Interface Module XC Modbus Page 1 from 10

Protocol Converter / User Manual E120111820092

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General
The Interface Module XC Modbus is designed for use with the EMH LZQJ-XC and DMTZ-XC
meters. The module is equipped with a RS485 (2 wires) interface. The module can be plugged
easily into the module compartment of the meter. It can be mounted or exchanged during
operation (without breaking approval seal). An integrated Modbus interface provides a simple
means of connecting multi-energy meters. This makes multi-energy applications an affordable
proposition for domestic use. Due to the communication, the modules are suitable for a lot of
control centres.

Compatible meters
 LZQJ-XC (special meter for industrial applications):
- Standard meter for direct connection
- Transformer connection version Cl. B (Cl. 1)
- Precision meter Cl. C (Cl. 0.5S)
- Precision meter Cl. 0,2S
 DMTZ-XC (industry meter)
Functions
 RS-485 (2 wires) interface for bi-directional
communications
 Protocol converter for meter data (max. 125 values)
into Modbus-Format (non transparent data readout)
 Transmission protocol: Modbus RTU (8N1)
 Internal communication interface for the transfer
service data (TS) between the meter and the
interface module
 Internal power supply from meter
 Exchangeable during the meter operation

Safety Notes
The owner of the interface modules is responsible that all persons engaged on
work with the modules:
• Are competent and qualified in accordance with national regulations (see ISSA
"Guideline for Assessing the Competence of Electrically Skilled Persons").
• Have read and understood the relevant sections of the user manual.
• Strictly observe the safety regulations (according to the following section) and
the instructions in the individual chapters.
The owner of the modules is also responsible for:
• The protection of persons.
• The prevention of material damage.
• The training of personnel.
The following safety regulations must be observed at all times:
• Devices which have fallen down should not be installed, even if no damage is apparent, and should
be returned for testing to an authorised service centre (internal damage possible).
• Modules must never be cleaned with running water or high pressure devices. Water can cause
short-circuits or damage el. components.
Page 2 from 10 Interface Module XC Modbus
E120111820092 Protocol Converter / User Manual
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Installation Hints
The installation must be done in a way, that even in the case of cable break no dangerous voltages
are applied to touchable parts of the module. Generally, meters are delivered with the communication
modules installed. The fitting of a meter with a communication module is, therefore, an exception and
can be necessary e.g. when a module needs to be replaced.

Strictly observe the safety regulations!

The interface module is exchangeable during the meter operation. Fit the interface module in the meter
as follows:

Installation of the interface module:

1. Check the interface module.
2. Remove the terminal cover [5].
3. Open the transparent module cover [1].
4. Insert the interface module [3] carefully at the
place provided in the meter [2].
5. Push the module in to the internal contacts.
6. Connect the cable.
7. Close the transparent module cover [1].
8. Close the terminal cover [5].

Removing of the interface module:

9. Remove the terminal cover [5].
10. Open the transparent module cover [1].
11. Disconnect the cable.
12. Remove the interface module.
13. Close the transparent module cover [1].
14. Close the terminal cover [5].

LED Displays
Three LED’s display the current operating status of the module and give information about the data
transfer.
Status and communication via Modbus interface:
Power/Tx 
 green LED signals, that the module is supplied with power
LED goes off during transmit data via Modbus (RS485) interface

Rx 
 yellow Communication via Modbus (RS485) interface: receive data

Communication error (internal meter interface), LED flashes in 3 sec.

Error 
 red cycle
 Interface Module XC Modbus Page 3 from 10
Protocol Converter / User Manual E120111820092
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Communication (Modbus RTU, Protocol Converter)

The interface port RS485 is conforming to “Modbus Application Protocol V1.1b”: Modbus RTU
(Remote Terminal Unit).
nd
Fixed baud rate from the 2 electrical interface (see EMH COMBI-TOOL-Software: communication
interfaces, set please the data transmission at a fixed baud rate without baud rate changeover), data
format: 8N1;
The following rules define the protocol for information transfer between a Modbus MASTER and the
Interface Module XC Modbus:
 The module supports only the “Modbus RTU Mode of Transmission”: Read Holding Registers.
 Transmission settings: 8N1 (1 start bit, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).
 All communications on the RS485 bus conform to a MASTER/SLAVE scheme. In this scheme,
information and data is transferred between a Modbus MASTER device (e.g. AMR Software) and
up to 32 SLAVE devices (Modbus Interface Module XC).
 The MASTER initiates and controls all information transfer on the communications loop.
 A SLAVE device never initiates a communications sequence.
 All communications activity on the loop occurs in the form of “PACKETS”. A packet is a serial
string of 8 bit / byte. The maximum number of bytes contained within one packet is 255.
 All packets transmitted by a MASTER are REQUESTS. All packets transmitted by a SLAVE are
RESPONSES.
 At most one SLAVE can respond to a single request from a MASTER.
The Modbus module supports the Function Code 3 (Read Holding Registers) with signed 32 bit
values (Signed Int32, Type D). All values includes 2 words (registers) with 16 bits each: first register
(even register addresses: 0,2,4,6...) for high-word and second register (odd register addresses:
1,3,5,7...) for low-word.
Example:
Value = 12345678Hex (32 bit := 4 Byte) start at register address 20:
Register
Value Type of value
address
20 1234Hex (:= 4660Dec) 16 bit, High-Word
21 5678Hex (:= 22136Dec) 16 bit, Low-Word := 4660 × 65536 + 22136 = 305419896
The Modbus module uses for ID-Address the first data value in the service data list (TS): register
addresses 0 and 1. For setting the value use please the EMH COMBI-TOOL-Software.
Possible value range: 1 to F7Hex := 1 to 247Dec / Value outside of this range: ID-Address := 1 (default)
Example:
Value (ID-Address) = 0000007BHex (:= 00000123Dec) starts at register address 0:
Register
Value
address
0 0000Hex
1 007BHex (:= 123Dec)
Page 4 from 10 Interface Module XC Modbus
E120111820092 Protocol Converter / User Manual
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Every Modbus packet consists of four fields (Request := eight bytes):

 Slave Address Field (ID-Address): one byte between 1 and F7Hex; (:= 1 to 247Dec)
 Function Field: one byte (:= 3 / fix, Read Holding Registers)
→ Modbus register address (start register) := address in the device – 40001
 Data Field:
Request: four bytes (start register: 2 bytes, # of registers: 2 bytes)
Response: (1 + 2  n) bytes (counter: 1 byte, n registers: 2  n bytes)
 Error Check Field (Checksum): two bytes, a 16-bit Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC16: Cyclic
Redundancy Check)
Example:
ID-Address: 123Dec (:= 7BHex) / start register: 14Dec (00 0EHex) / # of registers: 2 (:= one 32 bit value)
Request:
ID-Addr. Function Start register # of registers CRC16
7B 03 00 0E 00 02 AE 52
Response:
ID-Addr. Function # Register 1 Register 2 CRC16
7B 03 04 00 00 00 3B 60 27
Value = 59Dec (00 00 00 3BHex)
Accepting the meter data
The Modbus module reads the service data list (TS) from the meter periodically (interval between two
readings: ca. 0.5 seconds) and creates an internal table with 16 bit registers (words): first data value
from meter is saved at register 0 and 1 (ID-Address). Via Modbus is it possible to read all this
registers.
Values at empty registers := FFFFHex (:= 65535Dec).
All meter values between curved brackets (OBIS coded) will be transformed to 32 bit values. Possible
31 31
range of the values: -2 to 2 -1 (-2147483648Dec to 2147483647Dec).
Wrong values := -1 (FFFFFFFFHex).
 Interface Module XC Modbus Page 5 from 10
Protocol Converter / User Manual E120111820092
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Parameterisation of the meter (EMH COMBI-TOOL-Software)

At the first read the read all data from the meter (via optical IR interface):

Baud rate
The Interface Module XC Modbus uses the same baud rate like the communication interface at the
meter. For setting use please the EMH COMBI-TOOL-Software:
menu Meter  Interfaces  Electrical supplement / aditional interface:

For correct working set please a fixed bad rate (e.g. 9600 baud). If you use the baud rate changeover
according to mode C: the communication is possible with 300 baud only. For the addressing set the
value “optionally” or “ignore”.
Reset
Note: The EMH LZQJ-XC meter performs automatically a daily reset at 00:00 in the interface module.
Page 6 from 10 Interface Module XC Modbus
E120111820092 Protocol Converter / User Manual
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Service Data / (Service Table TS) and Modbus ID-Address

For setting the meter data list use menu
Lists  Reading lists  Service Table TS:

Note 1: The Modbus module uses for ID-Address the first data value in the service data list
(TS): register addresses 0 and 1.
In this example we use the identification number 1 (OBIS 0.0.1) for ID-Address:
menu Meter  Meter ID  OBIS Register 0.0.1, e.g. value 123 (:= 00000123):

Note 2: Only the first 125 values from the service data list (TS) will be used.
 Interface Module XC Modbus Page 7 from 10
Protocol Converter / User Manual E120111820092
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Example for read out meter data:

Service data TS (/4! with completion character CR LF):
/EMH4\@\201LZQJL001VE
0.0.1(00000123) Address/Start register: 0, Value: 123
1.25(0.00*kW) Address/Start register: 2, Value: 0
3.25(0.00*kvar) Address/Start register: 4, Value: 0
9.25(0.00*kVA) Address/Start register: 6, Value: 0
31.25(0.02*A) Address/Start register: 8, Value: 2
51.25(0.01*A) Address/Start register: 10, Value: 1
71.25(0.01*A) Address/Start register: 12, Value: 1
32.25(0.59*V) Address/Start register: 14, Value: 59
52.25(0.50*V) Address/Start register: 16, Value: 50
72.25(246.07*V) Address/Start register: 18, Value: 24607
13.25(0.00*P/S) Address/Start register: 20, Value: 0
14.25(50.01*Hz) Address/Start register: 22, Value: 5001
C.86.0(38307030) Address/Start register: 24, Value: 38307030
C.86.6(B05800F0) Address/Start register: 26, Value: 58000
Modbus registers:
Register
Value Comments
address
0 0
OBIS-Register 0.0.1: 123 (:= 0 + 123, Modbus ID-Address)
1 007FHex (:= 0123Dec)
2 0
OBIS-Register 1.25: 0 kW (:= 0 + 0)
3 0
4 0
OBIS-Register 3.25: 0 kvar (:= 0 + 0)
5 0
6 0
OBIS-Register 9.25: 0 kVA (:= 0 + 0)
7 0
8 0
OBIS-Register 31.25: 0.02 A (:= 0 + 2)
9 2
10 0
OBIS-Register 51.25: 0.01 A (:= 0 + 1)
11 1
12 0
OBIS-Register 71.25: 0.01 A (:= 0 + 1)
13 1
14 0
OBIS-Register 32.25: 0.59 V (:= 0 + 59)
15 003BHex (:=59Dec)
16 0
OBIS-Register 52.25: 0.50 V (:= 0 + 50)
17 0032Hex (:=50Dec)
18 0
OBIS-Register 72.25: 246.07 V (:= 0 + 24607)
19 601FHex (:=24607Dec)
20 0
OBIS-Register 13.25: 0 P/S (:= 0 + 0)
21 0
22 0
OBIS-Register 14.25: 50,01 Hz (:= 0 + 5001)
23 1389Hex (:=5001Dec)
24 0248Hex (:= 584Dec)
OBIS-Register C.86.0: 38307030 (:= (584 × 65536) + 34006)
25 84D6Hex (:= 34006Dec)
26 0 OBIS-Register C.86.6: 58000 (:= 0 + 58000, characters B and
27 E290Hex (:= 58000Dec) F will be clear in the string B05800F0)
28 FFFFHex (:= 65535Dec)
Not used registers
29 FFFFHex (:= 65535Dec)
... FFFFHex
Page 8 from 10 Interface Module XC Modbus
E120111820092 Protocol Converter / User Manual
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Technical data:

Housing: Polycarbonate housing with terminals for using with EMH LZQJ-XC and
DMTZ-XC meters for residential and industrial applications

Degree of protection: IP20 (according to IEC 60529)

Protection class: 2

Temperature range: -25°C to +55°C (operational)

-40°C to +80°C (storage temperature)

Relative humanity: 0..95%, non-condensing

Dimensions: Ca. 50mm x 105mm x 27mm (W x H x D)

Nominal voltage: Internal power supply from LZQJ-XC or DMTZ-XC meter

Battery: None

Installation: Exchangeable during the meter operation

LED displays: 3 LEDs: 

 (green) Power/Tx: power / transmit data

 (yellow) Rx: receive data

 (red) Error: internal communication error

Interface: RS485 (2 wires) according to ANSI/TIA/EIA-485-A-98

Baud rate: 300 to 19200 baud (fixed baud rate)

Data format: 8N1

Data readout: Internal service data list / table TS: see EMH COMBI-TOOL-Software;
(readout via /4! CR LF);
Note: only the first 125 values will be used

Transmission protocol: Modbus RTU, Function Code 3

Order number: #12415

Accessories: Bus Master / Repeater / Mini-Master

Control System: baerEKS
AMR-Software: SIGLON ©
Field Control Center: Meter2SCADA ©
 Interface Module XC Modbus Page 9 from 10
Protocol Converter / User Manual E120111820092
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Dimensions

Note: if necessary, the 120Ω termination can be activated (position ON);

Terminal assignment
Terminal block Description
A+ RS485 A+ (Modbus)
B- RS485 B- (Modbus)
Page 10 from 10 Interface Module XC Modbus
E120111820092 Protocol Converter / User Manual
Baer Energie- & Messtechnik GmbH  Siemensstr. 3  D-90766 Fürth  Phone +49 911 970590  Fax +49 911 9705950

Baer Energie- & Messtechnik GmbH

Siemensstr. 3
D-90766 Fürth
Germany

Phone: +49 (0)911 970590

Fax: +49 (0)911 9705950
Internet: www.baer-emt.de

Subject to change without notice! Version 2.01