RS-485 Shielding and Troubleshooting

Affects: All ASI Products

Date: 11 February 2005
Note No. TE-023

Shielded RS-485 Communications

Buildings are noisy environments. Shielded RS-485 communication wire is used to meet the CE
requirements for emission and immunity. Although CE conformance is not a requirement in the U.S, shielding
markedly reduces susceptibility to noise.
Although ASI has endorsed unshielded twisted pairs in ceilings for many years, we recommended using
shielded communication wire in any noisy environment including on roofs and between buildings. The shield
should always be grounded at only one end of each segment starting with the SINC/3 or ASIC/2 controller.

Ground shield Ground shield

PS6
at one end only at one end only
F1
PWR

+Vcc
U26

Shield
PW R OUT
100mA

+12V C

3 2 1
Binary Outputs A

R
ASI Controls ASIC/2-7540

6 5 4
J13

9 8 7
R

RS-485 -
1 2 1 11 0
Battery
J9 JTAG

Shield
BATTERY
B1
R

TB2
Binary Outpus B

3 2 1

RS-485 +
R

RS-485
SYSTEM

RS-485 -
6 5 4
R

Power

9 8 7
U19

1 2 1 11 0
G
R

RS-485 +
SYSTEM
LOCAL
1
2
3
W3 W4
PSD
+5VAN

U14
R

R
U25

3 2 1
J8
Analog Outputs 01-08

1
2
3

6 5 4
DAK

9 8 7
G
R

1 2 1 11 0
U17

1 5 1 4 1 3
RS-485
R

TB1
U18

RS-485
196NT
U13

LOCAL
R

ASIC/1-8655
3 2 1

ASIC/1-8655
UART
INPUTS 01-08

U20

6 5 4

9 8 7
R

1 2 1 11 0
J7

1 5 1 4 1 3
WS-0XX JTAG
24 Vac

C - + WS-0XX JTAG

24 Vac
C - +
R

NEU HOT Tx J2 NEU HOT Tx J2

RS-232

24 Vac/dc 24 Vac/dc
LED

LED
J1
Relay

J1

Relay
Relay
U9

Relay

Relay

Relay
U9

Relay

Relay
LED

3 2 1

LED
C
RS-485
C
TB6 RS-485 TB6
INPUTS 09-16

VR7 VR7
Rx Rx
P2

6 5 4
P3

AO2
P6 P1

P2
P3
AO2

P6 P1
R29 R29
P4
P5

9 8 7
2 A Fuse

D2

P4
P5
AO1 D2

2 A Fuse
VR6 VR6 AO1
J10 CF

1 2 1 11 0
C
C8051F000

C8051F000
U11
J3

U11

J3
U1

U1
C1
Relay

Relay

Relay

1 5 1 4 1 3
AOut

Relay
C1
Relay

Relay

Relay
AOut

Relay
Y1 PWR Y1 PWR
LED

U12

LED
U12
R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1

R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1
L1 L1
IN16 IN15 IN14 IN13 IN12 IN11 IN10 IN9 I N8 IN7 IN6 IN5 IN4 IN3 IN2 IN1
L2 ASI Controls ASIC/1-8655 L2 ASI Controls ASIC/1-8655
U8

U8
D3 DS1 DS2 DS3 DS4 DS5 DS6 DS7 DS8 DS8
D3 DS1 DS2 DS3 DS4 DS5 DS6 DS7
LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED
C2 TB2 C2 TB2
OUTPUTS

OUTPUTS
OUTPUTS

INPUTS

OUTPUTS

INPUTS
INPUTS
BT1

Pull-ups

INPUTS
BT1

Pull-ups
OUT1 OUT2 OUT3 OUT4 OUT5 OUT6 OUT7 OUT8
IN1
IN2
IN3
IN4
IN5
IN6
IN7
IN8

C C OUT1 OUT2 OUT3 OUT4

IN1
IN2
IN3
IN4
IN5
IN6
IN7
IN8
R R R R R R OUT5 OUT6 OUT7 OUT8 C C
N C NO NC NO NC NO NC NO NC NO NC NO N C NONC NO NC NO N C NO NC NO NC NO R R
NC NO NC NO NC NO NC NO

Installation Rules
RS-485 communication is highly noise resistant. However, a few basic rules must be followed to avoid
communication problems. Taking the time to make sure communication wiring is installed properly in the
beginning helps avoid communication problems latter.

• Every controller MUST be grounded. Ground the shield at only one end of each segment to the
controller ground.

• Avoid splicing communication cables. Use continuous pieces of cable between controllers.

• If possible, keep communication wiring away from electrical noise sources such as power wiring, large
power consuming or power-generating equipment, etc.. If possible, cross power wiring at right angles.

• Route input, output, power and communication wire neatly inside the enclosure. Avoid looping excess
wire. Use tie-wraps to dress and bundle loose groups of wires.

• Do NOT bundle communication or input wiring with output and power wiring. It can disrupt
communication and/or interfere with controller input measurements.

• Do not run communication wiring close to AC power wiring. Always route controller wiring separate from
high voltage wiring to reduce the possibility of excessive EMI noise. If you must run communication with
power, make sure the shield is solidly grounded.

DOC-1623 (2005-02-11) RS-485 Communication TE-023-1

• Do not physically stress the communication cables, especially when pulling the communication cable
around sharp bends and over rough surfaces.

• Do not exceed 32 controllers on the local communication bus. If more than 32 controllers are connected
together, use an RS-485 repeater to strengthen the signal.

• Make sure all connections to the controller are mechanically tight. Intermittent contact of connections can
cause electrical noise.

• Verify communication as you go. As each controller is connected to the remote communication bus, verify
communication with both the current controller, and the one previous, on the network.

• Install only communication cable which meets the ASI Controls stated specifications. Use only factory
fabricated and tested wall sensor cables, SCP-0XX .

• If a multiple- pair cable, such as CAT-5, is used, all wires must be terminated so that it does not act like
an antenna. Strip and connect unused wires and terminate at one end to the controller ground

Communication Wire Specification

Shielded communication wire is required to meet CE certification.

Communication wire should meet the following specifications:

Shielded Pair Specification
Wire: 22-24 gauge
# of conductors: 2, (1 twisted pair)
Nominal Capacitance
Between Conductors: 24 pF/ft
Between 1 Conductor and Shield: 42 pF/ft
If run inside buildings the wire should be Plenum Rated.

Note: We do not recommend using wire with more than one pair for communication between controllers! If
communication wire has more than 1 pair, then the other wires should be terminated at ground on one end to prevent
induced noise.

Surge Protection
The RS-485 communication lines are protected against voltage spikes with Transient Voltage Suppressors.
Additional lightning protection should be used to protect the RS-485 communication if the lines are run
between buildings or are otherwise exposed.

DOC-1623 (2005-02-11) RS-485 Communication TE-023-2

Troubleshooting RS-485
If you are having trouble communicating with a network of ASI controllers, you must establish where the
communication breaks down.
If there are only one or two controllers failing, you can focus on those. Check the communication directly at
the device. Check the pico-fuses. Make sure that each controller has a unique device address. If two
controllers have the same address, then communication is intermittent at best. Talk to the controllers directly
off the network and give them correct addresses.
If an entire branch of controllers is down, then there could be an open wire, a short, or the RS-485 +/-
swapped. Use a binary search to isolate the problem. Break the communication line somewhere in the middle
and verify communication to each side. On the side that is still bad, break the communication line somewhere
in the middle again. Repeat until you find the problem.
If ASIC/1 controllers are on the network the problem could be in the Wall Sensor, or Sensor Cable.
Disconnect the sensor cable at the controller and see if the network branch begins communicating.
If the controllers have Green and Red transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) LEDs you can watch the lights with ASI
Expert or front end software trying to communicate to determine how far the communications get.
You may also find it useful to measure the quiescent voltage on the (+) and (-) RS-485 line when there NO
COMMUNICATION! The voltage s are in the range 0 to 5 Vdc with respect to controller common or ground.
There should be NO AC voltage on the lines. The observed voltages depend on the type of controller and on
the number of controllers connected. The voltages on a single isolated controller are different than for a
network of controllers. If there is NO voltage on either side it may indicate that the picofuse, polyswitch or the
RS-485 chip has failed. If either reads + 5Vdc, it indicates that the RS-485 chip has failed.

ASIC/1 Controller Family - ASIC/1-8x55, ASIC/1-8655, ASIC/1-6000

The ASIC/1 family of controllers has weak pull-up resistors and pull-down resistors, 240 kohm, on the RS-485
communication line. When there is no communication and the controllers are stand alone, the (+) is pulled up
to about 2.6 Vdc, and the (-) is pulled down to about 2.4 Vdc.
RS-485 Vcc
Chip 125 mA Picofuse
12 kohm T
V
Rup or
S 240 kohm 100 mA Polyswitch
(+)
Theoretical
Stand-alone
(-) (+) 2.6 Vdc
T
Rdown
V
S (-) 2.4 Vdc
240 kohm
Common
+ - COM
TB3-1

Rup, Rdown = 240 kohm Stand-alone (+) 2.6 Vdc, (-) 2.4 Vdc
Typical 8655 (2.56 V, 2.24 V); 6000 (2.56 V, 2.24 V); 8x55 (2.57 V, 2.28 V)

DOC-1623 (2005-02-11) RS-485 Communication TE-023-3

SINC/1-1030, ASIC/2 Local Bus, SINC/2-2000 Field
The SINC/1-1030, ASIC/2 Local Bus and SINC/2-2000 Field have a strong pull-up resistors and pull-down
resistors, 620 ohm, on the RS-485 communication line. When there is no communication and the controllers
are stand alone, the (+) is pulled up to about 4.8 Vdc, and the (-) is pulled down to about 0.2 Vdc. When
additional controllers are added to the communication line, the voltage will shift as shown.
RS-485 Vcc
Chip 125 mA Picofuse
12 kohm T Rup or
V
S 620 ohm Network of Network of
100 mA Polyswitch
(+) 16 ASIC/1 32 ASIC/1
Theoretical 240 kohm 240 kohm
Stand-alone (+) 3.4 Vdc (+) 3.1 Vdc
(-) (+) 4.8 Vdc (-) 1.6 Vdc (-) 1.9 Vdc
T Rdown
V (-) 0.2 Vdc
S
620 ohm
Common

+ - COM

+ - COM
TB3-1

TB3-1
Rup, Rdown = 620 ohm Stand-alone (+) 4.8 Vdc, (-) 0.2 Vdc
Measured: 7540 Local (4.74 V, 0.32 V); 7040 Local (4.89 V, 0.09V);
8040 Local (4.89 V, 0.09V); 1030[Vcc=4.0V] (3.89 V, 0.01 V)

ASIC/2 System Bus, SINC/3, ASI C/R, SINC/2-2000 Repeater

The ASIC/2 System Bus, SINC/3, ASI C/R, and SINC/2-2000 Repeater have modest pull-up resistors and
pull-down resistors, 10 kohm, on the RS-485 communication line. When there is no communication and the
controllers are stand alone, the (+) is pulled up to about 3.4 Vdc, and the (-) is pulled down to about 1.6 Vdc.
When additional controllers are added to the communication line, the voltage will shift as shown.
RS-485 Vcc
Chip 125 mA Picofuse
12 kohm T Rup or
V
S 10 kohm Network of Network of
100 mA Polyswitch
(+) 8 ASIC/1 16 ASIC/1
Theoretical 240 kohm 240 kohm
Stand-alone (+) 2.7 Vdc (+) 2.6 Vdc
(-) (+) 3.4 Vdc (-) 2.3 Vdc (-) 2.4 Vdc
T
V Rdown
S
10 kohm (-) 1.6 Vdc
Common
+ - COM

+ - COM
TB3-1

TB3-1
Rup, Rdown = 10 kohm Stand-alone (+) 3.4 Vdc, (-) 1.6 Vdc
Measured: 7540 System (3.62 V,1.30 V); 7040 System (3.53 V,1.34 V);
8040 System (3.56 V,1.30 V); 3000 (3.98 V, 0.94 V)

Tech Support
If you have any further questions please contact: ASI Controls Technical Support support@asicontrols.com,
or call 925-866-8808

DOC-1623 (2005-02-11) RS-485 Communication TE-023-4