Tekbox TBS06 Manual - User Manual

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V1.2

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

The  TBS06  (DR)  RS232  to  SDI-12  Converter  is  an  interface  for  connecting  a  PC,  data  logger  or
RTU  to  one  or  more  sensors  with  SDI-12  interface.  The  TBS06  connects  to  the  RS232  interface
and  provides  a  SDI-12  compliant  data  interface.  The  TBS06  is  a  versatile  tool  for  everyone  who
designs  sensors  and  data  recorders  or  who  installs,  tests  or  maintains  SDI-12  based  data
acquisition systems.
It is available in a IP67 housing from Fibox or in a Dinrail housing.

Features

RS232 toSDI-12 Interface

Transfer Mode

Plug and play

No driver required

Selectable data rate: 4800 - 38400
Baud

5V … 12V supply voltage

Low power mode

Spring loaded terminal blocks

IP67 housing or Dinrail housing

Operating Temperature Range:

- 40°C … + 85°C

Target Applications

SDI-12 Data Recording

SDI-12 Field Installations

SDI-12 Interface Debugging

SDI-12 Sensor Testing

TBS06 RS232 to SDI-12 Interface – Fibox- and Dinrail variant

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Contents

INTRODUCTION

1.1

RODUCT

EATURES

1.2

ECHANICAL DIMENSIONS

APPLICATION

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

3.1

VERVIEW

3.2

NTERFACE

ITH

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

4.1

OARD OVERVIEW

4.2

ONNECTIONS

–

IBOX

ARIANT

4.3

ONNECTIONS

–

DIN-

RAIL VARIANT

SDI-12 BASICS

SETTING UP THE TBS06

6.1

EQUIREMENTS

6.1.1

User Interface

6.1.2

Hardware Interface

6.1.3

Read Data from sensor

ORDERING INFORMATION

HISTORY

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Introduction

SDI-12 is a standard for interfacing data recorders with microprocessor-based sensors. SDI-12 stands for
serial/digital interface at 1200 baud. It can connect multiple sensors with a single data recorder on one cable.
It supports up to 60 meter cable between a sensor and a data logger.

The SDI-12 standard is prepared by

SDI-12 Support Group
(Technical Committee)
165 East 500 South
River Heights, Utah
435-752-4200
435-752-1691 (FAX)
http://www.sdi-12.org

The latest standard is version V1.3 and dates from July 18

, 2005. The standard is available on the web site

of the SDI-12 Support Group.

TBS06 implements all functions for interfacing SDI-12 sensors to a RTU, data logger or PC with RS232
interface.
It is a plug and play solution for controlling or testing of sensors with SDI-12 interface.

1.1 Product Features

•

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface based on TBS01 SDI-12 module

•

Transfer Mode

•

Plug and play

•

No driver required

•

Selectable data rate: 4800 - 38400 Baud

•

6V … 16V supply voltage

•

Current consumption: 6 mA in “always on mode”; less than 250µA in “auto power management

mode”

•

Fibox IP67 housing variant: Weidmueller spring loaded terminal blocks

•

Dinrail housing variant: screw terminal blocks

•

Operating Temperature Range: - 40°C … + 85°C

1.2 Mechanical dimensions

Fibox housing: Fibox PC 081206

http://www.fibox.com/catalog/1999/product/611/7032580_ENG3.html

Dinrail housing: Bud Industries DMB-4770

http://www.budind.com/pdf/hb4770.pdf

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Application

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Converter

Figure 1 –TBS06 Application, standard setup for controlling / testing sensors

Functional Description

3.1 Overview

The SDI-12 standard defines a set of commands to configure sensors and to initiate measurements. Upon
receiving specific commands, the sensor may carry out internal tasks, respond with information on
conversion time or send measurement data.

SDI-12 commands typically are ASCII strings generated by the data recorder/controller firmware. TBS06 can
be controlled by a PC application or hyper terminal and converts the command strings to the logic levels and
baud rate specified by the SDI-12 standard. Furthermore TBS06handles breaks, marks and all other details
of the SDI-12 protocol.

Upon receiving data or status information originated by a Sensor, TBS06 extracts the corresponding ASCII
strings and sends it to COM Port of the PC.

3.2 Interface With PC

Figure 2 –

TBS06 basic application setup

The application is built based on a SDI-12 Recorder Protocol Stack Module. It receives commands from the
RS232 Interface (e.g. via data logger, RTU or PC), and transfers the commands to the SDI Interface, waits
for sensor response and transfers the response (measurement results, etc.) back to the RS232 Interface of
the data logger, RTU or PC. All SDI-12 commands are supported.

Hyper terminal or

customised PC

application

RS232 / SDI-12

Interface

Sensor(s)

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Hardware Description

4.1 Board overview

Figure 3 – Board Connections, Jumper Settings of Fibox variant

Figure 4 – Board Connections, Jumper Settings of Dinrail variant

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

4.2 Connections – Fibox Variant

TBS06 supports RS232 and gives access to the UART interface of the on board SDI-12 module.

CON2: RS232 interface connector; Pin 1-2 of J1 : access to UART interface

4 Pin terminal block:

CON2 – SDI-12 Interface

Shield: connect to the shield of the SDI-12 cable or leave it unconnected

Ground: connect to the GND wire of the SDI-12 cable

SDI-12 data: connect to the data wire of the SDI-12 cable

SDI-12 Power: connect to the positive supply voltage wire of the SDI-12 cable; the SDI-12 supply

voltage is directly connected to the RS232 supply line

6 Pin terminal block:

Shield: connect to the shield or leave it unconnected

Ground1: connect to the GND of supply for TBS06

EXT- Power: connect to an external power supply (6V…16V)

Ground2: connect to the GND of COM port ( Pin 5 of DB9)

TxD: connect to RXD of the RS232 interface ( Pin 2 of DB9)

RxD: connect to TxD of the RS232 interface ( Pin 3 of DB9)

Jumper 1 (SDI12 module connectivity)

Connect to RS232 Interface:

Jumper: 5-7 and 6-8

Connects to RS232 ines of CON1

Access to UART Interface of the on-board TBS01 SDI-12 module:

Jumper: 3-5 and 4-6

Connect UART to pin 1-2 of J1

Jumper 2 (Power management)

Jumper 1-2: Always On (6 mA); default factory setting

Jumper 2-3: Power saving mode (>250uA), TBS06 will wakup automatically when data is present at
the Rx pin, and switches into sleep mode 2.5 seconds after RX becomes idle

Jumper 3 (Baud Rate selection)

4800 Baud: jumper 1-3, 2-4

9600 Baud: jumper 3-5, 2-4

19200 Baud: jumper 1-3, 4-6; default factory setting

38400 Baud: jumper 3-5, 4-6

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Other communication settings:

•

8 Bits

•

No Parity

•

1 Stop Bit

•

No Handshake

4.3 Connections – DIN-rail variant

RS232 Side, from left to right:

Cable shield

RS232 TX (TBS06DR output)

RS232 RX (TBS06DR input)

Ground

6-12V external supply input

SDI-12 Side, from left to right:

Cable shield

Ground

SDI-12 data line

SDI-12 supply voltage output

Figure 5 – Connections

TBS06DR is shipped with RS232 jumpered to 19200 Baud.

Following other Baud rates can be factory - jumpered upon specification in the order: 4800, 9600 and 32400
Baud.

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Other communication settings:

•

8 Bits

•

No Parity

•

1 Stop Bit

•

No Handshake

4 Pin terminal block:

CON1 – SDI-12 Interface

Shield: connect to the shield of the SDI-12 cable or leave it unconnected

Ground: connect to the GND wire of the SDI-12 cable

SDI-12 data: connect to the data wire of the SDI-12 cable

SDI-12 Power: connect to the positive supply voltage wire of the SDI-12 cable; the SDI-12 supply

voltage is directly connected to the RS232 supply line

6 Pin terminal block:

CON2 – Power supply & RS232 interface

+12V: connect to an external power supply (7V…12V)

Ground1: connect to the GND of supply for TBS06DR

Ground2: connect to the GND of COM port ( Pin 5 of DB9)

RxD: connect to TxD of the RS232 interface ( Pin 3 of DB9)

TxD: connect to RXD of the RS232 interface ( Pin 2 of DB9)

Shield: connect to the shield or leave it unconnected

Shield, Ground 1, Ground 2 and SDI-12 Ground are internally connected together

Jumper settings

Refer to Figure 4

Baud rate

4800 Baud

set jumpers J6, J8

9600 Baud

set jumpers J6, J9

19200 Baud

set jumpers J4, J8

38400 Baud

set jumpers J4, J9

Power management:

Jumper J2, position 1-2 jumpered: Always On (6 mA); default factory setting

Jumper J2, position 2-3 jumpered: Power saving mode (>250uA), TBS06 will wakup automatically when data
is present at the Rx pin, and switches into sleep mode 2.5 seconds after RX becomes idle

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

SDI-12 Basics

SDI-12 is a serial data communication standard for interfacing multiple sensors with a data recorder
SDI-12 uses a shared bus with 3 wires: power (12V), data, ground
Data rate: 1200 baud
Each  sensor  at  the  bus  gets  a  unique  address  which  is  in  the  range  ASCII  [0-9,  a-z,  A-Z].  The  default
address  of  every  sensor  is  ASCII[0]. When  setting  up  a  SDI-12  sensor  network,  every  sensor  needs  to  be
configured with a unique address. This can be done using the Change Address Command.
A sensor typically can measure one or more parameters.
Sensor  manufacturers  usually  specify  Extended  Commands  to  configure  or  calibrate  sensors.  This
commands are specified by the manufacturer, but they follow the command structure specified by SDI-12.

A typical recorder/sensor measurement sequence proceeds as follows:
1) The data recorder wakes all sensors on the SDI-12 bus with a break.
2) The recorder transmits a command to a specific, addressed sensor, instructing it to make a measurement.
3) The addressed sensor responds within 15.0 milliseconds returning the maximum time until the
measurement data will be ready and the number of data values it will return.
4) If the measurement is immediately available, the recorder transmits a command to the sensor instructing it
to return the measurement result(s). If the measurement is not ready, the data recorder waits for the sensor
to send a request to the recorder, which indicatesthat the data are ready. The recorder then transmits a
command to get the data.
5) The sensor responds, returning one or more measurement results

SDI-12 command structure:

Each  SDI-12  command  is  an  ASCII  string  with  up  to  5  characters,  starting  with  the  sensor  address  and
terminated by a ! character.
Example:
Send Identification Command 0I!
0  is  the  sensor  address  (sensor  zero).  Upon  receiving  this  command,  the  sensor  will  send  an  ASCII  string
containing  sensor  address,  SDI-12  compatibility  number,  company  name,  sensor  model  number,  sensor
version number and sensor serial number.

The standard process to carry out a measurement is to send a measurement request upon which the sensor
responds  with  the  time  that  is  required  to  carry  out  the  measurement  and  the  number  of  data  items  being
returned.  After  waiting  the  time  that  the  sensor  requires  to  carry  out  the  measurement,  the  data  recorder
sends a Read Command to get the measurement results.

Example:
Start Measurement Command 0M1!
Sensor 0 might respond 00302 which means the measurement will take 30 seconds and deliver 2 values.
After min. 30 seconds, the data recorder can send the Read Data Command 0D0! to which Sensor 0 might
reply 0+27+1050. +27+1050 is the two measurement results which may be 27°C and 1050 milibar.

The response string of a sensor is always in ASCII format and may contain up to 40 or up to 80 characters,
depending on the type of command. Out of 40 or 80 characters, the values part of the response string may
contain up to 35 or 75 characters.

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Setting up the TBS06

6.1 Requirements

6.1.1 User Interface

Any RTU, data logger or PC hyper terminal (e.g.: Windows Hyper Terminal, Terminal V1.9B, RealTerm,
Docklight or specific application software such as LabVIEW)

•

Set hyper terminal to 19200 baud, 8 Bits, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit, No Handshake

6.1.2 Hardware Interface

Figure 6 – RS232 connection

6.1.3 Read Data from sensor

On hyper terminal, send SDI-12 commands to read data from sensor.

Notice:

every SDI-12 command must be terminated by

CR/LF

character (0x0D, 0x0A)

V1.1

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 Interface

Figure 7 – Example: SDI-12 command flow on a terminal application

Ordering Information

Part Number

Description

TBS06

RS232 to SDI-12 interface in IP67 housing

TBS06-DR

RS232 to SDI-12 interface in DIN-rail housing

Default baud rate is 19200 Baud; default power management setting is “Always On”

If you want different settings, please specify in your order

Table 1 – Ordering Information

History

Version

Date

Author

Changes

V1.0

13.09.2012

Thinh

Creation of the document

V1.1

07.03.2014

Mayerhofer

Communication settings added

V1.2

23.09.2015

Mayerhofer

Fibox and Dinrail variant manuals merged

Table 1 – History

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