Introduction
500-DM-UG v1.02 3
Hardware Connection
The 500 DataMod Tool uses Modbus RTU protocol to collect logged data
from a 515 Series instrument. To use the DataMod program there must be a
transparent and robust serial communication connection between the
instrument and the computer running DataMod.
515 Instrument Connection
The 515 instrument has RS232 and RS485 serial ports. Either port can have
the Modbus RTU protocol assigned to it and both ports have the ability to
set the baud rate, parity and stop bits as required. The 515 instrument can
also have the Modbus address set as required. The default factory setting for
a 515 instrument is for Modbus RTU protocol to be assigned to the RS485
port, where the default settings are 19200 baud rate, even parity and 1 stop
bit.
The RS232 port can be used when there is only one 515 instrument to
communicate with over a short distance and there is no need to use the
RS232 port for another protocol or function, such as a local printer output.
TheRS485portisused whenthereare multipleinstrumentsto communicate
with on the same ‘network’ or when there is a significant distance between
the 515 instrument and the computer collecting the data.
Computer Port Connection
It is common nowadays for Microsoft Windows based computers not to
have a RS232 or RS485 serial port. Most computers have wireless, USB or
Ethernet ports and rely on serial communication converters to connect to
external RS232 or RS485 devices.
There are many such serial communication converters available, but the
device used must be robust, have a reliable windows driver and operate as a
transparent serial port.
The 500 DataMod tool allows the user to select the appropriate serial port
on the computer. It also provides access to set all the normal serial
communication port settings, such as baud rate, parity and stop bits. These
must be set to match the settings used in the 515 instrument.
