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MODBUS
Communication
with Fluidwell E-Series

Troubleshooting Guide

MODBUS communication with Fluidwell E-Series 002

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MODBUS communication with Fluidwell E-Series 002

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Table of content
Table of content..................................................................................................................... 3
Communication settings ........................................................................................................ 4
Physical connection ............................................................................................................... 4
RS-232 communication .............................................................................................................................. 5
RS-485 communication .............................................................................................................................. 6
RS-485 - 2 wire communication................................................................................................................ 6
Register addressing .................................................................................................................................... 7
Communication timing ........................................................................................................... 8
Example using MODBUS Poll ............................................................................................... 9
The connection settings ............................................................................................................................. 9
Troubleshooting with MODBUS Poll .....................................................................................11
Using the communication traffic window ............................................................................................... 11
Error messages ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Problems with USB and/or signal-converters ....................................................................................... 13
NOTES ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
NOTES ....................................................................................................................................................... 15

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Communication settings
For all E-Series the communication settings are: 8 databits, no parity, 1 stopbit.
The factory default settings are: 9600 BAUD, Modbus address 1
Communication mode can be either ASCII or RTU, depending on the complexity of the unit.
Please verify the various settings menu.

Physical connection
For the connection lay-out and function, see the instruction manual of the related model.
As a reference, a generic connector lay-out is given

Fig. 1 Communication connections - typical

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RS-232 communication
When using the RS-232 communication (option CB), terminal C2 is used for supplying the
E-Series interface. Please connect the DTR (or the RTS) signal of the interface to this
terminal and set it active (+12V). If no active signal is available it is possible to connect a
separate supply between terminals C1 and C2 with a voltage of 8V to 12V DC.

RS-232 – DTR – 9 pin

RS-232 – RTS – 9 pin

RS-232 – DTR – 25 pin

RS-232 – RTS – 25 pin

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RS-485 communication
For battery and loop-powered applications communicating through RS-485, it is important to
disconnect all termination resistors.
The E-Series are designed to work without them for power saving reasons.

RS-485 - 2 wire communication

With 2-wire communication (option CH) you need to use RS-485 drivers. It is
possible to connect up to 32 slaves in a multidrop configuration. There is no need to
supply power to the interface of the E-Series. The grounds must be connected to all
drivers. Optional shielding should be connected on one side only.

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Register addressing
In MODBUS, every register is categorised in a group.
In the E-series all registers are located in the ‘Holding registers’ group.
By doing this, all registers can be accessed by just two Modbus function codes.
Currently, the function codes supported are:
 function code 3 “Read Holding Registers” (4x references);
 function code 16 “Preset Multiple Registers” (4x references).

Within a PLC or application with MODBUS interface every Holding registers is

assigned an address somewhere between 40001 and 50000.
In the actual physical Modbus data bytes these addresses are converted to a value
between 0 and 9999 plus an indication of the group.

The registers addresses are available from the appendix of the related instruction
manual which came with the E-series.

When the PLC address range is required (4x references typically used by PLCs),
please add a value of 40001 to the Modbus PDU address. E.g. reading the serial
number with PLC-based addressing means reading 165 + 40001 = register 40166.
Variables spanning multiple registers use ‘big-endian’ data representation. This
means that the lowest register holds the least significant word of the variable.
Although most Modbus Masters will support variables that span 2 registers, variables
spanning more registers sometimes require you to manually calculate the resulting
value.

Variables spanning multiple registers have always to be

read / written in 1 single action!

Following example shows how data is represented and how this calculation can be
accomplished:
For a total-value of 158928, the following register data has been received by the
Modbus master:
PDU Address 566 = 0x0000 =0
PDU Address 567 = 0x0002 =2
PDU Address 568 = 0x6CD0 = 27856
If we interpret this as a 48 bit unsigned integer value, it's value would be:
0x0000.0002.6CD0 = 158928.
If this value needs to be calculated: 0*65536*65536 + 2*65536 + 27856 = 158928.

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Communication timing
The current Modbus implementation provides a way to optimize communication
timing. This is especially important when hardware handshake is applicable, i.e.
RS485.

The processing and validation of the request frame from the master takes place
almost immediate after the message is completed. It takes ample time to process the
data and prepare the response frame back to the master. The device could answer
very fast which may give problems at the master communication channel.

The parameter comdelay (register 14, 147 in ms) provides a response delay between
the end of the request frame and the start of the response. The comdelay settings
don't have a menu entry but can be configured over Modbus.

For RS485 the response action would first put the RS485 transceiver in transmit
mode. The device now could send the response frame immediately and after
completion of the frame the RS485 transceiver would switch back to receive mode.

This may cause problems in some environments. Therefore we added two extra
delay settings. The pre-send delay setting (in ms) adds an extra delay after the
transceiver is switched to transmit mode and before the first data character is output.
The post-send delay setting (in ms) adds an extra delay after the last data character
is output and before the transceiver is switched back to receive mode. This may
overcome glitches on the data line due to switching of the transceiver.

The pre-send and post-send delay settings don't have a menu entry but can be
configured over Modbus.

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Example using MODBUS Poll

Below are a few screen shots of configuring with MODBUS Poll, a computer-utility
that can easily be obtained from the internet.

The connection settings

These examples assume that the E-series is connected to the computer and the
comport number in use is known.
When using an RS232 to RS485 converter, as in the example, switch on the Flow
control, RTS Toggle box.

1. Double click the Modbus poll icon to

open the application.
2. From the menu-bar, select the
Connection tab.
3. In the Connection pull down menu,
select Connect…
4. Wait for the Dialog box to open.

5. Complete the settings in the

Connection Setup dialog box as
shown.
The Serial Settings depend on the
comport in use an might show
another comport (COMx).
6. Click the OK button to confirm the
selections.

The poll-definition for reading the Serial Number, which is 2 registers long
corresponds with the PLC address 40003 and 40004.

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7. From the menu-bar, select the

Setup tab.
8. In the Setup pull down menu, select
Read/Write Definition…
9. Wait for the Dialog box to open.

10. Complete the settings in the

Read/Write Definition dialog box as
shown.

11. Wait for the Modbus Poll main

screen to show.
12. Note that there is communication
traffic which is indicated by the
running numbers.

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Troubleshooting with MODBUS Poll

Using the communication traffic window
Anytime you cannot get the communication to work after checking all settings, it is
advised to examine the Communication Traffic window. This window displays all data
that is sent and received across the communication line.
For example:
The Read/Write Definition for reading the Serial number, which is 1 register long
corresponding to PLC address 40573.

1. From the menu-bar, select the Setup

tab.
2. In the Setup pull down menu, select
Read/Write Definition…
3. Wait for the Dialog box to open.
4. Complete the settings in the
Read/Write Definition dialog box as
shown.
5. Click the OK button, to execute the
command.

6. From the menu-bar, select the

Display tab.
7. In the Display pull down menu,
select Communication...
8. Wait for the Dialog box to open.

9. The Communication Traffic window

opens.
Note, the screen shows a valid
communication.

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Error messages
Whenever something is wrong with the
incoming message, the receiver
answers with an error-message.
Note that there is no communication.

Error messages are also visible in the

communication traffic window. For error
messages, select the Stop on Error
box. When and error occurs, a popup
shows with the error message.

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Problems with USB and/or signal-converters

When using signal-converters to interface between e.g. RS-232, RS-485 or RS-422,
sometimes problems occur due to delay between switching from send to receive of
such converters. Especially the combination of a converter and a USB-com port can
give problems because of the total delay that is introduced in the system.

There is one option you could try if you think this could be causing the problems.
There is a possibility to set a communication delay in the E-Series This delay is then
inserted between receiving a message and responding to it.

1. From the menu-bar, select the

Functions tab.
2. In the Functions menu, select Write
Registers…
3. Wait for the Dialog box to open.

4. The 16: Write Multiple Registers

Dialog box opens.
5. Complete the settings in the
16: Write Multiple Registers dialog
box as shown

6. Click the Send button.

If the communication is OK, the
Response OK message popup
shows.
7. Click the OK button to close the
message popup.

 A wrong slave ID will result in a

Timeout Error message.
 A wrong or unknown address can
result in a Slave Device Busy
message.
 A wrong Quantity can result in an
Illegal Data Address message.

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NOTES
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NOTES
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PO box 6 Voltaweg 23 Website: www.fluidwell.com
5460 AA Veghel
MODBUS communication
5466 AZ Veghel
with Fluidwell E-Series 002
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