Xylem H-4191 User Manual

Model

H-4191

RS-232 to SDI-12 Interface Module

Owner's Manual

Version 1.0

75 West 100 South, Logan, Utah 84321 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Web: http://www.waterlog.com E-mail: [e-mail]

D E S I G N A N A L Y S I S A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .

75 West 100 South, Logan, Utah 84321 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Web: http://www.waterlog.com E-mail: [e-mail]

D E S I G N A N A L Y S I S A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .

Chapter 1

Operation

1.0 Introduction

The W
to a personal computer or RS-232 terminal the H-4191 can be used to test and monitor SDI-12
sensors and data recorders. The H-4191 allows a programable logic controller (PLC), remote
terminal unit (RTU) or other data collection device with a RS-232 interface to access SDI-12
sensors. The H-4191 provides the RS-232 to SDI-12 electrical interface, generates the critical
bus timing, parity and command retries needed for the SDI-12 bus protocol..

The “SDI-12 Serial-Digital Interface” is ideal for data logging applications with the following
requirements:

 Battery powered operation with minimal current drain
 Low system cost
 Digital sensors output data directly in user units
 Sensors are interoperable and available from many different manufacturers

ATER

LOG® H-4191 is a RS-232 to SDI-12 gateway (interface) module. When connected

The H-4191 has the following features:

 Provides both electrical and protocol interface functions between RS-232 & SDI-12
 Works with any sensor command/response message including vendor specific extended

commands.

 Buffers the command so no special timing is required.
 Generates proper parity for the SDI-12 bus.
 Automatically sends SDI-12 retries.
 Passes the sensor service request to the host.
 Supports optional CTS/RTS hardware flow control for a slow host device.
 Low power mode facilitates use with a RS-232 data radio.
 LED shows when the H-4191 is awake.
 Built in “sensor” can measure the battery voltage.

The H-4191 is packaged in a rugged plastic enclosure with screw mount ears. Connectors
located on each end provide easy hookup.

H-4191

Operation 1-1

1.1 Applications

Figure 1 shows a monitoring application where a laptop computer is used to monitor the SDI-12
communication between a data recorder and two SDI-12 sensors. Figure 2 shows the connections
when using the H-4191 as a gateway between a PLC and two SDI-12 sensors.

Figure 4 Monitor a data recorder

Figure 3 Interface between a PLC and

two SDI-12 Sensors

1.2 Operation

The H-4191 has a microprocessor with both RS-232 and SDI-12 interface ports. The H-4191
normally operates as a SDI-12 master device: it issues SDI-12 commands and collects responses.
Under certain conditions the H-4191 can respond to host commands itself as a “pseudo” SDI-12
sensor (see Section 1.7).

The RS-232 interface port is connected to a personal computer or other “host” device. The H­4191 provides two way communication between the RS-232 host and the SDI-12 bus. During
normal operation, the host device sends an address together with a command to a SDI-12 sensor.
The sensor then replies with a "response".

1-2 Operation

H-4191

1.2.1 Commands

The RS-232 host interface is fixed at 9600 baud. The H-4191 inputs SDI-12 commands (ASCII
characters) from the host and places the character string in a buffer. Up to 60 characters can be
buffered. The command can be sent at any speed, even hand-typed commands will work. The
backspace character (08h) is supported and deletes the previous character in the buffer. Note: the
SDI-12 protocol requires upper case characters. When the H-4191 detects the “!” SDI-12
command terminator character the H-4191 generates a SDI-12 break and transmits the contents
of the buffer to the SDI-12 port in a contiguous burst with the proper parity and bus timing. The
H-4191 also accepts the <CR> character (ENTER Key) as a command terminator and substitutes
the <CR> character with the required “!” SDI-12 command terminator. This makes the H-4191
easier to use for computer users who more commonly complete a message with the ENTER Key.
If you use the ENTER Key to terminate the message, do not type the “!” character.

The H-4191 automatically generates SDI-12 compliant parity and timing. After transmitting the
command, the H-4191 waits for up to 40mS for a sensor response. If the sensor response fails to
arrive, the H-4191 performs a retry sequence specified by the SDI-12 protocol. The H-4191
generates up to four breaks with up to four retries per break (16 retries total).

1.2.2 Sensor Response

The response from a SDI-12 sensor is input by the H-4191 at 1200 baud and output to the RS­232 port at 9600 baud. Any sensor service requests or other SDI-12 bus traffic are also forwarded
from the SDI-12 port to the RS-232 port. This feature allows the H-4191 to be used to passively
monitor the activity on a SDI-12 bus between a data recorder and its sensors.

H-4191

Operation 1-3

1.3 Making Connections

Connect the RS-232 port of the H-4191 to the serial port of your personal computer or other host
device with a standard 9-pin RS-232 cable (provided). The H-4191 has a female connector and is
a DCE (modem) device. The cable has 9-pin RS-232 connectors which can be plugged directly
into a PC serial port without the use of gender or null-modem adapters. Program your host device
for 9600 baud, 8-bit, no parity, full-duplex communication The host device must assert either
CTS or DSR to awaken the H-4191 from it’s low power sleep mode.

RS-232 Connector

Pin Name Direction Description Function

1 nc not used

2 TxD Output Transmit Data Transmit data to host device

3 RxD Input Receive Data Receive data from host device

4 DSR Input Data Set Ready Awakens the H-4191 when asserted.

5 GND Ground Ground

6 nc not used

7 CTS Input Clear To Send Awakens the H-4191 when asserted.

Controls TxD if RTS/CTS flow
control is on.

8 RTS Output Request To Send Asserted when awake and output

9 nc not used

The H-4191 has a 4-position
terminal strip for making
connections to the SDI-12
bus. The H-4191 is powered
from the +12V power
terminal.

buffer is not full

1-4 Operation

H-4191

1.4 Testing the Interface

You can test the H-4191 with a simple RS-232 terminal or computer using a terminal program
such as Xtalk or Hyperterminal. The terminal program must assert either the CTS or DSR (or
both) input signals to the H-4191 to awaken it from sleep. The red LED on the H-4191 will be
illuminated when it is awake and ready to communicate. The interface is a full-duplex connection,
depending on the settings of your terminal program you may or may not be able to see what you
are typing on your screen. If you make a mistake while typing the command, use backspace key to
delete the previous keystroke. If you make a mistake and are not sure what is in the H-4191's
buffer, press the “!” or ENTER Keys to flush the buffer and start over.

When the H-4191 is first powered up it transmits a “H-4191 Initialized” debugging message to
the RS-232 port.

1.4.1 H-4191 Initiates the Commands

Try the following commands. The sensor address in these examples is “0" and the sensor is a
Design Analysis H-350 pressure sensor. If your sensor has a different address use the appropriate
address.

1. Check to see if you can communicate with the sensor.
Issue a “0I!” Identify command.

The sensor should respond with: “012 DAA H-350001S#000000V10<CR><LF>”

2. Make a measurement.
Issue a “0M!” command.

The sensor should respond with: “00153<CR><LF>”
After 14 seconds the sensor will send a service request: “0<CR><LF>

Issue a “0D0" command to collect the data.

The sensor should respond with: “0+4.56+0.0000+0.2<CR><LF>”

1.4.2 H-4191 Monitors the SDI-12 Bus

The H-4191 can be used to passively monitor the activity on a SDI-12 bus. You can observe both
the commands from the data recorder and the responses from the sensors. The communications
between a data recorder and a Model H-350 pressure sensor would appear as follows:

0M!00153
0D0!0+4.56+0.0000+50.0

In this example the data recorder issued a “0M!” command, the sensor responded with
“00153<CR><LF> “ (sensor 0, measurement time = 015 sec, 3 parameters will be returned).
Next, the data recorder issued a “0D0!” command and the sensor responded with
“0+4.56+0.0000+50.0<CR><LF> (sensor 0, stage = 4.56, PSI = 0.0, temperature = 50.0).

H-4191

Operation 1-5