marked on their
screw terminals as well as on the PCB alongside the strip pin.
+24V
T100MD-1616 T100MD-1616
Limit Switch
(Normally Open) NPN sensor
Signal
Input Input

0V
0V
Input = logic '1' when Limit Switch is closed Input = logic '1' when object is sensed

Input Voltage for Logic 0: Open Circuit or +10V to +24VDC

Input Voltage for Logic 1: 0V to +2.5V DC

6. Digital Output Circuits

All outputs have red color LED indicators. T100MD888+ PLC employs “sink” (NPN) type
power transistor outputs that turn ON by sinking current from the load to the 0V
terminal. Every 8 outputs are grouped together into a single strip of detachable screw
terminal. Figure 3 shows the wiring diagram of the digital outputs.
T100MD-1616 Controller 0V
0V 24V DC
1 +24V Power Supply
LOAD
Power 2 LOAD
Supply
3 LOAD
4 LOAD
5 LOAD
6 LOAD
OUTPUTS
7 LOAD
8 LOAD

Figure 4 - Transistor Output Interfacing to Load

Output #7 & #8 can each sink up to 10A peak or 2A continuous current

@24VDC! They can also be configured as PWM outputs to drive heating elements
or proportional valve using the SETPWM command.

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

Outputs Electrical Specifications:

Output #7 & #8 Output #1 to #6
Output Driver type N-Channel power MOSFET NPN Darlington Power
with low rDS = 0.1 Ω Transistors
Maximum Output Current: 10A 1.0A
Continuous Output Current 2A 350mA
Output Voltage when OFF Resistor pulled up to 24V power rail
Output Voltage when ON: 1V @10A 1.2V @1A
Inductive Back EMF Bypass Yes Yes

7. Analog I/Os
7.1 Analog Power Supply
The analog section of the PLC shares the same 12 to 24VDC power supply as the
CPU. It will generate a stable 5V (±1% accuracy) regulated DC voltage which will
be used internally as voltage reference and is available externally for use by
other analog input devices. The reference voltage output is available on the
analog I/O connector pins #13 - 15, and may be used as the source voltage for
connecting to potentiometers. It is current-limited to 10mA by a 10 Ohm resistor
RA3. If you need more current, you can replace RA3 with a lower resistance
value.
The analog reference voltage can be calibrated by adjusting the preset
potentiometer on the circuit board marked “Avcc Adj” until the reference
voltage of 5.00V is reached.

7.2 Analog Input #1 to #8

Each T100MD-888+ is equipped with 8 channels of built-in 10-bit A/D converters
with a range of 0-5V full-scale. It is very easy to interface to other analog voltage
or current input range by using external resistors as voltage dividers or current-to-
voltage converters as shown in the following diagram:

A/D #1 - #8 A/D #1 - #8
0-20mA or
V1 : 0-10V
4-20mA
Current loop

0.0 - 5.0V or R1=10KΩ 1%

1.0 - 5.0V V2 :0-5V
130Ω 1%
R2=10KΩ 1% Analog
120Ω 1% 0V
Analog
0V

Converting 20mA current-loop to 0-5V Converting 0-10V signal to 0-5V

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

Note that If the sensor has its own power supply, then you must connect the
sensor “ground” to analog “AVSS” terminal to provide a common ground. All the
analog inputs to the T100MD CPU are internally current-limited to guard against
transient over-voltage damage. However, care should be taken to prevent
applying excessive over-voltage to the analog inputs for a prolonged period of
time which can lead to permanent damage of the ADC input.

Using Potentiometer to Set Parameters

A potentiometer can provide a very low cost means for users to input
parameters to the PLC such as setting of temperatures, timers or counter values,
etc. The following diagram shows how easy it is to implement such a device
using the 5V voltage reference output and an analog input:
A/D#1
10KΩ
Potentiometer +5V
GND

Very accurate parameters can be set if the LCD display is used as visual
feedback of the settings.

Reading Analog Input Data

The 8 analog input signals are read by the TBASIC command ADC(1) to ADC(8).
For 10-bit resolution, the theoretical possible range is 0-1023. However, as
explained in the programming manual, ADC(n) commands convert the result to
a 12-bit number. This is done by multiplying the value by 4. Hence the data
returned by ADC(n) command will be 0,4,8,… 4092.

7.3 Analog Outputs

T100MD888+ features 2 channels of 8-bit Digital-to-Analog converter. D/A #1
shares the same pin as A/D #7 and D/A #2 shares the same pin as A/D #8.
These two pins by default are A/D inputs after power-on RESET. You may configure
either one or both of them as D/A outputs by executing the “setDAC” command
on the respective channel(s).

Both D/A #1 and #2 are 0 to 5V signal level, high impedance unbuffered

outputs. You need to connect them to external buffer amplifiers if you want to
use them to deliver load current to drive external loads.

Programming Analog Output

You can use the TBASIC command SETDAC 1,x to set the analog output to a 12-
bit value x. (x = 0 to 4096). The actual analog outputs can only assume the
value 0,16,32,48…4080 because of its 8-bit resolution, which is normalized to 12-
bit by multiplying by 16. So if you execute SETDAC 1,20 the actual output will
only be assigned a value =16.

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T100MD888+ PLC Installation Guide

Appendix: LCD Display For T100MD-888+: Wiring Instruction

TRi currently supplies two models of back-lit LCD display modules for use with the
T100MD-888+ PLC. Each model is supplied with a 0.5m long 14-pin ribbon cable for
connection to the T100MD-888+’s LCD port.

To use the LCD, simply plug the 14-pin plug onto the LCD port header, making sure that
pin #1 (the colored wire) of the ribbon cable aligns with pin #1 of the port header. (Pin 1
is the pin with a square solder pad and the pin number is also printed on the PCB.)

Wiring of the backlight differs slightly for the two models as shown below. It is assumed
that the unit will be connected to the 24V power supply of the T100MD-888+ PLC. If you
are using other voltages, then compute the values of the current limiting resistors to
obtain the same backlight current.

Current = 90mA
A IMPORTANT!
220Ω 5W
MD-LCD216.
2 lines x 16 chars. Please ensure that the current limiting
resistor is in place and functioning
K properly before turning on the power
- + supply. Connecting the LED backlight
Pin 1 to the 24V power supply without the
24V Power current limiting resistor will definitely
Supply destroy the backlight unit. Also,
please ensure that the polarity is
connected correctly, because reverse
connection is likely to damage the
Current = 130mA backlight unit as well.
15 16
For MD-LCD420, the backlight is
150Ω 5W
brought to a screw terminal via a
MD-LCD420
small PCB. Use a multi-meter to
4 lines x 20 chars.
check which terminal is connected to
pin 15 (Anode) and 16 (Cathode-) if
you are unsure of the polarity.
Pin 1 - +
24V Power
Supply