Foxboro FEM100 Fieldbus Expansion Module

Product Description

The Foxboro FEM100 is a specialized Fieldbus Expansion Module built for the FCP270 Field Control Processor within the Foxboro I/A Series and Foxboro Evo DCS platforms. It extends system capacity by providing four additional Expanded Fieldbus channels, each capable of supporting up to 32 200-Series Fieldbus Modules (FBMs), allowing a single FEM100 to manage up to 128 FBMs.

Designed for mission-critical environments, the FEM100 supports redundant A/B bus operation, hot-swappable installation, and robust industrial protection. Its rugged extruded aluminum enclosure ensures operation in harsh conditions such as chemical plants, oil & gas facilities, power stations, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. DIN-rail mounting on two-slot (P0973CG) or four-slot (P0973CN) expansion baseplates offers flexible installation options.

Key Features

• Provides four Expanded Fieldbus channels for FCP270

• Supports up to 128 FBMs (32 per channel)

• High-speed 2 Mbps HDLC Fieldbus communication

• Redundant A/B bus operation for reliability

• Hot-swappable design for maintenance without downtime

• DIN-rail mountable on 2-slot or 4-slot expansion baseplates

• Rugged extruded aluminum housing with LED status indicators

• Harsh-environment protection to ISA S71.04 Class G3 standards

Technical Specifications

Functional

• Model: FEM100

• Function: Fieldbus expansion for FCP270

• Expanded Channels: 4

• FBM Capacity: 32 per channel (128 total)

• Communication: 2 Mbps HDLC Fieldbus

• Processor Compatibility: FCP270 only

Electrical

• Input Voltage: 21–26 VDC

• Power Consumption: Maximum 2.2 W

• Hot-Swappable: Yes

Mechanical

• Mounting: DIN-rail

• Baseplate Options: 2-slot (P0973CG) or 4-slot (P0973CN)

• Dimensions: 11.4 cm × 4.46 cm × 10.5 cm

• Weight: 3 kg

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: –20°C to +70°C

• Humidity: 5–95% non-condensing

• Altitude: –300 m to +3,000 m

• Protection: ISA S71.04 Class G3, rugged extruded aluminum

Applications

• Large-scale DCS systems needing expanded I/O capacity

• Oil & gas production and refining

• Chemical and petrochemical plants

• Power generation facilities

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

• Any system requiring high-reliability, redundant Fieldbus communication

FAQ

Q: How many FBMs can a single FEM100 support?
A: Up to 128 FBMs—32 per Expanded Fieldbus channel.

Q: Is the module hot-swappable?
A: Yes, FEM100 can be replaced without removing power from the system.

Q: Which processor is compatible with FEM100?
A: It works exclusively with the FCP270; FCP280 is not supported.

Q: Can FEM100 operate in harsh industrial environments?
A: Yes, it is rated to ISA S71.04 Class G3 for harsh conditions and housed in a rugged extruded aluminum case.