WB-MCM8 hardware pulse counters

Translated reference sections on the WB-MCM8 hardware pulse counter, the alternative mentioned in the WBE2-DI-DR-3 manual.

Purpose

WB-MCM8 is an eight-channel digital and pulse-counter input module for dry-contact and open-collector signals, including buttons and reed switches. It monitors input states and counts activations. It also connects to pulse-output water, electricity and gas meters. Up to three AB quadrature encoders or two ABZ encoders can be connected.

With push buttones, the module recognizes up to four press types and sends press events to the controller over Modbus.

Inputs

The inputs use dry-contact sensing: connecting an input to ignd activates it. The front panel indicates the states of inputs 1–7 and the device status.

When a pulse arrives, the corresponding LED lights, the input-state value changes and the input activation counter increments. All activation counters are 32-bit and stored in the module's non-volatile memory.

Debounce time can be adjusted separately for each input. Pulse-frequency measurement reaches a maximum of 3.1 kHz with debounce time set to 0 ms.

Debouncing

The Debounce time parameter is configurable from 0 to 2,000 ms, with a default of 50 ms.

Contact-closure counters and press counters

Input X counter counts input closures to ground. It is available in all operating modes and is intended for pulse counting and dry-contact signals.

Mapping-matrix mode also provides counters for recognized press types:

• Single Press Counter: one short press.
• Long Press Counter: a long press.
• Double Press Counter: two short presses.
• Shortlong Press Counter: a short press followed by a long press.

These count recognized press types rather than electrical closures. Enable polling of the corresponding channels to use press types in wb-rules.

Counter increments as soon as an input closure passes the configured debounce time. Single Press Counter increments only after a short press has been detected and the wait for a second press has expired. Its delay therefore includes both the short-press duration and the second-press waiting time.

When using Single Press Counter for digital signals, you may need to reduce the second-press waiting time. The manufacturer recommends Input Counter for pulses and reed switches, and the press counters for pushbuttons.

Input X counter values survive loss of power because they are stored in non-volatile memory. Press-counter values are stored in RAM and reset after power loss.