Product Description:

The 4PP045.IF10-1 is a serial interface option produced by B&R Automation for the 4PP Power Panels series. Installed in the dedicated PP45 slot, the module equips a panel with point-to-point RS-232 signaling so that sensors, printers, or operator peripherals can be tied directly to the controller portion of the HMI. Within an industrial automation cell, this link handles configuration commands and status feedback without involving complex network stacks.

Physical connection is made through a 9-pin D-Sub plug, matching standard PC-style COM ports and simplifying off-the-shelf cabling. The underlying protocol layer is RS-232, giving single-ended signaling levels that many legacy instruments still use. Data buffering is handled by a 16-byte FIFO in each direction, which helps prevent overruns when the host CPU is busy with screen updates. Flow control relies on the dedicated hardware handshakes RTS and CTS, so transmitted blocks are only sent when the receiver indicates readiness. For fast parameter downloads, the port reaches a peak throughput of 115.2 kbit/s; lower baud rates can also be used when electromagnetic interference or cable length makes them necessary. An input filter is present to suppress noise on the receive line, but the port itself is not galvanically isolated from panel ground.

Maximum cable reach is 15 m at 19.2 kbit/s, a distance chosen to keep signal margins stable when routed beside power conductors in a cabinet. A status LED on the front edge lights orange whenever data is exchanged, giving immediate visual confirmation of activity. Environmental protection is rated at IP20, so the card must be installed inside a closed enclosure. The interface offers 1 serial port, is not network capable, and has no PLC-IF1 isolation, making it a dedicated point-to-point channel for the panel CPU.