Digital communications, 1 digital communications wiring, 1 rs232 – Sterlco Micro Series Water Temperature Control Unit User Manual
Page 22: 2 rs485 (2-wire), Digital communications wiring, Rs232, Rs485 (2-wire)

3200
Series
22 ACS 3216 Operators Manual
9. Digital Communications
Digital Communications (or ‘comms’ for short) allows the 
controller to communicate with a PC or a networked 
computer system. Digital communications is not available 
in 3116 controllers. 
This product conforms to MODBUS RTU
® protocol a full
description of which can be found on www.modbus.org.
Two ports are available both using MODBUS RTU 
communication facilities: 
1.
a configuration port - intended to communicate with a 
system to download the instrument parameters and to 
perform manufacturing tests and calibration 
2.
an optional RS232 or RS485 port on terminals HD, HE 
and HF - intended for field communications using, for 
example, a PC running a SCADA package. 
The two interfaces cannot operate at the same time.
For a full description of digital communications protocols 
(ModBus RTU) refer to the 2000 series Communications 
Handbook, part number HA026230, available on 
.
Each parameter has its own unique ModBus address. A list 
of these is given at the end of this section. 
9.1
Digital Communications Wiring
9.1.1
RS232
To use RS232 the PC will be equipped with an RS232 port, 
usually referred to as COM 1. 
To construct a cable for RS232 operation use a three core 
screened cable. 
The terminals used for RS232 digital communications are 
listed in the table below. Some PC's use a 25 way connector 
although the 9 way is more common. 
Standard 
Cable 
PC socket pin 
no. 
PC Function *
Instrument 
Terminal 
Instrument
Colour
9 way
25 way
Function
White 2 3 Receive,
RX
HF
Transmit, 
TX 
Black
3
2
Transmit, TX
HE
Receive, RX
Red 5 7 Common HD
Common
Link 
together 
1
4
6
6
8
11
Rec'd line sig. 
detect Data 
terminal ready 
Data set ready
Link 
together 
7
8
4
5
Request to 
send 
Clear to send 
Screen
1
Ground
* These are the functions normally assigned to socket pins. 
Please check your PC manual to confirm. 
9.1.2
RS485 (2-wire)
To use RS485, buffer the RS232 port of the PC with a 
suitable RS232/RS485 converter. The Eurotherm Controls 
KD485 Communications Adapter unit is recommended for 
this purpose. The use of a RS485 board built into the 
computer is not recommended since this board may not be 
isolated, which may cause noise problems, and the RX 
terminals may not be biased correctly for this application. 
To construct a cable for RS485 operation use a screened 
cable with one (RS485) twisted pair plus a separate core for 
common. Although common or screen connections are not 
necessary, their use will significantly improve noise 
immunity. 
The terminals used for RS485 digital communications are 
listed in the table below. 
Standard Cable
Colour
PC Function *
Instrument
Terminal
Instrument
Function
White
Receive, RX+
HF (B) or (B+) Transmit, TX
Red
Transmit, TX+
HE (A) or (A+) Receive, RX
Green Common
HD Common
Screen Ground
•
These are the functions normally assigned to socket 
pins. Please check your PC manual to confirm . 
See section 2.12 for wiring diagrams
