Serial Communication Option Boards
Serial Communication Option Boards for Laurel Meters & Counters
Key Features
- Communication boards available for RS232, RS485, USB, Ethernet
- Usable in all 1/8 DIN size Laureate DPMs, counters, timers & remote displays
- All boards fully support Modbus and Laurel Custom ASCII protocols
- User-selectable baud rates to 19,200
- Converter boards connect a USB or Ethernet line to RS485 bus with up to 31 meters
- Powered by instrument
- Isolated from meter and power grounds
Description
If the primary objective is to program a meter directly from a PC using Instrument Setup Software, an RS232 or USB interface board is recommended, depending on the available PC port. Once the meter has been programmed, the interface board can be removed if no longer needed.
If the objective is to connect a network of meters to a PC, our USB 2.0-to-RS485 converter board can be used. That board can be connected to a PC via a USB port, and also act as the server for up to 31 meters on an RS485 bus via an RJ11 connector. The remote meters must be equipped with Laurel's RS485 interface board. That board features dual RJ11 connectors for RS485 daisy-chaining using commercial 6-wire RJ11 data cables, with no need for a hub.
If the objective is to connect meters to an existing Modbus RS485 bus, either of two RS485 interface board can be selected. Our RS485 Modbus interface board uses RJ45 connectors as recommended by the Modbus standard, while our RS485 interface board uses RJ11 connectors, which are also used for Modbus. Both boards are fully compatible with the Modbus RTU and Modbus ASCII protocols, as are all other Laureate serial interface boards. Both RS485 boards provide dual connectors (RJ485 or RJ11) for RS485 daisy-chaining using commercial 6-wire data cables with the appropriate connector (RJ485 or RJ11), with no need for a hub.
If the objective is to connect a meter to an Ethernet LAN, our Ethernet interface board allows a meter to be connected to an available router port using a standard Ethernet cable. Our Node Manager software makes node discovery and setup exceptionally simple.
If the objective is to connect a network of meters to an Ethernet LAN, our new Ethernet-to-RS485 converter board should be selected. That board can be connected to an Ethernet LAN utilizing a single Ethernet cable and also act as the server for up to 31 meters on an RS485 bus via an RJ11 connector. The remote meters must be equipped with Laurel's RS485 interface board. The Ethernet-to-RS485 converter board features dual RJ11 connectors for RS485 daisy-chaining using commercial 6-wire RJ11 data cables, with no need for a hub. Our new Node Manager software makes meter discovery and setup exceptionally simple.
Three serial protocols are user-selectable: Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII, and Laurel ASCII. For more information, please see our Modbus Protocol Serial Communications Manual and our Serial Communications Manual.
- The Modbus protocol is an international standard and allows Laureates to share the same RS485 data lines with non-Laurel devices. It supports up to 247 digital addresses. Use of more than 31 Laurel RS485 Modbus boards per line would require a repeater for impedance reasons.
- The Laurel ASCII protocol is recommended if the only devices on the RS485 data line are Laureate meters. It supports up to 31 digital addresses.
Quick Selection Guide
Interface Board Features & Compatibility | Ethernet Board |
Ethernet Server |
RS232 Board Board |
USB Board |
USB Server |
RS485 Board |
RS485 Modbus |
Fits all 1/8 DIN Laureates | |||||||
Instrument Setup software | |||||||
Modbus RTU & ASCII | |||||||
Conversion to Modbus TCP | |||||||
Laurel ASCII protocol | |||||||
Networkable | |||||||
Digitally addressable | |||||||
Single or duplex RS485 | |||||||
RS485 converter capability | |||||||
Main Serial I/O Connector | RJ45 | RJ45 | RJ11 | USB | USB | RJ11 | RJ45 |
Connectors for RS485 server | 2 x RJ11 | 2 x RJ11 |
Specifications
Electrical Specifications
Electrical Safety & Isolation | |
---|---|
Isolation | 250V rms working, 2.3 kV rms per 1 min test |
ESD Protection | 15 kV per IEC 1000-4-2 |
EMI Immunity | 10 V/m per IEC 1000-4-3 |
EFT Protection | 2 kV per IEC 1000-4-4s |
Short Circuit Protection | Continuous |
Selectable Protocols | Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII, Laurel ASCII. |
Protocol Specifications |
(implemented on meter main board) |
Modbus RTU | |
---|---|
Standards Compliance | Modbus over Serial Line Specification V1.0 (2002) |
Data Formats (selectable) | 1. No parity, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits |
2. Odd parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit | |
3. Even parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit | |
Applicable Interface Boards | Ethernet, USB, RS232, RS485 |
Main Board Revision Level | Level 5 or above |
Modbus ASCII | |
Standards Compliance | Modbus over Serial Line Specification V1.0 (2002) |
Data Formats (selectable) | 1. No parity, 7 data bits, 2 stop bits |
2. Odd parity, 7 data bits, 1 stop bit | |
3. Even parity, 7 data bits, 1 stop bit | |
Applicable Interface Boards | Ethernet, USB, RS232, RS485 |
Main Board Revision Level | Level 5 or above |
Laurel ASCII | |
Data Format | No parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit |
Protocol | Laurel Laurel ASCII |
Applicable Interface Boards | Ethernet, USB, RS232, RS485 |
Main Board Revision Level | Any |