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CPC’s Einstein controllers communicate to their asso-
ciated controlling devices (CC-100s, TD3s, etc.) and other
Einstein controllers using a unique communication and
addressing system called LonWorks, more commonly
called “the Echelon network,” named after Echelon, the
company that created LonWorks. The Echelon network
can be as small as one Einstein controller and a few Eche-
lon-compatible devices (or “nodes”) or as large as many
Einsteins, each with multiple devices.
Wiring for the Echelon network is very specific. All of
the nodes must be wired together using a method called
daisy chaining that connects all Echelon network devices
on a single unbroken loop of wire.
A daisy chain segment can only contain a total of 64
devices, or nodes. If an Echelon network must contain
more than 64 devices, as is usually the case with CC-100,
CS-100, and TD3 installations, one or more repeaters or
routers must be used to extend the capabilities of the net-
work.
Routers and repeaters are simply network devices that
aid in the flow of communication across an Echelon net-
work. They are necessary only when an Echelon network
installation exceeds one or more specifications, such as a
maximum total number of nodes or a maximum wire
length.
Repeaters are devices that receive network signals in
one end and repeat them at a higher strength through the
other end. They are sometimes needed in cases where net-
work wiring lengths are excessively high, but are also
sometimes used for convenience purposes to extend sev-
eral daisy chains from a single Einstein.
Routers are like repeaters, except they are also com-
munications filters. A router only allows messages to pass
through that are specifically addressed to devices on the
other side of the router. All other messages that aren’t
addressed to devices on the other side of the router are
blocked out, thus alleviating the amount of network traffic.
Routers are typically used in networks that have a large
amount of devices.
A network is made up of one or more segments. A
segment is defined as a single daisy chain of 64 nodes or
less that connects Einsteins, CC-100s, TD3s and other
LonWorks devices in a single unbroken chain. Figure 1-1
shows a small daisy chained segment.
A segment may contain one or moresubnets. A subnet
is a group of nodes that includes one Einstein controller
and a number of boards/controllers that are associated with
that Einstein. For example, a subnet for an Einstein RX
controller might consist of an Einstein RX and 12 CC-
100s that are associated with Case Circuit applications in
the Einstein.
Because segments have a limitation of 64 devices or
less, subnets likewise cannot consist of more than 64
devices. Thus, a single segment could be an Einstein and
63 other devices associated with the Einstein.
A node is a single device, either an Einstein, a CC-
100, an ESR8, or other LonWorks devices. Routers are
also considered nodes. A repeater is not generally consid-
ered a node, but repeaters do count towards the 64 device
limit on a segment.
You will need to use a repeater when you have a seg-
ment of 64 nodes or less whose total wire length exceeds
the maximum total wire length specification for the Eche-
lon network cable (4592 feet, or 1400 m). A repeater
allows you to split the segment into two daisy chains, each
of which can be up to 4592 feet in length.
Repeaters can also be useful in cases where it is not
convenient to wireall devices together on a single unbro-
ken daisy chain. A four-channel repeater can be used to
extend several daisy chains from an Einstein, each of
which can be as long as 4592 feet in length.
Figure 1-1 - Small Segment
