Laurel Electronics Custom ASCII Protocol For Laureate Series 2 Digital Panel Meters, Counters, Timers & L-Series Transmitters - Manual (Page 4)

4
USB/RS485
232
USB
RJ11
a b c d
RS485
b
a
c d
e
RJ11
RJ11
f
RS485
b
a
c d
e
RJ11
RJ11
f
Computer
with
USB port
USB connection of multiple meters to a
PC can be via a USB hub or up to 5 hubs
in series. Each USB connection is then
automatically assigned a virtual com port
number, which can be addressed via
software. The USB standard specifies the
maximum length of a USB cable as 5
meters (16 ft).
A better way to connect multiple meters
to a PC USB port is to install an isolating
USB-to-RS485 converter board in the
first meter and to daisy chain multiple
meters each with an RS485 board. Use a
standard USB cable, Male Type A to Male
Type B, to connect the PC to the server
meter. The RJ11 output of each RS485 meter can then be connected to the next meter via a 6-
conductor straight-through data cable. Up to 30 additional meters may be daisy chained and be
addressed using the Custom ASCII Protocol.
To load the USB driver, connect the meter with a USB board to the computer,
which will display “Found new Hardware.” Insert the USB installation CD and
follow the instructions. When the installation is complete, use the Windows
Device Manager to determine the Com port number. To get to Device Manger,
go to Control Panel, click on System on the Hardware tab, and then on Device
Manager. Go down the device list and click on Ports (COM & LPT) and USB serial port (com #).
Note the com port # for use with communications to your meter, then exit the Control Panel. If
you need to change this number, right-click on USB serial port (com #), then click on Properties,
Port Settings, and Advanced. Change the port to the desired number and click OK, then exit
Control Panel.
Ethernet connection of meters and transmitters requires device configuration via our Node
Manager Software, a Windows-based application that runs on a host computer. Node Manager
automatically discovers all Nodes on a LAN or WAN, plus any devices connected to each Server
Node via an RS485 bus. It is used to configure each Node, such as setting communication
parameters, 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 emails and
streaming data, and upgrading firmware. Once configuration data has been stored in flash
memory of all Nodes, Node Manager Software can be closed. Please see our separate Ethernet
Manual.