White Paper on MODBUS Protocol Communication
1. Introduction to MODBUS Communication
MODBUS is an open, widely used serial communication protocol originally published by Modicon
(now Schneider Electric) in 1979. It is used in SCADA systems and industrial automation for
connecting electronic devices. It supports communication between devices over serial lines
(MODBUS RTU/ASCII) and TCP/IP networks (MODBUS TCP).
2. How to Communicate Using MODBUS
MODBUS supports RTU, ASCII, and TCP communication. It operates on a master-slave
architecture. In RTU mode, communication is binary and uses a frame structure with address,
function code, data, and CRC.
Steps:
1. Configure baud rate, parity, data bits, and stop bits.
2. Set slave address.
3. Use MODBUS master to poll data.
4. Slave responds.
3. Issues Faced During Communication
- Wrong serial parameters
- Incorrect slave address
- Unsupported function codes
- Electrical noise
- Grounding issues
- Framing errors
Exception Codes:
01 - Illegal Function
02 - Illegal Data Address
03 - Illegal Data Value
04 - Slave Device Failure
4. Troubleshooting MODBUS Communication
1. Check physical layer: RS485 cabling, termination resistors.
2. Verify serial settings.
3. Use known working setup.
4. Use diagnostic tools.
5. Check response times.
6. Check for address conflicts.
7. Perform loopback test.
5. Diagnostics Using Tools
Software Tools:
- ModScan
- Modbus Poll
- CAS Modbus Scanner
- Wireshark with MODBUS dissector
- QModMaster
Hardware Tools:
- USB-to-RS485 Adapter
- Protocol Analyzer
- Serial Tester (LEDs)
6. Conclusion
MODBUS is reliable and easy to implement. Proper configuration and diagnostic tools can improve
reliability and reduce downtime.