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BB-400 Appendices

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller appendices including Ethernet pinout, network ports, support information, and revision history

BB-400 Digital I/O Configuration

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller digital I/O configuration including NPN/PNP selection, input modes, counter inputs, and output configuration

BB-400 Initial Configuration

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller initial configuration including default settings, Wi-Fi access point connection, Ethernet setup, and web administration interface

BB-400 Installation

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller installation guide including DIN rail mounting, antenna attachment, power connection, and network setup

BB-400 Introduction

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller introduction, key features, intended applications, and package contents

BB-400 Networking Page

The BB-400 has a host of different network capabilities, with 2 Ethernet ports, 2 wireless networks and Bluetooth connectivity. There needs to be a clear, well orientated and smooth interface from which to access, configure and monitor these features. Using the online interface, under the network tab, the user can monitor, view and configure different networking aspects of the device. Below, you can find an in-depth look into each of the different features of the networking tab.

BB-400 Physical Overview

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller front panel layout, LED indicators, terminal block connections, and wire specifications

BB-400 Power Up Process

With the BB-400’s specifically designed power management system or PMU, the device has a particular power up process which is performed in order to maintain the devices operability.

BB-400 Safety Information

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller safety guidelines including electrical safety, environmental considerations, and installation requirements

BB-400 Serial Port Configuration

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller serial port configuration including RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 modes, hardware jumpers, and software settings

BB-400 System Administration

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller system administration including CLI commands, factory reset, firmware backup, and flashing procedures

BB-400 Technical Specifications

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller complete technical specifications including processor, power, I/O, connectivity, and environmental ratings

BB-400 Troubleshooting

BB-400 NeuronEdge Controller troubleshooting guide for power, network, I/O, and serial port issues

How do I configure the BB-400's Serial Port Jumpers?

The BB-400 features a fully configurable serial port, capable of being set to use any of the serial communication protocols ( RS232, RS422 and RS485 ). In addition to this, the serial port is also capable of accepting many of the most common baud rates, the minimum being 300 and the maximum 921,600.

How do I connect my BB-400 to Amazon Web Services?

Cloud computing is the process by which information can be sent over the internet using a variety of different “pay-as-you-go” services. The BB-400 has several cloud services integrated, and this FAQ will explore one of these options What cloud services are available on the BB-400? NB: This FAQ was written using a BB-400 running Debian GNU/Linux 10 (Buster) and assumes a basic understanding of Node-Red.

How do I connect my BB-400 to Azure?

Cloud computing is the process by which information can be sent over the Internet using a variety of different "pay-as-you-go" services. The BB-400 has a number of cloud services integrated, and this FAQ will explore one of these options: Azure. For more information regarding the other cloud services please refer to the FAQ What Cloud services are available on the BB-400?

How do I connect my BB-400 to FRED?

Cloud computing is the process by which information can be sent back and forth over the Internet using a variety of different "pay-as-you-go" cloud services. The BB-400 is compatible with a number of cloud services, and this FAQ will explore one of these options: FRED.

How do I connect my BB-400 to IBM Cloud?

Cloud computing is the process by which information can be sent over the internet using a variety of different "pay-as-you-go" services. The BB-400 has a number of cloud services integrated, and this FAQ will explore one of these options: IBM Cloud.

How do I flash a BB-400 with the default image?

This FAQ describes the process of reflashing your BB-400 with the default software image, including the operating system and all default packages, which ships with the device. Typically you will use this image in 1 of two situations:

How do I implement PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) functionality on the BB-400?

The BB-400 uses an Arduino based on the Atmel ATMEGA32U4-MU 8-bit microcontroller to implement it's Digital IO functionality. The controller uses an external 16MHz crystal for clock generation and can be re-programmed with custom firmware to use other peripheral functions that are mapped to some of the same Digital IO pins. The BB-400 comes with the default DIO functionality which uses 8 pins of the microcontroller as general digital input and another 8 pins as general digital output (configured as open-drain on the PCB). The pins used for digital output also have alternate Output Compare functions which can be used for other purposes.

How do I mount the BB-400 to a PC?

The BB-400 has a mini-USB connection port integrated onto the device, which is primarily used for editing the device's YAML file. This is a key feature as it allows the user to edit the devices configuration settings without turning the device on. It should be noted that the device should never be turned on when performing this process.

How do I reprogram the Arduino on the BB-400?

The 8 Input/Output (IO) lines on the BB-400 are controlled by an Arduino micro controller chip (ATMEGA16U4). By default, the BB-400 ships with a programmed Arduino and a server on the Raspberry Compute module, which allows for various communication protocols. However, there may be situations where you may wish to add new functionality to the Arduino. This FAQ will describe how to reprogram the Arduino, with your custom code.

How do I send serial data from the BB-400 to the cloud?

This FAQ will explain how you can use Node-RED to send serial data from the BB-400 to the Cloud. This FAQ will assume you have a basic understanding of Node-RED so if you require further information regarding Node-RED please refer to the following FAQ.

How do I set up Push Notifications on the BB-400?

This FAQ gives examples with different methods for a user to use push notifications. Push notifications are simple notifications which a user can setup for when a specific event has happened. An example of this would be, if one of the BB-400 inputs signal high, immediately send a notification via email.

How does the BB-400 manage power using the Power Management Unit (PMU)?

The BB-400 has a sophisticated power management system, designed to perform a number of different functions primarily to prevent the Raspberry Pi Compute Module from being corrupted in the event of an external power failure. Including: a Power Management Unit (PMU), a Dual Power Supply (DPS) and a secondary Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), the BB-400 can quickly supply internal back-up power for a limited time after external power failure in order to allow a controlled shut-down of the device.

Using ModbusTCP with Node-Red to control IO

This FAQ will explain how Modbus TCP can be used with Node-RED to control the IO lines. Node-RED can be used on a PC or alternatively you can access a Node-RED instance on your BB-400.

Using REST in Node-RED to Control IO

This FAQ will describe how to use REST to control the IO lines using Node-RED. For more information on Node-RED please refer to the Node-RED FAQ , and for more information on WebSockets there is a Brainboxes FAQ What is the REST Protocol?

What are the 'Heat Sink' capabilities of the BB-400?

The BB-400 uses the latest Raspberry Pi Compute Module CM3+ with 32GB of on-board non-volatile storage. This version of the Compute Module features a small metal heat sink cover that sits atop the Broadcom SoC. Previous versions have not had this metal heat sink and have operated at higher processor temperatures as a result. Brainboxes have extended this heat sinking capability even further by adding a larger heat sink which is in direct thermal contact with the CM3+ metal cover.

What do the BB-400's LEDs mean?

There are a range of LEDs on the front of the BB-400 device, each providing a physical indication of the state the device is in. This FAQ describes each LED and its corresponding states.

What does the Reset button on my BB-400 do?

The BB-400 IoT controller has a button labelled "RESET" on the front of the device. The button has two functions: a hard reboot and a factory reset. Note that to use these functions, you must have the BB-PMU package installed, version 2.1.0 or higher.

What is 'Edge Computing'?

Edge computing is a computer model in which computer tasks and operations are largely performed at the "edge" of a network on distributed 'nodes'. A node is a device located on the network which performs actions or tasks requested of it, most commonly a server or similar device running a resource program or software package.

What is BB-CLI?

BB-CLI is the Brainboxes Command Line Interface, a tool that helps to configure BB-400 settings.

What networking options are available on the BB-400?

The BB-400 has a host of different network capabilities, with 2 Ethernet ports, 2 wireless networks and Bluetooth connectivity. There needs to be a clear, well orientated and smooth interface from which to access, configure and monitor these features. Using the online interface, under the network tab, the user can monitor, view and configure different networking aspects of the device. Below, you can find an in-depth look into each of the different features of the networking tab:

What Physical Ports are on the BB-400?

The BB-400 has an array of ports built onto the device which allow it to perform all of the necessary functions required to operate in the next generation factory environment. There are 4 independent Ethernet networks, 2 physical connections via Ethernet but also 2 wireless network connections and 4 number and colour coded terminal blocks. The specification of each port is outlined below.

What software is pre-installed on my BB-400?

Brainboxes BB-400 is a Raspberry Pi-based Industrial Controller. By default, the device comes pre-loaded with a Raspbian Lite distribution, and a number of packages added and maintained by Brainboxes to bring extra areas of functionality. For example, a web administration interface to perform actions on the BB-400, and Brainboxes' CLI tool to modify settings through the terminal. Node-RED with example flows for doing typical monitoring and control tasks, and an IO server to allow IO on the BB-400 to be controlled over the network.