Operating Manual

Accu-Wave Chapter 8 Serial Ports, Contact Inputs & Special Fcts
TN Technologies 8-7
Chapter 8 Serial Ports, Contact Inputs, and
Special Functions
This chapter describes the menu items under the “Set up serial ports, contact INPUT, or
Special functions” menu. This menu group includes menu subgroups for the following
gauge functions.
Configure the RS-232 (port 1) and RS-485 (port 2) serial ports for communicating with
computer terminals and printers and set up the data stream transmission parameters.
Assign commands to execute when the contact closure input(s) are opened or closed.
Set up and control the gauge’s “Special functions” – a variety of useful, but specialized
menu items for controlling the operation of relays, specifying what is shown on the
measurement displays, and enabling the “service only” menu items.
Serial Ports
The gauge offers both an RS-232 single–drop (port 1) and an RS-485 multi–drop (port 2)
serial interface. Each port provides independent access to the gauge's measurement and
software functions, and both ports can be used simultaneously. For example, the system is
able to communicate with a host computer on one port, while sending data to a printer on
the other port.
The remote device (host computer or terminal) can enter or recall setup data and enter
commands. Interactive communications on either port emulate the integral keypad on the
transmitter. The gauge interprets the received characters as keypad entries.
By default, the gauge’s serial interface emulates the transmitter’s integral display and
keypad when you connect a remote ANSI terminal or a PC with ANSI terminal emulation
software to the RS-232 port (or to the RS-485 port using an RS-232 to RS-485 adapter).
Alternately, you can connect a TN Model 9733 Hand Held Terminal to the RS-485 port.
The RS-485 port supports multi-unit “party line” communications for a maximum of 32
units. Each unit must be assigned a unique unit identification number so it can be
addressed individually. A unit assigned the default unit number of zero will behave as if it
is the only unit in use.
TN Technologies offers TNComm software for your PC that lets you set up and monitor
daisy-chained RS-485 gauges, download or upload gauge setups, and emulate a Model
9733 Hand-Held Terminal.
Terminal Types
The menus allow you to configure the RS-232 (Port 1) and RS-485 (Port 2) ports to
communicate with the following devices.