The purpose of this application note is to describe the options for using DeltaV Carriers with Virtual IO Modules.

The DeltaV Virtual IO Module (VIM), VIM-4201, will work with DeltaV horizontal or vertical carriers. Please follow the guidelines below for successful carrier selection and installation.

General Guidelines

• The Virtual IO Module will need to be installed in a controller slot of the carrier
• Each Virtual IO Module will require a DeltaV System Power Supply mounted in the power supply slot to the left of the controller slot.
• Virtual IO Modules can be installed the left or the right of the controller but must be installed before the IO carriers.
• The total DeltaV Railbus distance of 6 meters cannot be exceeded. This is the distance that includes all carriers, carrier extenders, and carrier extender cables.

Horizontal 2-Wide Carriers

A Virtual IO Module can be added to simplex or redundant DeltaV controllers by an additional 2-wide carrier to the side of the controller. If redundant VIMs are required, two 2-wide carriers will need to be added. The VIMs can be installed the left or the right of the controller but must be installed before the 8-wide IO carriers.

If space is limited to the side of the controller 2-wide carrier a Horizontal Carrier Extender can be used. Please see the Application Note, Using DeltaV Horizontal Carrier Extenders with Virtual IO Modules, for more information.

Vertical Carriers

The vertical 4-wide carrier only has slots for two controllers. Newer VerticalPlus Carriers offer carrier extenders allowing additional controller carriers to be connected.  If the vertical carrier is not a VerticalPlus carrier a VIM can be installed only if the controller is simplex.

One of the enhancements with the DeltaV VerticalPlus Carriers is the ability to connect two controller carriers, allowing the use of DeltaV Virtual IO Module network gateways with redundant DeltaV controllers. A sample configuration is shown below. Please refer to the DeltaV Installation and Planning guide for all VerticalPlus carrier options.

VerticalPlus Carrier and Extender Bill of Materials

DeltaV Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO

The DeltaV Controller for PROVOX and RS3 IO Carriers both have slots for only two controllers. If redundant controllers are installed and the user would like to also use a Virtual IO Module,  a Horizontal Carrier Extender can be used. Please see the Application Note, Using DeltaV Horizontal Carrier Extenders with Virtual IO Modules, for more information.