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Configuration manual

Wiring

The expander has opto-isolated inputs that require an external power supply. This requires a 5-30V power supply. The inputs can be driven by both positive and negative signals. Both examples are shown in the attached diagram.

The outputs of the expander are directly connected to the relay leads. The relays are of normal open type.

AMB-12I-4O-wiring.png


Protocol Description

Modbus Protocol is a messaging structure, widely used to establish master-slave communication between intelligent devices. A Modbus message sent from a master to a slave contains the address of the slave, the 'command' (e.g. 'read register' or 'write register'), the data, and a check sum (LRC or CRC).
Since Modbus protocol is just a messaging structure, it is independent of the underlying physical layer. In AMB-4I-4O is implemented using RS485 interface.

MODBUS RTU Framing

The AMB-4I-4O module supports standard RTU Modbus protocol for getting the input status and setting/getting the relays status. RTU Modbus Protocol frame is illustrated below:

Start Address Function Data
RC Check End
≥ 3.5 Char 4 Bits

8 Bits

N*8 Bits 16 Bits ≥ 3.5 Char
  • Start is at least 3.5 char time of silent interval between master and slave to start communication

  • Address is a slave ID Address

  • Function is the function code of Modbus protocol

  • Data is the appropriate data for function code

  • CRC is Cyclic Redundancy Check for Error Checking (here, CRC-16,Big Endian(ABCD))

  • End is at least 3.5 char time of silent interval between master and slave to start communication

MODBUS Serial Port Parameter
Parameter Option/range
Baudrate 9600 – 128000 configurable
ata bit 8
Parity None
Stop bit 1
ID Configuration of MODBUS Card

User can set the slave ID address using 8 Bit DIP switch found on board. This allow 0 to 255 different IDs to be set. The number below the switches are added together and the result will be identifier of the device slave ID.
To set the slave ID 125, you need to turn ON switch 1,3,4,5,6,7 on DIP switch and OFF the others (In this, convert slave ID number 125 into 8bit binary form – 01111101, turn ON DIP switch 1,3,4,5,6,7 and turn OFF DIP switch 2,8) and so on…. 

AMB-4I-4O-DIP.png

Baudrate Configuration of MODBUS

User can set the baudrate using 4 Bit DIP switch found on board. To set baudrate, first turn off power supply of card. This allows to set baudrate between 2400bps to 128000bps as shown below table.

Baudrate SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4
9600 OFF OFF OFF OFF
2400 ON OFF OFF OFF
4800 OFF ON OFF OFF
14400 OFF OFF ON OFF
19200 OFF OFF OFF ON
28800 ON ON OFF OFF
38400 OFF ON ON OFF
57600 OFF OFF ON ON
115200 ON OFF OFF ON
128000 ON ON ON ON

Modbus RTU Commands

The following commands (functions) were implemented in the Modbus RTU AMB-4I-4O.

  • 01 (01 hex) Function code – Read Coils
  • 02 (02 hex) Function code – Read Discrete Inputs
  • 05 (05 hex) Function code – Write Single Coil
  • 15 (0F hex) Function Code – Write Multiple Coils

Coils are mapped to outputs and discrete inputs are mapped to inputs. Coils read/write output status and discrete inputs read Input status. There are 12 inputs for reading-input 0 to input 11 which refer to input 1 to input 12 and coil 0 to coil 3 which refer to output 1 to output 4.

Note: For all below example, consider slave address – 0x01 will change with 8bit DIP switch.


01 (01 hex) Function Code – Read Coils

Read Coils command is requesting the ON/OFF status of coils. Read Coils command will return individual current outputs status. Also Read Coils Command will return sequentially outputs current status. 

Example of how to read output status are given below:

REQUEST FRAME –

01 01 0000 0004 3DC9
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
01 – The Function Code 
0000 – The Data Address of first coil to read (0000hex = coil 0)
0004 – The total number of coils requested (0004hex = 4 coils – outputs))
3DC9 – The CRC for error checking

RESPONSE FRAME – 

01 01 01 0A D18F
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
01 – The Function Code 
01 – The number of data bytes to follow (4 coils / 8 bits per byte = 1 byte)
0A – Coils 0 to 3(Output), 0A hex = 0000 1010 (0 – ON, 1 – OFF)
D18F – The CRC for error checking


02 (02 hex) Function Code – Read Discrete Inputs

Read Discrete Inputs Command is requesting the ON/OFF status of Inputs. Read Discrete Inputs command will return individual current Input status. Also this Command will return sequentially Input current status. 

Example of how to read Inputs status are given below:

REQUEST FRAME -  

01 02 0000 000C 780F
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01) 
01 – The Function Code  
0000 – The Data Address of first Input to read (0000hex = Input 0) 
000C – The total number of Inputs requested (000Chex = 12 Inputs)) 
780F – The CRC for error checking 

RESPONSE FRAME -  

01 02 02 5A09 3FD3 
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01) 
02 – The Function Code  
02 – The number of data bytes to follow (12 coils / 8 bits per byte = 2 byte) 
5A – Input 7 to 0(Input), 5A hex = 0000 1010 (0 – ON, 1 – OFF) 
09 – Input 11 to 8(Input), 09 hex = 0000 1010 (0 – ON, 1 – OFF) 
3FD3 – The CRC for error checking


(05hex) Function Code – Write Single Coil

Write Single Coil (0x05) command will set single output(relay) ON or OFF. 

Example of how to set Relay ON is given below:  

REQUEST FRAME – 

01 05 0003 FF00 7C3A
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
05 – The Function Code 
0003 – The Data Address of coil to change status (0003hex = coil 3)
FF00 – The Status to write (FF00 – ON relay, 0000 – OFF relay)
7C3A – The CRC for error checking

RESPONSE FRAME – 

01 05 0003 FF00 7C3A
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
05 – The Function Code 
0003 – The Data Address of coil to change status (0003hex = coil 3)
FF00 – The Status written (FF00 – ON relay, 0000 – OFF relay)
7C3A –  The CRC for error checking


15 (0Fhex) Function Code – Write Multiple Coil

Write Multiple Coils command will set multiple sequential relays ON or OFF. 

Example of how to set Relay1 to Relay4 with single command is given below:

REQUEST FRAME – 

01 0F 0000 0004 01 0A BE91
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
0F – The Function Code 
0000 – The Data Address of first coil(0000hex = coil 0)
0004 – The number of coils to written(04hex = Output 1 to 4)
01 – The number of data bytes to follow
0A – 4 space holders & coils 0 – 3 (0000 1010)(0 – OFF, 1 – ON)
BE91 – The CRC for error checking

RESPONSE FRAME –

01 0F 0000 0004 5408
01 – The Slave Address (01 hex = 01)
0F – The Function Code 
0000 – The Data Address of first coil(0000hex = coil 0)
0004 – The number of coils to written(04hex = Output 1 to 4)
5408 – The CRC for error checking


MODBUS Exception Codes

Exception responses from either the master or a slave can result from data processing errors.
One of the following events can occur after a request from the master:

  • If the slave receives the request from the master without a communication error and can handle the request correctly, it returns a normal response. 
  • If the slave does not receive the request from the master due to a communication error, it does not return a response. The master program eventually processes a timeout condition for the request.
  • If the slave receives the request from the master but detects a communication error, it does not return a response. The master program eventually processes a timeout condition for the request.
  • If the slave receives the request from the master without a communication error, but cannot handle it (for example, the request is to read a register that does not exist), the slave returns an exception response to inform the master of the nature of the error.

Exception Frame:

Sn. Definition Description
1 Slave Address The Slave Address of requested slave
2 Exception Function Code Requested Function Code + 128 (0x80)
3 Exception Code See in next table
4 CRC check The CRC for error checking

Exception Codes:

Exception Code Name Description
0X01 Illegal Function Code The function code received in the request is not an allowable action for the slave. This may be because the function code was not implemented in the unit selected. 
0x02 Illegal Data Address The data address received in the request is not an allowable address for the slave.
0x03 Illegal Data Value A value contained in the request data field is not an allowable value for the slave.  This indicates a fault in the structure of remainder of a complex request, such as that the implied length is incorrect.