MODBUS ASCII and RTU capabilities

All F-series, M-series and Nano-10 Super PLCs feature at least one or more serial ports (RS232 and/or RS485) that speak both MODBUS ASCII and RTU protocols fluently! These super PLCs can work happily with many other third party MODBUS masters or slave devices or with other super PLCs, thereby providing an open system solution. It is ready to interface to vast majority of other industrial software and hardware.

F-series and Nano-10 Super PLCs' built-in Ethernet port also support the industry standard MODBUS/TCP protocol which is widely used by SCADA software and Touch Panel HMI that has Ethernet. This allow the PLCs to be remotely monitored via the Internet using Modbus/TCP protocol protected via trusted IP, or through the native protocol with username and password protection. In addition, F-series and Nano-10 PLC can also make a client connection to any device that has a MODBUS/TCP server built-in so that the PLC can remotely retrieve data from remote sensor or data acquisition system.

1. SCADA Software Interface
scadapic.gif (12333 bytes)
The SCADA is the MODBUS master and the PLC works as the slave.

Most of the well known SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) software do come with MODBUS drivers which can immediately and painlessly interface with the super PLCs. The following brands are some of those that are either tested or known to work with the super PLCs:

1. Elipse Software
2. DAQFactory (from $199)
3. Mango Automation (Click here to watch Video Presentation)
4. National Instrument's Lookout
5. Wonderware
6. Intellusion
7. GE Fanuc Cimplicity

2. Human Machine Interface (HMI)

OPS6HMI.jpg (9204 bytes)

The HMI is the MODBUS master and the PLC works as the slave. The PLC's serial port is fully configurable from 300 to 500kbps, 7/8 data bit, 1/2 stop bits. odd/even/no parity and should work with most HMI on the market.

HMIs are mostly standalone graphical LCDs with touch-screen display. The HMI are mostly designed to work with PLCs using RS232 or RS485 and most of them do support the MODBUS protocols.

The follow HMI are either tested or known to work with the super PLCs:

1. KEP (Kessler-Ellis Products)
2. Maple Systems
3. Taian HMI
4. Optimation HMI
5. GE-Fanuc Quickpanel
6. Pro-face
7. Hakko
8. EXOR HMI (Italy)

3. Controlling External RTU Devices

rtuslave.jpg (16062 bytes)

Any M-series Super PLC can also act as the MODBUS master controlling other MODBUS ASCII or RTU slave devices. This is accomplished incredibly easily using the built-in READMODBUS and WRITEMODBUS commands supported by TBASIC.

The ability of the Super PLC to work as MODBUS host eliminates the need to use a host computer just to collect data from a few MODBUS or RTU devices. The T100MD1616+ can take the place of the host computer for a much lower cost of deployment, more compact and much more reliable in the hostile industrial environment.