Network
master
TX+
TX-
RX+
RX-
DGND
Twisted pairs
TR
Final slave shown with terminating resistor, TR, typical value 120Ω.
TR
Network slave
RX+
RX-
TX+
TX-
DGND
Network slave
RX+
RX-
TX+
TX-
DGND
Connect overall shield to connector backshell.
Figure 12 - 4-wire RS485 multi-drop connections
Each TX/RX network requires a termination resistor at the final RX connection, but intermediate devices must not be fitted with termination resistors. An exception is where repeaters are being used which may correctly contain termination resistors.
Termination resistors are used to match the impedance of the load to the impedance of the transmission line (cable) being used. Unmatched impedance causes the transmitted signal to not be fully absorbed by the load. This causes a portion of the signal to be reflected back into the transmission line as noise. If the source impedance, transmission line impedance, and load impedance are all equal, the reflections (noise) are eliminated. Termination resistors increase the load current and sometimes change the bias requirements and increase the complexity of the system.
MN1904 | Input / Output |