How to connect to an ION7550 directly using iON setup3.0

[sesa287810]

I have connected an iON7550 using a usb-rs485 converter directly to my laptop. I have tried to connect this one meter as a single device and I have tried to connect as a network. I want to capture the historic voltage highs in a meter.

I have tried to connect via an EGX100 with both iON setup and PME and cannot communicate with the meter at all. I have the meter set to protocol Modbus RTU @ 19200 and 8N1. I have tried changing the protocol to iON and still does not connect. Note there is no Ethernet port on this meter. I can however read holding registers using a Modbus scanner with both serial and Ethernet/gateway connections. Why will it not work with PME or iON setup??

[sesa186702]

Dear Chantal Farrelly,

For your case, You should change the protocol of Serial port  to ION protocol to connect direct it to IONSetup or PME

IONSetup just support ION protocol for direct connect...Otherwise (Modbus protocol), you just can use EGX Gateway to connect it

Best Regard

[Robert_Lee]

When connecting any ION devices to either ION Setup or PME, the ION device should be configured to communicate using ION protocol if available (or PML in the case of the ION6200).  This is the expected protocol to use when using our software when adding the device normally.  If you require to communicate using Modbus protocol (RTU or TCP), then you would need to add the device to either software as a "Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP" device (not as an ION one).  Doing so however, will limit what type of information you are trying to retrieve as most of the more advanced data/configuration is only available using ION protocol.

EGX or any gateway using IP port 502 will likely be only using Modbus TCP/RTU so you should try getting the USB RS-485 converter working.  Please note that some converters will echo information so make sure that option is turned off (here is a [DEAD LINK /message/1131#1131]post with some details on some RS-485 converters I've come across).

[sesa287810]

Hi Dang-Minh,

I did change the protocol to ION on the iON7550 and it still would not connect to iON setup using a USB-RS485 converter.

[sesa287810]

Even using a USB to RS485 converter with iON protocol would not work on iON setup. It simply would not connect.

EGX cannot be used as a gateway for iON meters as they cannot handle iON protocol. You can read holding registers of the iON meters in the EGX web interface but you cannot connect to the meter in PME.

[Robert_Lee]

Do the LEDs on the ION7550 comm card blink (both Tx and Rx) when you attempt to connect using the USB <=> RS-485 converter?  You mention that Modbus Scanner also works in this configuration and you can do the same in ION Setup as long as you manually add the device as a "Modbus RTU" and not as a ION 7550 meter.  You then go to the Tools -> Diagnostics and use the Modbus Tester Interface to do something similar to ModScan.

Likewise, it ModScan can retrieve Modbus data through the EGX, you would be able to add a Modbus Gateway to ION:S as well and that should work as well.

[sesa287810]

I just tried using the Modbus tester interface in iON setup making the meter a Modbus RTU device and the Tx light does not flicker. Only when I use another Modbus scanner (CAS Modbus scanner) do both LEDs flicker and I get a response. I don't understand why it will not work in iON setup.

[sesa186702]

Normally, It should work well,

Please check again your setting in ION7550 ION Meter such as

In IONSetup, It should be (COM port is PC Comport or Port of USB-RS485 Converter )

And the configuration for IONMeter must be

Please check again

[sesa287810]

Hi Dang-Minh,

I have done those steps you mentioned and it seems it still cannot connect to the meter in IONsetup. The only communication I get is if I can the protocol to Modbus RTU on the meter and do a Modbus scan using CAS Modbus Scanner. I have tried iON setup 3.0 and the previous version and it does not make a difference.

[sesa186702]

For your case, you should contact TSC for more support. It seem like effected by hardware meter

TSC: AdvancedTechSupport IN/IN/Schneider

[Yut · Accepted solution]

RTS and DTR control in timing  panel must be set to Disable

[Robert_Lee]

First off, if you are trying to using Single Device mode, it will only work if the ION meter is communicating using ION protocol (this is why its called "Single ION device mode") and not Modbus RTU (or Modbus TCP).

From the description of your original post, it sounds like you are wanting to capture historic highs and I'm taking from that you want to configure a data recorder to monitor 15 minute max values and record those and you wish to download those on a periodic basis (likely with PME).  This should be done using ION protocol only (using Modbus RTU is not recommended as you would only be able to record as accurately as your polling speed and not by the device itself).

Unless you have another ION meter which supports Ethergate (or a suitable other Ethernet gateway device like a Lantronix), you will be limited to using some type of USB to RS-485 (or RS-232) unless your PC has a standard RS-232 connector available (in which case, you could just plug in a NULL-modem RS-232 cable into the RS-232 port of the 7550 Com1 port and reconfigure for RS-232 operation).

When using some USB converters, you may have to change the RTS/CTS settings as described here in this [DEAD LINK /message/1131#1131]post depending on how that converter has been configured to operate.

So things you can try is to use HyperTerminal and set the 7550 protocol to Factory and see what happens when you hit <Enter> a few times to see if you see a prompt appear (and see if the Rx LED lights up on the 7550).  Like Yut says, you might have to play around with the RTS/DTR settings via the site properties in order to get the USB converter to operate properly like it says in the above post.

[sesa287810]

Thanks for the feedback. I have just used a null modem to connect via rs232 and I can connect to the meter in iON setup and PME. Thanks for all your help