UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual
Version 4.1, February 2024

www.moxa.com/products© 2024 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual
The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordancewith the terms of that agreement.

Copyright Notice© 2024 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.

Trademarks
The MOXA logo is a registered trademark of Moxa Inc.
All other trademarks or registered marks in this manual belong to their respective manufacturers.

Disclaimer
•
•

•

•

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment
on the part of Moxa.
Moxa provides this document as is, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including,but not limited to, its particular purpose. Moxa reserves the right to make improvements and/orchanges to this manual, or to the products and/or the programs described in this manual, at any time.
Information provided in this manual is intended to be accurate and reliable. However, Moxa assumes noresponsibility for its use, or for any infringements on the rights of third parties that may result from its
use.
This product might include unintentional technical or typographical errors. Changes are periodicallymade to the information herein to correct such errors, and these changes are incorporated into new
editions of the publication.

Technical Support Contact Informationwww.moxa.com/support

Table of Contents
1.

Introduction .........................................................................................................................................4
Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Model Descriptions ................................................................................................................................. 4
Package Checklist .................................................................................................................................. 4
Hardware Specifications ......................................................................................................................... 4

2.

Hardware Block Diagram ........................................................................................................................ 5
Hardware Introduction .........................................................................................................................6
Appearance........................................................................................................................................... 6
LED Indicators ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Default Programmable Button Operations ................................................................................................. 8
Diagnosing Device and Subsystem Failures........................................................................................ 9
Reset to Default Button .......................................................................................................................... 9
Real Time Clock ................................................................................................................................... 10
Placement Options ............................................................................................................................... 10
DIN-rail Mounting ......................................................................................................................... 10

3.

Wall or Cabinet Mounting .............................................................................................................. 10
Hardware Connection Description ......................................................................................................12
Wiring Requirements ............................................................................................................................ 12
Connecting the Power ................................................................................................................... 13
Grounding the Unit ....................................................................................................................... 13
Connecting to the Console Port .............................................................................................................. 14
Connecting to the Network.................................................................................................................... 14
Connecting to a Serial Device ................................................................................................................ 14
Inserting the SD and SIM Card .............................................................................................................. 15
USB Port............................................................................................................................................. 15
Installing the Cellular Module ................................................................................................................ 16A.

Adjusting the DIP Switches ................................................................................................................... 19
Regulatory Approval Statements ........................................................................................................20

1. Introduction

The UC-8100 series computing platform is designed for embedded data acquisition applications. The
computer comes with one or two RS- 232/422/485 serial ports and dual 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN ports,
as well as a Mini PCIe socket to support cellular modules. These versatile communication capabilities let
users efficiently adapt the UC-8100 computers to a variety of complex communications solutions.

Overview
The UC-8100 Series is built around an Armv7 Cortex-A8 RISC processor that has been optimized for use inenergy monitoring systems but is widely applicable to a variety of industrial solutions. With flexible
interfacing options this tiny, embedded computer is a reliable and secure gateway for data acquisition andprocessing at field sites as well as a useful communication platform for many other large-scale deployments.

Model Descriptions
The UC-8100 Series includes the following models:•

UC-8131-LX: RISC-based platform with 300 MHz CPU, 2 Ethernet ports, 1 serial port, 8 GB eMMC, SD
socket, USB port, and Moxa Industrial Linux pre-installed•

UC-8132-LX: RISC-based platform with 300 MHz CPU, Mini PCIe socket for cellular/Wi-Fi module, 2
Ethernet ports, 2 serial ports, 8 GB eMMC, SD socket, USB port, and Moxa Industrial Linux pre-installed•

UC-8162-LX: RISC-based platform with 600 MHz CPU, Mini PCIe socket for cellular/Wi-Fi module, 2
Ethernet ports, 2 serial ports, 8 GB eMMC, SD socket, USB port, and Moxa Industrial Linux pre-installed•

UC-8112-LX: RISC-based platform with 1 GHz CPU, Mini PCIe socket for cellular/Wi-Fi module, 2
Ethernet ports, 2 serial ports, 8 GB eMMC, SD socket, USB port, and Moxa Industrial Linux pre-installed

Package Checklist
Before deploying the UC-8100 computer, verify that the package contains the following items:•

UC-8100 embedded computer•

Console cable•

Power jack•3-pin terminal block for power (Pre-installed on the UC-8100)•

5-pin terminal block for UART x 2 (Pre-installed on the UC-8100)

NOTE
Notify your sales representative if any of the above items are missing or damaged.

Hardware Specifications
NOTE
The latest specifications for Moxa’s products can be found at https://www.moxa.com.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual4Hardware Block Diagram

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual52. Hardware Introduction

The UC-8100 Series of embedded computers are compact and rugged, making them suitable for industrial
applications. The LED indicators allow users to monitor performance and identify trouble spots quickly, andthe multiple ports can be used to connect a variety of devices. The UC-8100 Series comes with a reliable
and stable hardware platform that lets you devote the bulk of your time to application development. In thischapter, we provide basic information about the embedded computer’s hardware and its various
components.

Appearance
Front View

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual6Top & Bottom Views
Top

BottomDimensions [units: mm (in)]UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual7

LED Indicators
Refer to the following table for information about each LED.
LED Name

Color

USB

Green

SD

Green

Power

Diagnosis
Programmable

Steady On

SD Card inserted and working normallyOff

SD Card is not detected

Power is on and the computer is working normally.

Off

Off

Power is off.
Steady On
100 Mbps Ethernet link
Blinking
Data transmitting
Steady On
10 Mbps Ethernet link
Blinking
Data transmitting
Ethernet is not connected
Number of glowing LEDs indicates signal strength
3 (Green + Yellow + Red): Excellent
2 (Yellow + Red) : Good
1 (Red) : Poor
Wireless module is not detected

Green
YellowRed

Refer to the section Chapter 3 in Hardware Manual for details.
These 3 LEDs are programmable; refer to Chapter 5 in Hardware
Manual for details.

Yellow
Off

Wireless Signal
Strength

USB device is connected and working normally
USB device is not connected.

Green

Green
LAN1/2 (On RJ45
connector)

Function
Steady On
Off

Green
Yellow
Red

Default Programmable Button Operations
The push button is used to diagnose device failure or to perform firmware restoration. After depressing the
button, release it at the appropriate time to enter the desired mode to either diagnose your device orrestore your device to the default configuration. See below for detailed instructions.
ButtonRelease the button during

pressedthis time to diagnose0

Release the button during thistime to perform restoration

device failure

RED LEDGREEN LED

RED LEDGREEN LED

Blinking

On

Blinking

On

2

4

7

NO ACTION
8Time (s)The LED indicators behave differently when diagnosing a device failure compared to performing a firmware
restoration. See the following table for details.
StatusExecuting diagnostics program
Resetting to default configuration

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual

Red LED
Blinking
Blinking

Yellow LED
Off
BlinkingGreen LED
On
On

8

Diagnosing Device and Subsystem Failures
The red LED will start blinking once you press the push button. Keep the button pressed until the green LED
is lit for the first time and then release the button to enter diagnostic mode to check which peripherals areavailable on the UC-8100-LX. When the diagnostic program is executing, the red LED will be blinking.
StatusDiagnostics program is executing

Red LED
Blinking

Yellow LED
OffGreen LEDOn

The following two tables describe the diagnostics results related to hardware defects and system operation.

Hardware Defects
If you observe any of these hardware issues, contact Moxa for further instructions.
StatusUART1 device issue
UART2 device issue(except UC-8131)
LAN 1 device issue
LAN 2 device issue
Button device issue
TPM device issue
LED device issue

Red LEDOn

Yellow LED
On

Green LED
Off

On

On

Blinking

On
On
On
On
On

Off
Off
Blinking
Blinking
Off

Off
Blinking
Off
Blinking
Off

System Operation
If you observe any of the following issues, check the item indicated by the LEDs.
StatusCPU usage (over 90%)
RAM usage (over 90%)
Disk usage (over 90%)
File system corrupted

Red LED
Blinking
Off
Off
Blinking

Yellow LED
On
On
On
On

Green LED
OffOff
Blinking
Blinking

Reset to Default Button
Press and hold the Reset Button continuously for at least 5 seconds to load the factory default
configuration. After the factory default configuration has been loaded, the system will reboot
automatically. The Power LED will blink on and off for the first 5 seconds, and then maintain a steady glow
once the system has rebooted.
We recommend that you only use this function if the software is not working properly, and you want to loadfactory default settings. The Reset to Default functionality is not designed to hard reboot the UC-8100.

ATTENTION
Reset to Default preserves user’s data
The Reset to Default function will NOT format the user directory and erase the user’s data. Using theReset to default function will only load the configuration file. The rest of the user’s data stored in the FlashROM will remain intact.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual9Real Time Clock
The UC-8100’s real time clock is powered by a non-rechargeable battery. When the computer is not plugged
into a power supply, the battery has an estimated life of around 1 year. When the computer is plugged into
the power supply, the standby current source will be switched to the power supply. We strongly recommendthat you do not replace the battery without help from a qualified Moxa support engineer. If you need tochange the battery, contact the Moxa RMA service team.

WARNING
There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type.

Placement Options
There are two sliders on the back of the unit for DIN-rail and wall mounting.

DIN-rail Mounting
Pull out the bottom slider, latch the unit onto a DIN rail, and push the slider back in.

Wall or Cabinet Mounting
Pull out both the top and bottom slides and align the screws accordingly.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual10Another method for wall mounting installation is to use the optional wall mounting kit. Attach two mounting
brackets on the side panel of the computer and fasten with screws. Install the computer on a wall or cabinet
by fastening two screws for each bracket.

NOTE
Before tightening the screws into the wall, make sure the screw head and shank size are suitable byinserting the screw into one of the keyhole-shaped apertures of the wall mounting plates.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual113. Hardware Connection Description

This section describes how to connect the UC-8100 to a network and various devices for first time testing
purposes.

Wiring Requirements
In this section, we describe how to connect various devices to the embedded computer. You should heed
the following common safety precautions before proceeding with the installation of any electronic device:•

Use separate paths to route wiring for power and devices. If power wiring and device wiring paths mustcross, make sure the wires are perpendicular at the intersection point.

NOTE
Do not run signal or communication wiring and power wiring in the same wire conduit. To avoid
interference, wires with different signal characteristics should be routed separately.
•

You can use the type of signal transmitted through a wire to determine which wires should be kept
separate. The rule of thumb is that wiring that shares similar electrical characteristics can be bundled
together.

•

Keep input wiring and output wiring separate.

•

When necessary, it is strongly advised that you label wiring to all devices in the system.

ATTENTION
Safety First!
Be sure to disconnect the power cord before doing installations and/or wiring.
Electrical Current Caution!
Calculate the maximum possible current in each power wire and common wire. Observe all electrical codes
dictating the maximum current allowable for each wire size.
If the current goes above the maximum ratings, the wiring could overheat, causing serious damage toyour equipment.
Temperature Caution!
Be careful when handling the unit. When the unit is plugged in, the internal components generate heat,and consequently the outer casing may feel hot to the touch.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual12Connecting the Power
Terminal Block
The UC-8100 has a 3-pin terminal block for a 12 to 24 VDC power input.
The figure shows how the power input interface connects to external power sources. If thepower is properly supplied, the Power LED will light up. The Power LED will glow a solid
green color when the operating system is ready (it may take 30 to 60 seconds for theoperating system to boot up).

ATTENTION
The power for this product is intended to be supplied by a Listed Power Supply Unit that is rated to deliver
12 to 24 VDC at a minimum of 450 mA @ 12 VDC, and 225 mA @ 24 VDC.

Grounding the Unit
Grounding and wire routing help limit the effects of noise due to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Run
the ground connection from the ground screw to the grounding surface prior to connecting devices.

ATTENTION
This product is intended to be mounted to a well-grounded mounting surface, such as a metal panel.

SG: The Shielded Ground (sometimes called Protected Ground) contact is the bottom
contact of the 3-pin power terminal block connector when viewed from the angle
shown here. Connect the SG wire to an appropriate grounded metal surface.

ATTENTION
A shielded power cord is required to meet FCC emission limits and also to prevent interference with nearby
radio and television receptions. It is essential that only the supplied power cord be used.
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible forcompliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual13Connecting to the Console Port
The UC-8100’s console port is a 4-pin pin-header RS-232 port located on the top panel of the case. It is
designed for serial console terminals, which are useful for identifying the boot up message, or for debugging
when the system cannot boot up.
Serial Console Port & Pinouts
Pin
1
2
3
4

Serial Console Cable

Signal
TxD
RxD
NC
GND

Connecting to the Network
Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to one of the UC-8100’s 10/100M Ethernet ports (8-pin RJ45) andthe other end of the cable to the Ethernet network. If the cable is properly connected, the UC-8100 will
indicate a valid connection to the Ethernet in the following ways:
The LED indicator in the lower right corner glows a solid green
color when the cable is properly connected to a 100 Mbps Ethernet
network. The LED will flash on and off when Ethernet packets arebeing transmitted or received.
The LED indicator in the upper right corner glows a solid orange
color when the cable is properly connected to a 10 Mbps Ethernet
network. The LED will flash on and off when Ethernet packets arebeing transmitted or received.

Pin
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

SignalETx+
ETxERx+––ERx––

Connecting to a Serial Device
Use properly wired serial cables to connect the UC-8100 to serial devices. The serial ports of the UC-8100
use the 5-pin terminal block. The ports can be configured by software for RS-232, RS-422, or 2-wire RS485. The precise pin assignments are shown in the following table:
Terminal Block

RS-232/422/485 Pinouts
Pin
1
2
3
4
5

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual

RS-232
TXD
RXD
RTS
CTS
GND

RS-422TXD+
TXDRXD+RXDGND

RS-485
–
–
D+
DGND

14

Inserting the SD and SIM Card
The UC-8100 comes with an SD socket for storage expansion, and a SIM card socket that can be installedwith a SIM card for cellular communication. The SD card/SIM card sockets are located on the lower part of
the front panel. To install them, remove the screw and the protection cover to access the socket, and thenplug the SD card and the SIM card into the sockets directly. Remember to push in on the SD card or SIM
card first if you want to remove them.

ATTENTIONThe UC-8100 does not support SD hot swap and PnP (Plug and Play) functionality. It is necessary to
remove power source first before inserting or removing the SD card.

USB Port
The UC-8100 provides 1 USB 2.0 full speed port (OHCI), type A connector, which supports a keyboard ormouse, as well as an external flash disk for storing large amounts of data.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual

15Installing the Cellular Module
The UC-8100 provides a Mini PCIe socket for installing a cellular module. The cellular module package
includes the following items.

Follow these steps to install the cellular module.
1.

Unfasten the screws on the side panel of thecomputer and remove the cover.

2.

Find the location of the PCIe socket.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual

16

3.

Remove the plastic plate and the sticker on bothsides of the large thermal pad and place it in
the socket. Press the thermal pad down so thatit sticks to the base of the socket.
Place the thermal pad as close as possible to theholes for the screws used to secure the module.

4.

Insert the cellular module into the socket andtighten the screws to secure the module to thesocket.

5.

Remove the plastic plate and the sticker on bothside of the small thermal pad and stick thethermal pad on to the module.

6.

Install the antenna cables.
There are three antenna connectors on themodule; two for cellular antennas and one for a
GPS antenna. Refer to the figure for details. As
there are only two antenna connector holes on
the front panel of the computer, you can only
use two antennas at a time. You may use two
cellular antennas, or a cellular antenna and a
GPS antenna. The same antenna cables can beused for both antenna types.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual

17

7.

Connect one end of the antenna cable to thecellular module.

8.

Insert the other end of the cable, with theconnector, through the antenna connector holeon the front panel of the computer. Remove theblack plastic protection cover on the connector
hole before you insert the antenna wire.

9.

Insert the locking washer through the connector
and press it against the cover of the computer.
Then, insert the nut and tighten it to secure theconnector to the cover.

10.
11.

Connect the antenna to the antenna connector.
Replace the cover of the computer.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual18Adjusting the DIP Switches
The UC-8112, UC-8131, UC-8132, and UC-8162 models come with DIP switches, which can be used toadjust the serial port parameters. To set up the DIP switches, do the following:
1.

Remove the two screws on the rear
panel of the computer.

2.

Remove the thin film on the DIP
switches and adjust the settings as
required.
Refer to the table below for details.

SwitchFunctionONOFF

1
Pull-low Resistor
1 kΩ
150 kΩ*2
Pull-high Resistor
1 kΩ
150 kΩ*3
Terminator
120 Ω
–*

4
–
–
–

*Default

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual19

A. Regulatory Approval Statements

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Class A: FCC Warning! This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Thisequipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used inaccordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case theusers will be required to correct the interference at their own expense.

European Community

WARNING
This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference in whichcase the user may be required to take adequate measures.

UC-8100 Series Hardware User Manual20