ION8650 read Device Type and Serial Number over Modbus

[simar]

Hi
Is there a way to make it possible to readout

• Device Type (FAC1 DeviceType)
• Serial Number (FAC1 SerialNum)
• Revision (FAC1 Revision, (optionally))

via Modbus on an ION8650 power meter?

I have tried to map these information to modbus registers via ION Setup (follow my way in the image), but they do not seem to be available in the Factory Modules.

 

Background: I need to check whether the device my modbus master device is talking to is actually an ION8650 meter and to exactly identify the device via serial number.

ION Setup is version 3.2.25317.02

Thank you in advance, simar

[Jesus_Diaz]

Hi @simar,

In the ION8650, starting from firmware version V004.xxx.xxx, the default Modbus registers no longer provide the model number. There is no default register available to retrieve the device type. However, it is possible to modify the meter’s Modbus register list and map an External Numeric (with the defined device‑type value) to a new custom register. To create an External Numeric module, you need to access Advanced Mode in ION Setup (press Ctrl + click on the meter).

The firmware version is provided as ASCII characters in registers 1901 to 1912.

Regards,

JD

[Charles_Murison]

To extend what Jesus is talking about, you can use multiple external numeric modules to create a series of registers that could then be read by software and understood to me ASCII.
For Example a serial number MW-0901B123-01, convert this into a series of ASCII values, M = 0x4D, W=0x57 '0'=0x30 .... Combine pairs of characters, 'MW' = 0x4D57 = 19799, '09' = 0x3039 = 12345  ... continue until you have the serial number as desired. If you are okay with not including the letters you could simplify the serial number to just the 0901, and 123 as external numeric registers. The letter between 0901 and 123 could also be read as a thousand A=0,B=1,C=2 ... Then 2 external numeric numbers could be 901 and 1123.

Regards,

Charles

[simar]

Hi @Jesus_Diaz 

Thank you for your detailed explanation!

I was able to successfully read the firmware version.

I do have a couple of follow-up questions to clarify my understanding:

1. Am I correct in understanding that, with the default Modbus configuration, there is no way to identify whether my Modbus master is connected to a Schneider Electric device (e.g., an ION8650), nor to retrieve details such as the device model or serial number?

2. Regarding the creation of an External Numeric module in ION Setup: does this require physically unlocking the meter (i.e., opening the device), or can it be done purely through software access?

3. In the end, I want to read energy and power data from the meter, but I must identify the device first. Initially, I considered modbus to be the simplest solution. However, if the meter cannot be identified over modbus, is another protocol supported by the ION8650 (e.g. DLMS or DNP V3.00) maybe more suitable to this problem? Ideally, no modifications should be necessary on the meter (exept settings than can be made with the buttons on the device itself or via the used protocol) to read power / energy data and device identification information.

Kind regards,
Simar

[Jesus_Diaz]

Hi @simar,

1. No, not with the default template.
2. You can access and program the meter using ION Setup by connecting to the meter over Ethernet.
3. I’m not sure if DNP3.0 will help. @Charles_Murison, do you know if DNP3.0 or any other protocol can identify the meter without modifications?

[Charles_Murison · Accepted solution]

Hello  

1) Correct, with default modbus configuration ION8650 meters with V4.40.1 firmware, do not include way to identify meter. In the world of ION many things are possible. For example, the PT primary and  PT secondary can be set to a range of numbers as long as the ratio stays the say. If meter is direct connect, you could set PT Primary and PT secondary to the last 3 numbers in the serial. If you need PT ratios that are quite large, you may not be able to do a trick like this. 

2) Locking has a specific meaning in the world of ION8650 meters. The meters could be revenue locked that prevent making changes to any parameter that could affect revenue billing (power and energy etc.). The options string does not suggest that this is the case. If you have a user and password that is able to write to the meter it is possible to create the External numeric module (not external to the meter) with software. 

3) DLMS will not give you real time readings, only logged data. DNP3.0 I do not see any mention of serial number in the Device profile document. https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=70022-0126-00&p_enDocType=User+guide&p_File_...

Regards,

Charles