Installation and

Operation Guide

KMD–5576
USB Communicator

Contents
Introduction ................................................................. 3
Specifications ............................................................... 3
Connecting to a KMC digital network ........................... 5
Installing drivers ........................................................... 6
Changing COM port numbers .................................... 13
Uninstalling ............................................................... 14

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Important notices
The KMC logo and WinControl are trademarks of KMC Controls, Inc.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP are trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.

©2003, KMC Controls, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form by any means without the written
permission of KMC Controls, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.

Disclaimer
The material in this manual is for information purposes only. The
contents and the product it describes are subject to change without
notice. KMC Controls, Inc. makes no representations or warranties
with respect to this manual. In no event shall KMC Controls, Inc. be
liable for any damages, direct or incidental, arising out of or related to
the use of this manual.

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KMD–5576 Installation and Operation

Introduction
The Universal Serial Bus port is replacing the once common RS–232
serial port. The traditional COM port is now part of a Legacy Removal
program in the computer industry. To replace the serial port as a
network connection method, KMC Controls developed the
KMD–5576 USB communicator. The KMD–5576 is a USB to RS-485
converter that directly connects a computer USB port to a KMC Tier 2
digital network.

Specifications

USB compliance USB 2.0

Optical Isolation Up to 2.5 kilovolts between the USB

and RS–485 ports.

Operating system Windows 2000, Windows XP

Package contents KMD–5576 USB to RS–485 converter

USB A/B cable
KMD–5624 cable
RJ–11 to RJ–11 four-conductor cable
CD with drivers

Power supply No external power source is required.

KMD–5576 draws power from the USB
port and Tier 2 device.

Indicators Green, USB transmit and receive LEDs.

Construction Black, ABS plastic. UL Flame class

94HB

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Dimensions
A C

Table 1 KMD–5576 Dimensions

A B C
3.0 in. 2.25 in. 1.12 in
7.6 cm 5.7 cm 2.9 cm

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Connecting to a KMC digital network

Connect the USB communicator between a computer with a USB port
and a KMC Tier 2 network. The recommended network connection
point is at the RJ–12 NetSensor port on a controller. Connection may
be made either through a Netsensor or directly to the controller. See
the following illustrations for connecting the USB communicator
with and without a Netsensor in the network.
Before using the KMD–5576 the first time, see Installing drivers on
page 6.

A
NETWORK
PC PORT

B
G
1
POWER

EOL
A B

KMDIGITAL

COMM
2
Programmable
~

GROUNDS
Loop
3

ANALOG
-

Controller

4
GROUNDS

READY

1
5
OFF
ON

3 COM. 2
SW.
6
1
2

7
3

4
4

5
USB A/B cable
8

KMD–5624
KMD-5801
5

7 COM. 6
INPUTS

SW.
6
7
8

8
Illustration 1 Connecting through a Netsensor

KMD–5615
A
NETWORK
PC PORT

B
G

1
POWER

EOL
A B

KMDIGITAL
COMM

2
Programmable
~

GROUNDS

Loop
3
ANALOG
-

Controller

4
GROUNDS

READY

5
OFF
ON

3 COM. 2
SW.

6
1
2

7
3

4
4

USB A/B cable

KMD-5801 8
5

7 COM. 6
INPUTS

SW.
6
7
8

Illustration 2 Connecting directly to a controller.

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Installing drivers
Before using the USB communicator for the first time, drivers must be
installed on the computer. This is an automated process that requires
the KMD–5576 to be plugged into the computer and the supplied
driver CD to be in the computer. You do not need to connect the USB
communicator to a KMC digital controller to install the drivers.
Installation for each of the supported operating system is slightly
different. Follow the directions for one of the following operating
systems.
◆ Installing Windows XP drivers on page 6
◆ Installing Windows 2000 drivers on page 10

Installing Windows XP drivers

Plug the KMD–5576 into a USB port. The port may be either a port
located in the computer or a USB hub. Plugging a KMD–5576 into a
USB port starts the Windows Found New Hardware Wizard.
1. Choose Install from a list or specific location and then click Next>.

Illustration 3 Windows XP Found New Hardware Wizard

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2. Choose the following: Search for the best driver in theses locations,
Search removable media and Include this location in the search:
3. Choose Browse and then, on the CD supplied with the
communicator, locate the directory with the Windows 2000
drivers. Click Next when you have located the correct directory.

Note
Windows 2000 and Windows XP use the same drivers.

Illustration 4 Windows XP search options

4. The wizard will begin installing the required files.

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5. Wait until the wizard prompts that the installation is complete

and then click Finish. This completes the driver installation.
Proceed to Verifying installation and COM port number on page 9
before using the USB communicator.

Illustration 5 Wizard has completed installation

Detail
The wizard may or may not prompt you to restart your
computer. If the prompt opens, always restart your
computer before using the USB communicator.

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Verifying installation and COM port number

Once the installation wizard has finished installing drivers, open the
device manager to confirm that the installation was successful and to
verify the COM port number that Windows assigned to the USB
communicator.
1. Open the device manager by choosing Control Panel > System
Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. Then choose Select View
Devices by connection.
2. Click the plus sign (+) next to Ports (COM & LPT) to list all
assigned ports. Windows automatically assigns a port number
to the USB communicator.

COM port
assigned to the
communicator

Illustration 6 Windows XP Device manager

3. Make note of the COM port number for use with WinControl or
other KMC software.

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Installing Windows 2000 drivers

Plug the KMD–5576 into a USB port. The port may be either a port
located in the computer or a USB hub. Plugging a KMD–5576 into a
USB port starts the Windows Found New Hardware Wizard
1. Click Next to start the new hardware wizard.

Illustration 7 Windows 2000 new hardware wizard

2. Choose Search for a suitable driver for my device. Click Next.

Illustration 8 Choosing driver location in Windows 2000

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3. Choose CD-ROM and Specify a location and then click Next.

Illustration 9 Selecting a driver location in Windows 2000

4. Choose Browse and then, on the CD supplied with the
communicator, locate the directory with the Windows 2000
drivers. Click Next when you have located the correct directory.

Illustration 10 Browsing for drivers in Windows 2000

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5. When Windows locates the drivers, choose Next.

Illustration 11 Located drivers in Windows 2000

6. The wizard will begin installing the required files. Wait until the
wizard prompts that the installation is complete and then click
Finish. This will complete the driver installation. Proceed to
Verifying installation and COM port number on page 9 before
using the USB communicator.

Illustration 12 Windows 2000 driver installation complete

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Changing COM port numbers

When the first KMD–5576 is connected to a computer, Windows
assigns the first available port number to it. Windows uses the
electronic serial number in the USB communicator to detect and
record additional KMD–5576 communicators connected to the
computer. As each new communicator is detected, Windows assigns
a new COM port number for the exclusive use of that communicator.
However, the port number can be changed with the Windows Device
Manager.
To change the port number
1. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel and then System.
2. Choose Hardware > Device Manager and then Ports.
3. Select the USB serial port and click Properties.
4. Select the Port Settings tab and click Advanced.
5. Choose the required number in COM Port Number and then
click OK.

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Uninstalling
To uninstall the drivers use the uninstall utility on the driver CD.
1. Insert the CD into the computer and use Windows Explorer to
locate the correct directory for your operating system.
2. Open the directory.
3. Double click the file Ftdiunin.exe. The uninstall process begins
and following dialog box opens.

Illustration 13 Uninstall prompt

4. Unplug the USB communicator, click Continue.
5. When prompted that the uninstall is complete, click Finish.

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 KMC Controls. Inc.
P.O. Box 497
19476 Industrial Drive
New Paris, IN 46553
U.S.A.
TEL: 1.574.831.5250
FAX: 1.574.831.5252
E-mail: info@kmccontrols.com