Appendix C - Electrical Interface

RS-485

RS-485 is backwardly compatible with RS-422; however, it is optimized for partyline or multi-drop applications. The output of the RS-422/485 driver is capable of being Active (enabled) or Tri-State(disabled). This capability allows multiple ports to be connected in a multi-drop bus and selectively polled. RS-485 allows cable lengths up to 4000 feet and data rates up to 10 Megabits per second. The signal levels for RS-485 are the same as those defined by RS-422. RS-485 has electrical characteristics that allow for 32 drivers and 32 receivers to be connected to one line. This interface is ideal for multi-drop or network environments. RS-485 tri-state driver (not dual-state) will allow the electrical presence of the driver to be removed from the line. Only one driver may be active at a time and the other driver(s) must be tri-stated. RS-485 can be cabled in two ways, two wire and four wire mode. Two wire mode does not allow for full duplex communication and requires that data be transferred in only one direction at a time. For half-duplex operation, the two transmit pins should be connected to the two receive pins (Tx+ to Rx+ and Tx- to Rx-). Four wire mode allows full duplex data transfers. RS-485 does not define a connector pin -out or a set of modem control signals. RS-485 does not define a physical connector.

OMG-USB-SER-4

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Omega Four Port RS-232/422/485 to USB Adaptor, OMG-USB-SER-4 manual RS-485

Four Port RS-232/422/485 to USB Adaptor, OMG-USB-SER-4 specifications

The Omega OMG-USB-SER-4 is an advanced four-port RS-232/422/485 to USB adapter designed for seamless communication between legacy serial devices and modern computers. This versatile device caters to the growing need for increased connectivity, making it an ideal solution for industrial control, data acquisition, and other applications requiring multiple serial connections.

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