V1.2
TBS06
RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
© 2011 Tekbox Digital Solutions
50/11 Truong Son, F2 | Q. Tan Binh | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel +84 (83)5471340 | E-mail office@tekbox.net| www.tekbox.net
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
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TBS06
RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
2
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 P
RODUCT FEATURES
3
1.2 M
ECHANICAL DIMENSIONS
3
2 APPLICATION 4
3 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION 4
3.1 O
VERVIEW
4
3.2 I
NTERFACE WITH
PC 4
4 HARDWARE DESCRIPTION 5
4.1 B
OARD OVERVIEW
5
4.2 C
ONNECTIONS – FIBOX VARIANT
6
4.3 C
ONNECTIONS –
DIN-
RAIL VARIANT
7
5 SDI-12 BASICS 9
6 SETTING UP THE TBS06 10
6.1 R
EQUIREMENTS
10
6.1.1
User Interface 10
6.1.2
Hardware Interface 10
6.1.3
Read Data from sensor 10
7 ORDERING INFORMATION 11
8 HISTORY 11
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TBS06
RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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1 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 18th, 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
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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2 Application
TBS06
RS232 to SDI-12 Converter
Figure 1 –TBS06 Application, standard setup for controlling / testing sensors
3 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)
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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4 Hardware Description
4.1 Board overview
Figure 3 – Board Connections, Jumper Settings of Fibox variant
Figure 4 – Board Connections, Jumper Settings of Dinrail variant
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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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
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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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
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.
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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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
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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5 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.
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RS232 to SDI-12 Interface
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6 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)
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Figure 7 – Example: SDI-12 command flow on a terminal application
7 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
8 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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