Serial Communication Option Boards

Serial Communication Option Boards for Laurel Meters & Counters

Ethernet interface board for Laurel meters, counters and timers


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


CE Mark         RoHS Mark           ETL Mark for Laurel Electronics           Made in California Mark


Description

Meter connection to PC via an RS232 or USB serial cable.

A serial communication option board allows a Laureate digital panel meter, counter or timer to be interfaced to a PC for programming via Laurel's Windows-based Instrument Setup Software, or to output readings to a remote PC, PLC or other device with a serial communication port. The transmitted data may include the latest reading, peak value, valley value, alarm status, and setup information. The data can then be displayed, processed and data logged. The data can also be received by a Laureate 6-digit remote display, which will display the serial data and also process the serial data to control relay outputs and generate a scaled, isolated 4-20 mA, 0-10V or -10V to +10V analog output.

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.

Laurel meters on RS485 bus driven by USB-to-RS485 device server.

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.

Laurel meters on RS485 bus


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.

Laurel meters connected to Ethernet router

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.


Laurel meters connected to Internet

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

Overview

Ethernet-to-RS485 device server board for Laurel meters, counters and timers

Ethernet-to-RS485 converter board

Provides an RJ45 connector to an Ethernet LAN plus an RJ11 connector to an RS485 bus. Supports Ethernet communications with the host meter or counter plus an additional 30 meters or counters on the RS485 bus.
 
RS232 serial communications board for Laurel meters, counters and timers.

RS232 interface board

Single RJ11 connector for point-to-point data communications to a PC RS232 COM port. Compatible with 4- or 6-wire data cables.
 
RS485 serial communications board for Laurel meters, counters and timers.

RS485 interface board, dual RJ11 connectors

Dual RJ11 connectors allow daisy-chaining without a hub. Jumper selectable 2-wire (half duplex) or 4-wire (full duplex) connection. RJ11 connectors allow use of commercial 6-wire data cables.
 
RS485 Modbus serial communications board for Laurel meters, counters and timers.

RS485 interface board, dual RJ45 connectors

Dual RJ45 connectors for daisy-chaining without a hub. Jumper selectable 2-wire (half duplex) or 4-wire (full duplex) connection. RJ45 connectors conform to the Modbus standard (but RJ11 connectors are more popular).
 
USB 2.0 serial communications board for Laurel meters, counters and timers.

USB 2.0 interface board

Single USB Type-B receptacle for USB 2.0 I/O. Allows plug-and-pay connection of meter to a PC with a USB port.
 
USB-to-RS485 converter and device server board  for Laurel meters, counters and timers.

USB 2.0-to-RS485 converter board

Includes a USB Type-B receptacle for USB 2.0 I/O plus an RJ11 connector for RS485. Allows meter to communicate with a PC via USB while also serving as a USB-to-RS485 converter and server for up a 31-device RS485 network.