Ethernet port in MFM
In this digital world, panels are manufactured keeping future connectivity readiness in mind. With higher
automation, customers would prefer all communication capable devices on Ethernet port including
meters. Ethernet cables are connected from the devices to the switch within 60-70 meters distance as
per standard industry practice.
L&T Electrical &Automation (E&A) 5000 series of meter offer Modbus
RTU via Ethernet. Modbus TCP/IP is simply the Modbus protocol with
a TCP interface that runs on Ethernet. The most basic difference
between MODBUS RTU and MODBUS TCP/IP is that MODBUS TCP/IP
runs on an Ethernet physical layer, and Modbus RTU is a serial level
protocol. In Modbus RTU where nodes are connected in daisy chain manner, integrators and users must
deal with wire termination issues from one device to another, RS485 termination issues and more
configuration issues than with Ethernet devices.
With Ethernet, it is a combination of a scalable and worldwide used physical network (Ethernet) with a
universal networking standard (TCP/IP) and a vendor-neutral data representation, Modbus. This
protocol gives a truly open, accessible network, which allows blocks of binary data to be exchanged
between devices. It is simple to implement for any device that supports TCP/IP sockets, with a switch
and cable available to each device. It remains fully compatible with the already installed Ethernet
infrastructure any customer might have.
For EMS or SCADA requirements, the master PC can poll multiple meters with Ethernet port at the same
time compared to serial communication of meters with RS485 port in daisy loop manner. Secondly,
majority of the meters would be in near vicinity which can be connected on RS485. However, there
would be few loads that are far away from central location which are required to be brought under the
ambit of EMS/SCADA. Meters with Ethernet port can be used to monitor these loads and connected to
the nearest LAN point available nearby. Typical architecture would be as follows:
How to get data from E&A’s 5000 series Ethernet port meter?
1. Open Network
section and select on
Ethernet
2. Select Properties and
check the existing IPv4
(Internet Protocol
version 4) address on
which the PC/laptop is
operating.
3. Modify the address
as 192.168.5.xxx
(except for
192.168.5.175) and
subnet mask as
255.255.252.0 to bring
it in the range.
4. Check
communication with
meter through run
command - ping ip
address -t
5. Open browser and
put meter default
address as
192.168.5.175
6. Login with
credentials
7. Default details are as
follows:
8. Ethernet settings can
now be changed to
bring it within the
required ip range of
operation.
9. Server settings with
listening port as 4001
10. After any change,
reboot the firmware
from here.
11. Check data through
any 3rd part software
like modscan32
