Rittal Electronic Systems new supervisory electronics for microcomputer packaging systems (MPS) represents a highly flexible, adjustable security concept for monitoring important parameters such as temperature, voltage and fan speed, as well as for supervising subracks and components.
An intelligent functional controller forms the core of the system, to which temperature, fan and LCD or LED display modules may be added. Alarm levels and other system parameters can be set and interrogated either remotely or locally. For local use, a front panel with LED and LCD displays provides access for setting and checking, or a connection may be made to a PC.
For monitoring remotely or directly from a control room, the MPS monitor system can be combined with Rittal’s CMC-TC, a total rack security and monitoring system. This is particularly necessary if no contact to on-site service staff is possible.
Inter-communication between the monitoring modules is made via a local I²C bus. The controller module is the master, evaluating all the incoming data from the other monitoring modules. The limits of the various function parameters are flexible so that the monitoring and alarm system can easily be adapted to particular operating conditions to ensure powerful and cost-effective MPS monitoring at the local level.
Display modules can be used for input and are mounted in the front area of the system while controller, temperature and fan modules can be fitted on a separate rail in the rear section of the MPS. As a result, and in contrast to plug-in card versions, no slots are wasted. These modules are already being routinely mounted in all Rittal standard VME and CompactPCI MPS systems.