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REV 0.0 April 18, 2023 

 

 

Page 1 

 

  

 

RS485 Cellular Gateway 

Installation Manual 
 

 

 

730 The Kingsway Peterborough, ON  K9J6W6  Canada  
Tel:  (705) 740 — 2010       Web: www.abmsensor.com 
Fax: (705) 740 — 2563        E-mail: [email protected]

  

 

 

A - Introduction 
 

This manual describes the requirements to successfully connect 
up to eight ABM radar level sensor products in an RS485 
network hosted by the ABM RS485 Cellular Gateway. 
 
The Gateway not only acquires data from these sensors but can 
also control them. Users have access to remotely change all alarm 
related functions, while ABM experts can remotely recalibrate 
and fine-tune the sensors for optimized performance in their 
respective environments. 
 
The Gateway can also be used to power any DC version ABM 
radar level sensor (ABM300 series), which can simplify cable 
routing in many cases. 

 

 

 

 

B - Requirements 

 

Cellular Network 

 

The key to reliable Gateway operation is suitable cellular phone network access. While urban and developed areas 
typically provide excellent cellular signal strength, there may be some installations where the cellular signal is weak. For 
such locations, it is highly recommended that the installer determine an optimal mounting location by using a cell phone 
display to assess the signal strength. 
 
The standard antenna supplied with the Gateway has a magnetic-base and a 6’ (2m) cable that allows mounting on top of 
a tank or structure for optimal signal strength while mounting the Gateway in a more sheltered or accessible area. The 
optional SMA-mounted antennas have slightly higher gain. For difficult installations, the ABM Sensor technical team can 
provide advice regarding the use of directional antenna and extension cables. 
 

Power Supply 

 
The Gateway requires an input supply voltage of 6 to 30Vdc. Peak power is 6W (1A at 6V down to 0.2A at 30V). This peak 
only occurs for a very short period during cellular transmissions.  
 
If the Gateway is connected to supply DC-powered ABM sensors (see Appendix), it supplies an output of ≥18V, provided 
the following requirements are met for the supply input voltage (V

IN

): 

 

For 1 sensor, V

IN

 ≥ 6Vdc 

 

For 2 sensors, V

IN 

 ≥ 9Vdc 

 

For 3 sensors, V

IN

  ≥ 12Vdc 

 

For 4 sensors, V

IN

  ≥ 15Vdc 

 

For 5 sensors, V

IN

 ≥ 18Vdc 

 

For 6 to 8 sensors, V

IN

 ≥ 21Vdc 

 

The number and type of ABM sensors connected to the Gateway determine its total power requirement. Input current up to 
600mA at 21-30Vdc may be required for an eight sensor configuration. 

 

 

Summary of Contents for ABM1-RUCM-C4

Page 1: ... it is highly recommended that the installer determine an optimal mounting location by using a cell phone display to assess the signal strength The standard antenna supplied with the Gateway has a magnetic base and a 6 2m cable that allows mounting on top of a tank or structure for optimal signal strength while mounting the Gateway in a more sheltered or accessible area The optional SMA mounted an...

Page 2: ...on box is required to connect it to the RS485 and DC power buses It is not necessary to install the Gateway at one end of the RS485 bus as shown in several examples in Section D it can be located anywhere in the network The RS485 cabling must be connected in a multi drop or daisy chain configuration as star configurations i e with long branches are not recommended Short stubs are acceptable maximu...

Page 3: ...y grounded through their mounting for instance where a metal or otherwise conductive tank is grounded to earth through its base and the sensor is installed without an isolating mount such as an aiming device If a DC sensor is not indirectly grounded in this manner nor grounded through an earth ground wire connected to either Terminal 3 or 6 then the system shield wire should be connected to Termin...

Page 4: ...Gateway is not supplying sensor power the red wire is either cut off or insulated with tape inside the sensor The black wire from the red black pair is still connected to provide a signal common for the RS485 link so it is connected to Common at Terminal 4 mA Output The shield is shown grounded at the power supply and not connected in the sensor As AC powered sensors have both Terminals 3 and 6 ea...

Page 5: ... shown being earth grounded at the sensor since being AC powered Terminal 3 must be earthed through Terminal 6 Optionally the shield could be earth grounded at the junction box but not at the sensor As Terminal 4 mA Output is the signal common for both the current output and the RS485 in the sensor it is acceptable to provide this connection through the one black wire to the junction box as shown ...

Page 6: ... the sensor is mounted on a non metallic tank or uses a sensor aiming mount that electrically insulates the housing from earth ground Figure 3 Simple DC Sensor Connections No Current Output Note that if the DC power supply is located at a significant distance and the junction box has an available earth ground connection much closer to the Gateway and sensor it may be more desirable to ground the s...

Page 7: ...uirements see section B Requirements Power Supply above Figure 4 Multiple DC Sensor Connections Shield Earth Grounded at Power Supply 5 Multiple DC Powered Sensors The following example shows the Gateway wired to control multiple sensors each with a current loop output to the PLC As they are all DC version sensors they are powered directly from the 24Vdc supply It is shown as a separate power supp...

Page 8: ...REV 0 0 April 18 2023 Page 8 Figure 5 Multiple DC Sensors with Current Outputs ...

Page 9: ... be indirectly earth grounded through its mounting configuration caution required re shield wire may be powered from the Gateway sensor power output AC Radar ABM400 xxxYYC4 series and ABM430 xxxYYC4 series should be earth grounded through its AC supply do not connect shield wire cannot be powered from the Gateway where YY any one of R2 R5 R6 R2R7 or R6R2 ...

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