4 rs-232 operation, 1 rs-232 wiring – Campbell Scientific SR50A Distance Sensor User Manual
Page 12

SR50A Sonic Ranging Sensor
SDI-12 
Command 
 
Command Function/Description 
 
Values Returned 
?! Address
Query
a
aAb!
Change Address command
b is the new address
aXM;D.DDD! 
Extended 
command 
Set the distance to ground parameter in the SR50A. The distance must be in 
meters with no more than 3 decimal places. 
A 
Address is returned 
aXI;DDD.DD! 
Extended 
command 
Set the distance to ground parameter in the SR50A. The distance must be in 
Inches with no more than 2 decimal places. 
A 
Address is returned 
aXT;CC.CC! 
Extended 
command 
Provide the SR50A with a temperature value to perform on board temperature 
compensation. The temperature must be in degrees Celsius with a maximum 
of 7 characters including sign and decimal. 
A 
Address is returned 
aR0!
Returns the Distance to Ground Setting in the SR50A. The units returned are 
in Meters 
DG
aR1!
Returns the Distance to Ground Setting in the SR50A. The units returned are 
in Inches 
DG
aR2!
Returns the temperature sent to the SR50A for Internal Temperature 
compensation. This value remains the same unless power is cycled or a new 
temperature values is sent. 
T
Where a = address of SDI-12 device. 
Where n = numbers 1 to 9 
NOTE 1: (SR50AT version only) 
3.4 RS-232 Operation
The SR50A sensor comes from the factory with the internal jumpers set to 
SDI-12 mode. To use the SR50A in the RS-232 mode of operation the jumpers 
will need to be set as outlined in Section 7. 
3.4.1 RS-232 Wiring
The following table/diagram illustrates the wiring for the SR50A in RS-232 
mode. 
Color Function
Connection
Black Power
Ground
System
Ground and/or RS-232 Receiver
Ground 
(Pin 5 of a computer (DTE) DB-9 
connector) 
Red +12VDC
Power
Power
Source
Green RS-232 (SR50A Output)
Recorder/Reader RS-232 Input 
(Pin 2 of a computer (DTE) DB-9 
connector) 
White RS-232 (SR50A Input)
Recorder/Reader RS-232 Output 
(Pin 3 of a computer (DTE) DB-9 
connector) 
Clear Shield
Shield/Earth
Ground
6
