I/O Expansion

vNet is the shared I/O expansion layer used when supported equipment needs more channels than the base unit provides.

By connecting supported ADAM expansion modules on the vNet bus, an installation can be extended with extra analog inputs, analog outputs, digital inputs, digital outputs, and relay outputs.

Use vNet only when the base equipment I/O is not enough and the installation needs additional field channels.

The first added vNet channel number depends on how many built-in channels of the same type the selected equipment already has.

Start Here

Use these pages as the main entry points for supported modules, commissioning setup, and resulting channel mapping.

I/O expansion modules Configuration I/O mapping

Typical use

Extra digital inputs for level switches, fault inputs, position feedback, and similar signals
Extra digital outputs or relay outputs for alarms, valves, contactors, and similar control tasks
Extra analog inputs for level, pressure, temperature, and other sensor signals
Extra analog outputs for external control signals

What you configure

The modules are connected on an RS485-based bus.
Each required module position is enabled during commissioning.
Only enabled module positions add channels to the system.
Each module position has a fixed vNet node address in the standard layout.
Built-in I/O keeps the first channel numbers, and vNet channels continue after that.

For wiring, topology, and termination guidance, see RS485 serial communication.

Supported module families

The current vNet documentation covers these ADAM modules:

ADAM 4017: 8 analog inputs
ADAM 4024: 4 analog outputs
ADAM 4051: 16 digital inputs
ADAM 4055: 8 digital inputs and 8 digital outputs
ADAM 4056: 12 digital outputs
ADAM 4069: 8 relay outputs

Setup flow

Confirm that the installation needs more I/O than the base equipment provides.
Select the required expansion modules on I/O expansion modules.
Enable the required module positions on Configuration.
Use I/O mapping to verify the resulting channel numbering before the channels are used in the installation logic.