KongsbergRCU 501 Remote Controller Unit

RCU501 is a high performance, general purpose, real-time process control computer for use in a 

wide variety of system applications in both on- and offshore installations. The processor core is 

an embedded Power PC™ architecture and the module is approved for Ex Zone 2 applications.

Application types

• Dynamic Positioning Systems

• Thruster Control / Steering Systems

• Navigation Sensor Integrator

• Integrated Process Control Systems

• Alarm and monitoring Systems

• Safety Systems

Function

• Dual ethernet LAN process networks

• Dual RedundancyNet interface for 

redundant RCU confi guration

• Dual Remote IO process BUS (RBUS) 

• 4 general purpose Digital Input channels

• 4 general purpose Digital Output 

channels

• 32 serial lines for 3rd party interface

• 2 PROFIBUS channels for 3rd party 

interface

• 2 CANBUS channels for 3rd party 

interface

Feature

• Single unit topology: SIL 1 compliant

• Dual unit topology: SIL 2 and SIL 3 

compliant

• Triple unit topology

• Ex Zone 2 approved

• Compliant to the following protocols:

1. Modbus (Serial and TCP)

2. NMEA 0183

3. PROFIBUS/PROFIsafe 

4. CAN/DeviceNet

• 3rd party vendor specifi c protocols are 

available upon request

• Power:

1. Redundant power input with power 

alarm monitoring

2. Inrush current and over-voltage 

protection

• Enhanced watchdog with fail-safe 

function and system status output

Benefi ts

The following built-in functions 

minimize system downtime:

• Extended Built-in Self- Test (BIST) 

for computer diagnostics and fault 

identifi cation during start-up and runtime

• Prepared for online remote diagnostics

• Prepared for online fi rmware upgrade 

• Bootable from fi le server or local fl ash 

memory

• Easy installation and replacement

1. DIN Rail mounting

2. All connections are pluggable

3. 3 digit address switches

• Hot swap in redundant applications,

dual and triple Hot-Standby redundancy, 

1oo2 redundancy 

• Status LED indication (Normal/Error)

• RoHS compliant

Computer performance

• RCU501 performance is application 

dependant and governed by process 

complexity, updating frequency and 

number of interfaced I/O. Maximum 

updating frequency is 50 Hz.

• Confi guration guidelines:

1. ESD/PSD: max. 800 I/O, 

F&G: max. 700 I/O 

both at scan rate: 1 Hz

2. Process/ Automation: 

max. 2000 I/O, 

design advice: 1280 I/O 

both at scan rate: 1 Hz

3. Anti-surge: 3 loops, Scan rate: 50 Hz

4. Dynamic Positioning: Triple 

redundant DP system combined 

with Position Mooring. (Scan rate 

is adapted to signal processing and 

varies from 1 to 10 Hz).

KM article number

RCU501: 603439

Standards

RCU501 complies with the following:

• IACS E10

• IEC 60533

• IEC 60945

• IEC 61508

• IEC 62061

Type approval

RCU501 is type approved by:

• Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 

• The American Bureau of Shipping 

(ABS) 

• TÜV Rheinland

• Wurldtech™; Achilles level 1 

certifi ed

CE marking

CE mark compliant, confi rm to:

• 2004/108/EC (EMC directive)

• 94/9/EC (Atex directive)

Ex certifi cation

Ex nA II T4 (Zone 2)

Environmental 

specifi cations

Ambient temperatures and humidity:

• Temp. Operation: -15˚C to 70˚C

• Temp. Storage: -25˚C to 70˚C

• Humidity Operation: Up to 98% RH

• Humidity Storage: Up to 98% RH

Protection Standards: IP 20

Dimensions

Height: 355 mm

Width: 158 mm

Depth: 87 mm

Weight: 1.35 kg

Cross point screw lock on DIN Rail T35 

7.5/15 according to EN 50022

Electrical

Input supply voltage: 24 VDC 

(+30%, -25%)

Nominal current consumption: ≈ 0.8 A

Start-up current: Max. 2.7 A

Power consumption: Max. 20 W

Heat dissipation: Max. 20 W

Power connectors: 

• Screw terminals (slotted) 

• Cable cross section: 2.5 mm²

Processor and memory

Processor:

• Type: Power PCTM host processor 

MPC8245

• Clock frequency: 400 MHz

Memory:

• RAM size and speed: 64 MB @ 133 

MHz

• PROM: 16 MB application fl ash-fi le

Serial line

Channels: 32 insulated serial lines, 

distributed on 8 RJ45 connectors

Physical layer: RS232, RS422 and 

RS485 Multidrop via RSER200

Bit rate: Max. 115 kb/s

General purpose I/O 

channels

Digital Output (DO): 

• 4 x opto-isolated outputs

• 1 x opto-isolated watchdog (for 

external interface)

Digital Input (DI): 4 x opto-isolated 

inputs

I/O connectors: 

• Cage clamps 

• Cable cross section: 1 mm²

LAN interface

Process network & RedundancyNet: 

2 x RJ45 Ethernet IEEE 802.3 type 

10BASE-T/100BASE-TX

RBUS interface

Connector: 2 x RJ45

Bit-rate: 2 Mb/s

Signal code: Manchester encoded 

(Self-clocked)

Copper wire topology:

• Insulation: 500 V (Optocoupler)

• Physical layer: RS485 Multidrop

• Cable attenuation: < 6.5 db/100m @ 

10 MHz (CAT 5)

• Cable length: Max. 200 m between 

repeaters. Max. 3 repeaters

Fibre optical topology (w/ additional 

fi bre media converter):

• Fibre cable: 62.5/125 μm. Multimodus

• Connector: ST

• Cable length: Max. 1000 m (point to 

point). 500 m if used in patch-panel 

topology

Field interface

CAN interface: 

• 2 x CANopen/DeviceNet @ 5 pole 

cage clamp terminals. 2.5 mm² cable

• Bit rate: Max. 1 Mb/s. (DeviceNet not 

defi ned above 500 kb/s)