Allen-Bradley 1786-RPFRXL ControlNet Fiber Optic Ring Repeater Module

The Allen-Bradley 1786-RPFRXL, also cataloged as the 1786-RPFRXL ControlNet Fiber Optic Ring Repeater Module, operates as a dedicated hardware component for optical signal conversion and long-distance media propagation within ControlNet communication networks.

Hardware Specifications

Backplane Bus Communication Velocity and Fiber Optic Signal Conversion

The 1786-RPFRXL repeater module converts electrical ControlNet signals into high-speed optical pulses, maintaining deterministic backplane bus communication velocity across extended network topologies. Supporting transmission distances up to 20000 m via 62.5/125 um multi-mode or 9/125 um single-mode fiber optic cabling, the dual-channel optical architecture allows ring network fault tolerance. Internal signal regeneration and re-timing circuits prevent jitter accumulation and optical attenuation from degrading frame delivery across cascaded repeater links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does removing or replacing a fiber cable on the 1786-RPFRXL interrupt active ControlNet communications on the main ring network?

A: In a redundant ring topology, the 1786-RPFRXL reroutes signal traffic along the secondary fiber pathway upon link disconnection, maintaining continuous communication without dropping active controller nodes.

Q: Can 62.5/125 um multi-mode and 9/125 um single-mode fiber cables be mixed directly on the same 1786-RPFRXL module channels?

A: No. Transceiver optics must match the specific fiber cable core profile (multi-mode or single-mode) connected to each optic channel pair to prevent optical power mismatch and signal loss.

Field Installation Guidelines

1. Mount the repeater module onto a 35 mm DIN rail inside a protective metal enclosure, ensuring the DIN-rail grounding clip secures tightly.
2. Connect primary and secondary fiber optic cable pairs to the dual fiber ports, observing transmit (TX) and receive (RX) polarity standards.
3. Clean all fiber optic ST/SC connectors using lint-free optic wipes before seating them into the module optical transceivers.
4. Verify that total optical link attenuation stays within the module's decibel power budget across the 20000 m maximum distance run.
5. Keep fiber cable bend radii above the manufacturer's minimum specification to prevent macro-bending optical losses.