Ethernet-to-RS485 Converter Board for Laurel Electronics 1/8 DIN Instruments

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Ethernet-to-RS485 device server board
Key Features
  • Connects a host meter to an Ethernet LAN while also acting as a server
    for up to 31 Laurel device on an RS485 network.
  • Includes an RJ45 jack for connection to the Ethernet plus an RJ11 jack for connection to the RS485 bus.
  • Suitable for all 1/8 DIN Laureate DPMs, counters, timers & remote displays.
  • Complemented by Node Manager software which discovers Nodes and meters.
  • Selectable baud rates to 19,200.
  • Isolated from meter and power grounds.

The Laureate Ethernet-to-RS485 Converter Board plugs into a host 1/8 DIN digital panel meter, counter or timer to provide a 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface via an industry-standard RJ45 jack for that meter. It also provides an RJ11 jack for interface to an RS485 bus, which can support up to 31 Laurel meters 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 connected to Internet via an Ethernet router

Laurel's Node Manager software is shipped on a mini CD with each Ethernet board. This free Windows-based application automatically discovers all Laurel Nodes (or Laurel Ethernet boards) on a LAN or WAN, plus any meters connected to the Nodes. These will be the host meter for Ethernet-to-RS485 converter board, plus any meters and transmitters on the RS485 bus. Node Manager software is also used to configure each Node, such as naming the Node and associated devices, entering email addresses for alarm notification and data requests, selecting the Node's time zone for time-stamping of streaming data, and setting communication parameters for associated meters. Please see our Ethernet Manual.

On a Wide Area Network (WAN), such as the Internet, the host computer is outside of the LAN and therefore must know the public IP address of the LAN router to discover the Laurel Nodes. If the public IP address of the router is not known or becomes unknown because it is dynamic rather than a static, the host computer can accomplish the discovery by interrogating a Resolution Server computer located at our factory.

Laurel meters connected to a PC via an Ethernet-to-RS485 device server

Built-in DHCP server capability allows Laurel Nodes to constitute themselves into a network and be connected directly to a host computer when no router or dedicated DHCP server is present, as illustrated above. When a Node fails to find a DHCP server that responds to its request for a private IP address, it assigns one. When several Nodes fail to receive a Private IP address, they mutually agree to make one of the Nodes a temporary DHCP server that assigns a Private IP address to each device on the network.

Data can be sent by Laurel Nodes in the form of real-time stream data, or in the form of emails. Accuracy of streaming data is ensured by filtering and by dual checksums. Emails can be sent in response to email requests from the host computer, periodically, or when devices encounter an alarm condition or go off-line.

The Modbus TCP protocol is fully supported. Conversion to Modbus TCP is provided transparently by Laurel Nodes so that an Ethernet application program can use the Modbus TCP protocol while the meters use the Modbus RTU or Modbus ASCII protocol. The Laurel ASCII protocol, which supports up to 31 digital addresses, can also be used if the only devices on the data line are Laureate meters.

Laurel's Ethernet board can be used as an alternative to the server board for networking multiple meters. Each meter will then need to be connected to the network via an Ethernet router, switch or hub, and its own Ethernet cable.

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