RS-485 module as transmitter
RS-485 module as receiver
Simplex communication between two Arduinos by RS485
Half-duplex communication between two Arduinos by RS485

Maurizfa (13216008) / Arthur Jogy (13216037) / Agha Maretha (13216095) • Posted by Houma-Hackster

Published May 17, 2020 © GPL3+

Modbus (RS-485) Using Arduino

We implement RS-485 protocol in communication between two Arduinos using MAX485 module.

IntermediateShowcase (no instructions)1 hour181,771

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

5V MAX485 TTL to RS485

Rotary potentiometer (generic)

SG90 Micro-servo motor

Breadboard (generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

RS-485 is one type of asynchronous serial communication protocol because there is no synchronizing clock signal transmitted along with the data. RS-485 uses differential signaling to transfer binary data from one device to another. Differential signaling worked by creating differential voltage using 5V positive and negative.This differential signaling method has the advantage in rejecting common mode noise.

RS-485 supports a maximum data transfer rate of 30 Mbps. RS-485 also supports many slaves with a single master. RS-485 protocol can have up to 32 devices connected.

In this project, we are going to implement RS-485 protocol in communication between two Arduinos using MAX485 module. This module uses 5V as operating voltage and has pinout configuration as shown in the following table.

RS-485 module as transmitter

In order to be used as a transmitter, RE pin and DE pin must be connected to 5V, and DI pin is connected to TX. Data is sent from Arduino TX pin to module DI pin, then data will be sent through AB.

RS-485 module as receiver

In order to be used as a receiver, RE pin and DE pin must be connected to GND, and RO pin is connected to RX. Data received by AB will be sent to RO pin that is connected to Arduino RX pin so the data can be read by Arduino.

RS-485 can be implemented into three types of serial communication system: simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex. But in this project, we are only implementing simplex and half-duplex.

Simplex communication between two Arduinos by RS485

Simplex communication is unidirectional communication (one sends data and the other only receives data), with one arduino behaving only as transmitter and the other only as receivers. In this experiment, the transmitter reads data from potentiometer to control the servo motor which is connected to the receiver.

The result is as shown in video below:

Half-duplex communication between two Arduinos by RS485

Half-duplex communication is two-way communication using one channel which we cannot receive and transfer data at the same time. Both arduino behave either as transmitter or receiver alternately, controlled by a GPIO pin (HIGH to enable as transmitter, LOW to enable as receiver). In this experiment, Arduino 1 not only reads data from potentiometer to control the servo motor connected to Arduino 2, but also receives data from sensor (represented as potentiometer) connected to Arduino 2, then turns on the built-in LED if the data has reached the threshold.

The result is as shown in video below:

Reference:

https://naylampmechatronics.com/blog/37_Comunicación-RS485-con-Arduino.html

Code

const int ledPin =  13;  // Built-in LED
const int EnTxPin =  2;  // HIGH:Transmitter, LOW:Receiver
void setup() 
{ 
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.setTimeout(100);  
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(EnTxPin, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); 
  digitalWrite(EnTxPin, HIGH); 
} 
 
void loop() 
{   
  int rdata = analogRead(0); //data from potentiometer 
  int angle= map(rdata, 0, 1023, 0, 180); 
  
  //transmitter data packet
  Serial.print("I"); //initiate data packet
  Serial.print("S"); //code for servo
  Serial.print(angle); //servo angle data
  Serial.print("F"); //finish data packet
  delay(50); 

  //receiver data packet
  Serial.print("I"); //initiate data packet
  Serial.print("L"); //code for sensor
  Serial.print("F"); //finish data packet
  Serial.flush();    
  
  digitalWrite(EnTxPin, LOW); //RS485 as receiver

  if(Serial.find("i"))
  {
      int data=Serial.parseInt(); 
      if(Serial.read()=='f') //finish reading
       {
         onLED(data);            
      }
      
  }
  digitalWrite(EnTxPin, HIGH); //RS485 as transmitter
  
} 

void onLED(int data)
{
  if(data>500)
     digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); 
  else
     digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); 
}

#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo; 
const int EnTxPin = 2;
void setup () {
  Serial.begin (9600);
  myservo.attach (9); 
  pinMode(EnTxPin, OUTPUT );
  digitalWrite (EnTxPin, LOW );
}

void loop (){
  if ( Serial.available ()){
    if ( Serial.read () == 'I' ){
      char function = Serial.read ();
      if (function == 'S' ){
        int angle = Serial.parseInt ();
        if ( Serial.read () == 'F' ){
          if (angle <= 180) {
            myservo.write (angle);
          }
        }
      }
      else if (function == 'L' ){
        if ( Serial.read () == 'F' ){
          int val = analogRead (0);
          digitalWrite (EnTxPin, HIGH ); //enable to transmit
          Serial.print ( "i" ); 
          Serial.print (val); 
          Serial.println ( "f" ); 
          Serial.flush (); 
          digitalWrite (EnTxPin, LOW ); //enable to receive
        }
      }
    }
  }
  delay (10);
}

#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo; 
const int EnTxPin = 2;
void setup () {
  Serial.begin (9600);
  myservo.attach (9); 
  pinMode(EnTxPin, OUTPUT );
  digitalWrite (EnTxPin, LOW );
}

void loop (){
  if ( Serial.available ()){
    if ( Serial.read () == 'I' ){
      char function = Serial.read ();
      if (function == 'S' ){
        int angle = Serial.parseInt ();
        if ( Serial.read () == 'F' ){
          if (angle <= 180) {
            myservo.write (angle);
          }
        }
      }
      else if (function == 'L' ){
        if ( Serial.read () == 'F' ){
          int val = analogRead (0);
          digitalWrite (EnTxPin, HIGH ); //enable to transmit
          Serial.print ( "i" ); 
          Serial.print (val); 
          Serial.println ( "f" ); 
          Serial.flush (); 
          digitalWrite (EnTxPin, LOW ); //enable to receive
        }
      }
    }
  }
  delay (10);
}

Credits

Maurizfa (13216008) / Arthur Jogy (13216037) / Agha Maretha (13216095)

Posted by

Houma-Hackster

Modbus (RS-485) Using Arduino