FDC280 RH101FQ Foxboro Field Device Controller

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Basic Information

Manufacturer: Foxboro
Product Family: Foxboro Evo™ Process Automation System
Hardware Part Number: RH101FQ
Function: Distributed, Fault-Tolerant Field Controller & Protocol Gateway
Primary Application: Direct Integration of Ethernet & Serial Field Devices without I/O Modules

Product Description

The FDC280 represents a shift in the Foxboro Evo architecture, eliminating the need for traditional Fieldbus Modules (FBMs) in many applications. It is a dual-core, optionally fault-tolerant controller designed for field mounting. It interfaces directly with plant assets via Ethernet (Modbus TCP, Ethernet/IP) and Serial (Modbus RTU, RS-232/422/485) protocols.

Unlike its sibling the FCP280, the FDC280 does not support the legacy Parallel I/O (PIO) bus. It is purpose-built for the IIoT-ready plant, executing control, data acquisition, and alarm management natively on the same CPU that manages device integration.

Technical Specifications

Application Fields

Wellhead Automation (Oil & Gas):Remote RTU replacement. Connects to Modbus flow computers (Serial) and Ethernet radios (TCP) without requiring a separate FBM cabinet. Class G3 rating handles corrosive wellpad environments.
Packaged Equipment Skids:OEMs can embed the FDC280 directly on the skid. It provides the control(PID, Sequencing) and the gateway to the plant DCS over Ethernet. Reduces footprint vs. a traditional.
Power & Energy Management:Direct interface to Modbus RTU Power Meters (up to 128 devices). Ideal for electrical substation data concentration with time stamping via GPS.
Brownfield I/O Expansion:Adding new smart devices (Coriolis meters, smart MCCs) to an existing Foxboro system without adding new FBM racks. The FDC280 uses the plant LAN as the I/O bus.

Frequently Asked Questions - FDC280 RH101FQ

Q: Can the FDC280 replace my existing FCP270 or FCP280?
A: Not directly. The FDC280 is designed for Ethernet and Serial field devices. It does not support the Parallel I/O (PIO) bus used by standard 200 Series FBMs (e.g., FBM201, FBM237). If your I/O strategy is migrating to Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP field devices, the FDC280 is the correct choice. For traditional analog/hard-wired I/O, the FCP280 is still required.

Q: What is "Self-Hosting Mode"?
A: This is a critical feature for remote field installations. If the connection to the Foxboro Evo Control Network (host workstation) is lost, the FDC280 stores a Checkpoint File in internal flash memory. Upon power cycle, it can boot and run the control strategy autonomously without waiting for the central engineering server. This prevents remote wellheads or pump stations from entering a "safe state" during network outages.

Q: How many Modbus TCP connections can the FDC280 handle?
A: The FDC280 supports 32 concurrent driver instances. This allows for connections to multiple different subnets or multiple versions of the Modbus protocol simultaneously. Within those instances, it supports up to 256 total field devices.

Q: How does Time Strobing work on the FDC280?
A: Unlike older Foxboro I/O, the FDC280 baseplate has dedicated RJ-45 connectors for Time Strobe (Cat 5). This allows direct connection to the time strobe switch without needing external adapters. Time stamping resolution supports a minimum scan time of 10 times per second (100ms BPC) .