Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: Foundation Fieldbus (FF) Segment Topology
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Communication > Foundation Fieldbus (FF) Segment Topology

Foundation Fieldbus (FF) Segment Topology

Last updated: December 16, 2019 3:39 pm
Editorial Staff
Communication
1 Comment
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

A minimal FF H1 segment consists of a DC power supply, a “power conditioner,” exactly two terminator resistors (Note 1) (one at each extreme end of the cable), a shielded and twisted-pair cable, and of course at least two FF instruments to communicate with each other.

Contents
Foundation Fieldbus TopologyFieldbus Daisy-Chain TopologyFieldbus Bus TopologyFieldbus Tree Topology

The cable connecting each instrument to the nearest junction is called a spur (or sometimes a stub or a drop), while the cable connecting all junctions to the main power source (where a host DCS would typically be located) is called a trunk (or sometimes a home run for the section leading directly to a host system):

Note 1 : Each FF terminator resistor is actually a series resistor/capacitor network. The capacitor blocks direct current, so that the 100 resistor does not impose a DC load on the system. The substantial current that would be drawn by a 100 ohm resistor across 24 VDC source if not blocked by a series capacitor (24 V / 100 ohms = 240 mA) would not only waste power (nearly 6 watts per resistor!) but that much current would cause an unnecessary degradation of supply voltage at the field device terminals due to voltage drop along the length of the segment cable’s conductors.

Foundation Fieldbus Topology

Foundation Fieldbus Segment Topology

The power conditioner shown in this diagram is a simplified model of the actual device, the function of which being to filter out digital data pulses from reaching the DC power supply. Commercially-available Fieldbus power conditioners are complex electronic circuits rather than passive filter networks.

Normally, we would find more than two FF devices connected to a trunk cable, as well as a “host” system such as a DCS FF card for accessing FF instrument data, performing maintenance tasks, and integrating with other control loops.

Regardless of how many (or how few) FF devices connect to an H1 segment, though, there should always be exactly two terminating resistors in each segment – one at each end (Note 2) of the trunk cable. These resistor/capacitor networks serve the sole purpose of eliminating signal reflections off the ends of the trunk cable, making the cable look infinitely long from the perspective of the propagating pulse signals.

Missing terminators will result in signal reflections off the unterminated line end(s), while extra terminators have the equally deleterious effect of attenuating signal strength (as well as potentially causing signal reflections of opposite phase).

Note 2 : Be sure to check the specifications of the host system H1 interface card, because many are equipped with internal terminating resistors given the expectation that the host system will connect to one far end of the trunk!

All H1 networks are essentially parallel electrical circuits, where the two connection terminals of each field instrument are paralleled to each other. The physical arrangement of these transmitters, though, may vary substantially.

The simplest way to connect FF H1 devices together is the so called “daisy-chain” method, where each instrument connects to two cable lengths, forming an uninterrupted “chain” network from one end of the segment to the other:

Fieldbus Daisy-Chain Topology

Fieldbus Daisy-Chain Topology

As simple as this topology is, it suffers from a major disadvantage: it is impossible to disconnect any device in the segment without interrupting the network’s continuity.

Disconnecting (and reconnecting for that matter) any device necessarily results in all “downstream” devices losing signal, if only for a brief time. This is an unacceptable liability in most industrial applications, as it complicates maintenance and servicing of individual instruments on the segment.

An alternative topology is the bus layout, where short “spur” cables connect instruments to a longer “trunk” cable.

Terminal blocks – or even quick-disconnect couplings – within each junction box provide a convenient means of disconnecting individual devices from the segment without interrupting data communication with the other devices:

Fieldbus Bus Topology

Fieldbus Bus Topology

The ideal arrangement for a “bus” network is to minimize the length of each spur cable, so as to minimize the delay of reflected signals off the unterminated ends of the drops. Remember that only two termination resistors are allowed in any electrically continuous network segment, and so this rule forbids the addition of terminators to the end of each spur cable.

Yet another alternative topology for H1 networks is the so-called chicken-foot arrangement, where a long trunk cable terminates at a multi-point junction along with several field devices and their spur cables:

Fieldbus Tree Topology

Fieldbus Tree Topology

Most FF systems resemble a combination of “bus” and “chicken-foot” topologies, where multiple junction devices serve as connection points for two or more field instruments per junction.

Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

History of OPC Protocol
Multi-mode and Single-mode Optical Fibers
Fieldbus Transmitters Calibration and Ranging
Difference Between Subnet and VLAN
Difference Between Modbus TCP IP and Profinet
What is Foundation Fieldbus (FF) ?
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
1 Comment
  • Kaushikpatel says:
    March 23, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Tx bro..
    Pleash tel me bro..
    FF out put

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Modbus Communication Interview Questions and Answers
OPC Communication Interview Questions and Answers
Serial Communication Interview Questions and Answers
Fieldbus Control
Comparison between Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus
FF Function Blocks
How are HART instruments Calibrated?
Difference Between Ethernet IP and EtherCAT

Keep Learning

Fieldbus Wiring

Fieldbus vs 4-20mA

What is Star Topology

Network Topologies Selection Factors and Comparison

Industrial Networking Interview Questions

Industrial Networking and Wireless Interview Questions

field-transmitter-communication-troubleshooting

Field Transmitter Communication Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Fieldbus Devices

Troubleshooting Fieldbus Devices

Fieldbus Interview Questions

Interview Questions on Fieldbus Communication

WirelessHART Device Terminals

WirelessHART Network Gateway Device

Ethernet Questions and Answers

Ethernet Communication Interview Questions & Answers

Learn More

Power Systems Operation and Control Interview questions

Power Systems Operation and Control Interview questions

Electric Circuits Objective Questions

Electric Circuits Objective Questions – Set 4

Pressure Transmitters Purged impulse lines - 2

Pressure Transmitters Purged impulse lines

Over Pressure cases for Pressure Relief Valve Sizing

Over Pressure cases for Pressure Relief Valve Sizing

Solid State Devices Objective Questions and Answers

Top 300 Solid State Devices Objective Questions and Answers

Stability in Frequency Domain

Cascade Compensation in Time Domain

Control Systems Questions & Answers

Control Systems Objective Questions & Answers – Set 6

Using Clock Memory Bits in TIA Portal - Siemens PLC

Using Clock Memory Bits in TIA Portal – Siemens PLC

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?