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The Counter and Scale Meter are capable of supplying more than 1 measurement value (or
“Item”) with each reading, as selected in “Ser 3”. In the counter, there can be up to 3 Items
plus a Peak value, depending on the selected Function. The scale meter can transmit Net, Gross
and Peak weight.
Values are transmitted in a continuous string with no space between them. If the 5
th
digit in
“Ser 3” is set to 1, the termination characters of <CR> and optional <LF> appear after each
value. If the 5
th
digit is et to 0, the termination characters appear only once at the end of the
string. In either case, if included, the coded character appears at the end of the last value only.
5.3 NETWORK CONFIGURATIONS
The instruments can operate in a point-to-point mode using RS-232 or RS-485, or in a multi-
point mode using RS-485.
The point-to-point mode
is a direct connection between a computer (or other digital device)
and the instrument.
The multi-point mode
is a connection from a host computer to a multiplicity of instruments
bused together with their inputs and outputs connected in parallel. For long cable runs, the last
device should have a termination resistor installed. It is necessary to set up each device on the
bus with a different address from 1 to 31. To command a particular device, its address is used
in conjunction with the command, and only that device responds. The outputs of all of the
devices on the bus are set to a high impedance state, except the device being addressed. The
device addresses range from 1 to 31, with 0 being a special address to which a meter responds
only internally (e.g. Reset), but does not transmit any response on the output lines. All devices
may be commanded simultaneously with a 0 address, and there will not be any output
response contention. Addressing of meters can be set in “Ser 2”.
A device operating in a point-to-point mode must also be addressed. Although any address will
suffice, it is suggested address = 1 be selected as a standard for the point-to-point mode.
5.4 OPERATING MODES
The instruments can operate in a Continuous Mode or Command Mode.
In the Continuous Mode,
measurements are continuously transmitted by the meter in a
standard data format. Please see the next manual section.
In the Command Mode
, the meter does not send any data automatically, but responds to com-
mands received from a host computer. Please see the manual section following the Continuous
Mode.