Modules can be connected to the PC with standard Ethernet switches. Patch cables are recommended.
For more information on NTP and PTP synchronization, see Module Synchronization.
Data is transferred, modules are synchronized in timing and voltage is supplied via the FireWire connections. A maximum of 12 modules can be connected in series with each other.
NOTE
Different supply voltage sources need to have the same reference potential and should be in the same voltage range. Voltage drops occur as a result of cable resistance and internal protective circuits; therefore, a considerably lower supply voltage is applied to the last module in the chain. Make sure that at least 10 V is applied to the last module.
To connect up to 24 modules, use a hub. Hubs are devices that connect network chains together in star configurations. This connection mode is again limited to 14 hops. A hop is the transition from one module to another (this means n-1 hops for n modules in a chain). Depending on the connection situation, 1 to 2 hops are counted in one hub. To count the total number of hops, the longest chain to the data sink must be counted (worst case).
The supply voltage for the modules is looped through FireWire in the configuration shown below (max. 1.5 A through FireWire; for power consumption of one module see specifications in data sheet).
The advantage of this connection structure is the other modules remain active if the Ethernet cable is broken.