MOXA DA-660A Series Arm-Based Computers User Manual

DA-660A Series Hardware User’s Manual
Version 2.1, June 2021
www.moxa.com/product

DA-660A Series Arm-Based Computers

DA-660A Series Hardware User’s Manual
The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with the terms of that agreement.
Copyright Notice
© 2021 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
The MOXA logo is a registered trademark of Moxa Inc.
All other trademarks or registered marks in this manual belong to their respective manufacturers.

Disclaimer
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Moxa.
Moxa provides this document as is, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, its particular purpose. Moxa reserves the right to make improvements and/or changes to this manual, or to the products and/or the programs described in this manual, at any time.
Information provided in this manual is intended to be accurate and reliable. However, Moxa assumes no responsibility for its use, or for any infringements on the rights of third parties that may result from its use.
This product might include unintentional technical or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein to correct such errors, and these changes are incorporated into new editions of the publication.

Technical Support Contact Information

www.moxa.com/support

Moxa Americas
Toll-free: 1-888-669-2872
Tel: +1-714-528-6777
Fax: +1-714-528-6778
Moxa Europe
Tel: +49-89-3 70 03 99-0
Fax: +49-89-3 70 03 99-99
Moxa India
Tel: +91-80-4172-9088
Fax: +91-80-4132-1045
Moxa China (Shanghai office)
Toll-free: 800-820-5036
Tel: +86-21-5258-9955
Fax: +86-21-5258-5505
Moxa Asia-Pacific
Tel: +886-2-8919-1230
Fax: +886-2-8919-1231

Introduction

The DA-660A Series embedded computers come with 8 to 16 software selectable RS-232/422/485 serial ports, making them suitable for a variety of industrial applications. Models with 4 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports are also available. The DA-660A also comes with CF and USB ports to make it easy to add additional storage space. The computers are designed with a standard 19-inch, rugged 1U rackmount case, and are embedded with a 100-240 VAC power input. This combination of features gives users a robust and reliable ready-to-run solution for applications such as data acquisition and power substations.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Overview
• Package Checklist
• Product Features
• Hardware Specifications

Overview
The DA-660A Series computers are RISC-based, ready-to-run embedded computers designed for industrial data acquisition applications. The models have either 8 or 16 RS-232/422/485 serial ports, and 2 USB hosts based on the Moxa Macro 500 MHz communication processor. The DA-660A has 4 Ethernet ports. The casing is a standard 1U, 19-inch-wide rack-mounted rugged enclosure. The robust, rack-mountable design provides the hardened protection needed for industrial environment applications and makes it easy for users to install the DA-660A on a standard 19-inch rack. The DA-660A Series computers are ideal for applications that require a distributed embedded technology, such as SCADA systems, plant floor automation, and power electricity monitoring applications.
The DA-660A Series computers are suitable for IT control room applications, the critical assets used in the control and automation system of industrial plant floors, and in electric power utility substations. The computers can accept a wide range of power inputs (from 100 to 240V), which means that they can be connected to AC power lines. Because of the no-hard-disk, fanless, and energy-efficient design, the computers minimize heat generation, can operate around the clock, year in and year out, in heavy duty, harsh industrial environments, delivering the kind of reliable computing power expected of a multifunctional controller.
You can choose DA-660A Series models that come preinstalled with the open- standard Linux OS. The builtin SDK makes program development easy by allowing you to follow the common programming procedures used on a standard PC. The software you develop for your own applications can be stored in the onboard Flash memory. The DA-660A Series embedded computers are ideal for creating control systems with distributed architecture that are based on embedded technologies. Typical applications include SCADA systems, plant floor automation, and power electricity monitoring.

Package Checklist
Before installing the DA-660A Series, verify that the package contains the following items:

• 1 DA-660A Series embedded computer
• 6 jumper caps
• 19-inch Rackmount Kit with 2 L-shaped metal plates and 8 screws
• Ethernet Cable: RJ45-to-RJ45 cross-over cable, 100 cm
• CBL-RJ45M9-150: RJ45-to-DB9 male serial port cable, 150 cm
• CBL-RJ45F9-150: RJ45-to-DB9 female console port cable, 150 cm
• Quick installation guide
• Warranty card

NOTE: Notify your sales representative if any of the above items are missing or damaged.

Product Features

• Moxa Macro 500 MHz Processor
• On-board 128 MB RAM, 32 MB Flash ROM
• 8 to 16 RS-232/422/485 serial ports
• 4 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
• Standard 19-inch rack-mount installation, 1U height
• Wide range of power input voltages from 100 to 240VAC
• LCD screen and push buttons for Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
• Ready-to-run Linux platform
• Robust, fanless design

Hardware Specifications

NOTE The latest specifications for Moxa’s products can be found at https://www.moxa.com.

Hardware Introduction

The DA-660A Series hardware is compact, well-designed, and built for rugged industrial applications. LED indicators help you monitor the performance and identify trouble spots. Multiple ports allow the connection of different devices for wireless operation. With the reliable and stable hardware platform that is provided, you can devote your attention to the development of your application. In this chapter, learn the basics about the embedded computer hardware and its different parts.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Appearance
• DA-662A-8 Models
• DA-662A-16 Models
• Dimensions
• Hardware Block Diagram
• DA-662A-8 Models
• DA-662A-16 Models
• LED Indicators
• Reset Button
• LCD Screen
• Push Buttons
• Real-time Clock

Appearance
DA-662A-8 Models 

DA-662A-16 Models

Dimensions

Hardware Block Diagram
The following block diagrams show the layout of the internal components of the DA-660A Series.
DA-662A-8 Models

DA-662A-16 Models

LED Indicators
LED indicators are located on the front panel of the DA-660A Series.

LAN1, LAN2,
LAN3, LAN4| Orange| 10 Mbps Ethernet connection
Green| 100 Mbps Ethernet connection

P1-P16 (Rx)

| Orange| Serial port is receiving RX data from the serial device
Off| Serial port is not receiving RX data from the serial device

P1-P16 (Tx)

| Green| Serial port is transmitting TX data to the serial device
Off| Serial port is transmitting TX data to the serial device

Reset Button
Press the Reset button on the front panel continuously for at least 5 seconds to load the factory default configuration. After the factory default configuration has been loaded, the system will reboot automatically. The Ready LED will blink on and off for the first 5 seconds, and then maintain a steady glow once the system has rebooted.
We recommend that you only use this function if the software is not working properly, and you want to load factory default settings. To reset an embedded Linux system, always use the software reboot command />reboot to protect the integrity of data being transmitted or processed. The Reset button is not designed to hard reboot the DA-660A Series.

ATTENTION
Pressing the Reset button will only load the configuration file. All files in the /etc directory will revert to their factory defaults, and all user data in the Flash ROM will be deleted.

LCD Screen
The DA-660A Series has an LCD screen on the front panel. The LCD screen can display 16 columns and 2 rows of text. After the computer boots up, the LCD screen will display the model name and firmware version as indicated in the table below:

Push Buttons
There are four push buttons located on the front panel. The buttons are used to enter text onto the LCD screen. The buttons are MENU, (up cursor), (down cursor), and SEL:

Real-time Clock
The real time clock is powered by a lithium battery. We strongly recommend that you do not replace the lithium battery without help from a qualified Moxa support engineer. If you need to change the battery, contact the Moxa RMA service team.

WARNING
There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type.

Hardware Connection Description

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

• Placement Options
• Rack Mounting
• Connecting the Hardware
• Wiring Requirements
• Connecting the Power
• Connecting to the Network
• Connecting to a Serial Device
• Configurable Pull High/Low Resistors for the RS-485 Port
• Connecting to the Console Port
• USB Host
• CompactFlash

Placement Options
Rack Mounting
The DA-660A Series is designed to be mounted on a standard 19-inch rack. Two L-shaped metal plates are included as standard accessories with the computer. Use the enclosed pair of L-shaped metal plates and screws to fasten your computer to the rack cabinet. Two placement options are available. You can either lock the front or the rear panel of the computer to the front of the rack. Each L-shaped plate has 6 holes, leaving two outer or inner holes open for your convenience.

Connecting the Hardware
This section describes how to connect the DA-660A Series to serial devices. The topics covered in this section are: Wiring Requirements, Connecting the Power, Connecting to the Network, Connecting to a Serial Device, and Connecting to the Console Port.
Wiring Requirements

ATTENTION
Safety First!
Be sure to disconnect the power cord before installing and/or wiring your DA- 660A Series.
Wiring Caution!
Calculate the maximum possible current in each power wire and common wire. Observe all electrical codes dictating the maximum current allowable for each wire size.
If the current goes above the maximum ratings, the wiring could overheat, causing serious damage to your equipment.
Temperature Caution!
Be careful when handling the DA-660A Series. When plugged in, the DA-660A series’ internal components generate heat, and consequently the outer casing may feel hot to the touch.

You should observe the following common wiring rules:

• Use separate paths to route wiring for power and devices. If power wiring and device wiring paths must cross, make sure the wires are perpendicular at the intersection point.
  NOTE: Do not run signal or communication wiring and power wiring in the same wire conduit. To avoid interference, wires with different signal characteristics should be routed separately.

• You can use the type of signal transmitted through a wire to determine which wires should be kept separate. The rule of thumb is that wiring that shares similar electrical characteristics can be bundled together.

• Keep input wiring and output wiring separate.

• Where necessary, it is strongly advised that you label wiring to all devices in the system.

Connecting the Power
To power on the DA-660A Series, use a power cord to connect the power line to the AC power connector on the computer. The power connector is located on the right side of the rear panel. Next, turn on the power switch. The DA-660A takes about 30 seconds to boot up. Once the device is ready, the Ready LED on the front panel will light up, and model name and firmware version will appear on the LCD screen.

Connecting to the Network
Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to one of the 10/100M Ethernet ports (8-pin RJ45) on the computer and the other end of the cable to the Ethernet network. If the cable is properly connected, the computer will indicate a valid connection to the Ethernet in the following ways:

Connecting to a Serial Device
Use properly wired serial cables to connect the DA-660A to serial devices. The serial ports (P1 to P16) on the DA-660A use 8-pin RJ45 connectors. The ports can be configured by software for RS-232, RS-422, or 2wire RS-485. The pin assignments areshown in the following table:

Pin

|

RS-232

| RS-232

(DA-660A-I-8/16-LX only)

| RS-422/

RS-482-4w

|

RS-485-2w

---|---|---|---|---
1| DSR| –| –| –
2| RTS| RTS| TXD+| –
3| GND| GND| GND| GND
4| TXD| TXD| TXD-| –
5| RXD| RXD| RXD+| Data+
6| DCD| –| RXD-| Data-
7| CTS| CTS| –| –
8| DTR| –| –| –

Configurable Pull High/Low Resistors for the RS-485 Port

In some critical environments, you may need to add termination resistors to prevent the reflection of serial signals. When using termination resistors, it is important to set the pull high/low resistors correctly so that the electrical signal is not corrupted. The DA-660A uses jumper settings to set the termination resistors and pull high/low resistor values for each serial port.
To configure the termination and pull high/low resistors for the serial connections, you first need to open the chassis if the computer. You will see 3 rows of jumper caps (as shown in the accompanying figure). The first row is for setting pull high resistors, the second row is for setting termination resistors, and the third row is for setting pull low resistors.
Each serial port has 6 jumper caps for configuring the resistors. The pin assignments are shown in the following table:

Jumper setting

| RS485 Data +| RS485 Data –
Pull High resistors 1-2: 150 kΩ 2-3: 1 kΩ| |
Termination 1-2: Open 2-3: 120 Ω| |
Pull Low resistors 1-2: 150 kΩ 2-3: 1 kΩ| |

To set the termination resistors to 120 Ω, make sure that PIN 2 and PIN 3 assigned to the serial port are shorted by jumper caps.
To set the pull high/low resistors to 150 kΩ, make sure that PIN 1 and PIN 2 assigned to the serial port are shorted by jumper caps. This is the default setting.
To set the pull high/low resistors to 1 kΩ, make sure that PIN 2 and PIN 3 assigned to the serial port are shorted by jumper caps.

ATTENTION
Do not use the 1 KΩ setting on the DA-660A when using the RS-232 interface. Doing so will degrade the RS-232 signals, shorten the maximum allowed communication distance, and the Rx LED may light up.

Connecting to the Console Port
The console port on the DA-660A is an 8-pin RJ45 RS-232 port. The pin definition is the same as for the serial ports (P1 to P16).
USB Host
The DA-660A offers 2 USB 2.0 hosts, allowing you to connect with a USB storage device. The first USB mass storage device to be connected will be mounted automatically to /mnt/sdc and the second device will be  mounted to /mnt/sdd using the mount command. The storage device will be un-mounted automatically with the umount command when it is disconnected.

CompactFlash
The DA-660A Series computers have a built-in CompactFlash socket. The CompactFlash socket allows users to add additional memory by inserting a CompactFlash memory card, without any risk to the computer. Follow the instructions below to insert a CompactFlash card:

1. Turn off the DA-660A.
2. Insert the CompactFlash card into the socket.
3. Turn on the DA-660A.

ATTENTION
The DA-660A Series computers do not support CompactFlash hot swap and PnP (Plug and Play) function. You MUST turn off the DA-660A before inserting or removing the CompactFlash card.

              © 2021 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.

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