5.1 Overview on RS-485 Communication
5-1
Chap. 5 RUNNING THROUGH RS-485 COMMUNICATION (OPTION)
5.1 Overview on RS-485 Communication
Mounting an optional RS-485 communications card on the FRENIC-Mini series of inverters enables the
following:
îš„ Operation from a remote keypad
A remote keypad can be connected to the RS-485 communications card using the extension cable. You
may install the remote keypad to the easy-to-access front of the control panel. The maximum length of the
extension cable is 66 ft (20 m).
îš„ Operation by FRENIC Loader
The Windows-based PC can be connected to the RS-485 communications card. Through the RS-485
communications facility, you may run FRENIC Loader in the PC to edit the function code data and
monitor the running status information of the inverter.
îš„ Operation from the host equipment
Host equipment such as a PLC or personal computer can be connected to the RS-485 communications card.
It may act as a master device that controls the inverter as a slave device.
Protocols for managing a network including inverters include the Modbus RTU protocol (compliant to the
protocol established by Modicon Inc.) that is widely used in FA markets and the Fuji general-purpose
protocol that supports the FRENIC-Mini and conventional series of inverters.
For the remote keypad, the inverter uses the dedicated protocol that automatically switches
the operation source to the remote keypad, so no function code setting is required.
For FRENIC loader, however, you need to set up function code H30 for some
communications conditions although the dedicated protocol is used.