Quick Start Guide

Getting Started

Once the Flex is connected to the network (refer to Flex Quick Starts documentation), plug the Flex Link Relay & Sensor cable (FLC-RS) into the Flex Link Port.

To configure Flex Link Serial cables, right-click on the unit entry in iHelp and select 'Configure', or enter the Flex unit's IP address into a web browser to access the Flex Configuration page.

A diagram illustrates the connection points: a Micro-B USB port for power and a Flex Link Port for connecting cables.

Configuration

On the Flex Link Cable page, select 'Serial' in the dropdown menu to configure the settings as desired. The setup webpage provides the basic configuration and control interface to demonstrate and test serial functionality.

The Serial Cable Configuration webpage displays settings for a Flex Link Cable. Options include Cable Type (RS232 selected), Baud Rate (9600 selected), Flow Control (None selected), Duplex (Half selected for RS485 only), Parity (None selected), Data Bits (8 selected), Stop Bits (1 selected), and Gender Changer (True selected for RS232 only). A 'Save Changes' button is present.

FLC-SL-485

RS485 settings include Baud Rate, Duplex, Parity, Data Bits, and Stop Bits. Duplex is unique to RS485 cables. It should be set to 'Full' for 4-signal RS485 and 'Half' for 2-signal RS485.

FLC-SL-232 and FLC-SL-MJ

RS232 settings include Baud Rate, Flow Control, Parity, Data Bits, Stop Bits, and Gender. The gender of a FLC-SL-232 cable can be changed using the included gender changer. The setting should be set to 'True' if the gender changer is used or 'False' if it is not used. If a null modem cable is desired, then the Gender Changer setting should be inverted. Once all selections are made, click 'Save Configuration' to apply the new settings.

Disconnection

Disconnecting the serial cable from the Flex Link Port will reset all open TCP sockets and reinitialize the serial cable. All connections must be reestablished after unplugging the cable from the port.

Further Information

For detailed information on configuring and using the Flex and Flex Link Cables, consult the User Guide: Flex and Flex Link Cables available at www.globalcache.com/docs.