Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Errors


Node-RED Modbus TCP can recover from communication errors automatically. Options are available to you the programmer to continue the Node-RED flow upon detection of these errors.

Broken Ethernet cable, Modbus Server power, and Node-RED Client offline are just a few of the errors that can occur on the industrial plant floor. Our Node-RED program must account for and be tested for each of these conditions.
We will be communicating Modbus TCP (Ethernet) to our Click Plus PLC. Using the catch node we will detect and display errors that may occur. Let’s get started.

In this series we used Node-RED in some of the following ways:
Installing the Windows SoftwareVideo
Modbus CommunicationVideo
User Interface – DashboardsVideo
SQL Database LogVideo
SQL Database Spreadsheet ConnectionVideo
Install Node-RED on Raspberry PiVideo
Do-More PLC Node-RED HTTP RequestVideo
Simple Click Data LoggingVideo

Node-RED Windows Startup

Node-RED will be running on a Windows 10 64-Bit computer. Open up a command prompt window and enter “node-red” at the prompt.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
This will now run our Node-RED program. To install Node-RED see the following post.

Node-RED Modbus TCP Communication Program

Our Node-RED Modbus TCP communication sample program will poll our Modbus Server every 100 milliseconds. (10 times per second) The first two Modbus holding registers will be read. These read memory addresses will be displayed using the Modbus Response node and the Debug node. The Catch node is used to capture when an error occurs and then display on the Debug node.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
The inject node will be set up for a repeat interval of 0.1 seconds. (100ms)
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
A function node is used to set up the Modbus communication.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Function code 3 is used for reading contents on a contiguous block of holding registers in a remote device.
Unit ID is set for 1. This will determine what Modbus server we wish to establish communication with.
Address 0 will be the starting address. Modbus addressing can sometimes be confusing. 5 and 6 digits addressing are used. The leading digit refers to the type of register being read.
Example: 400000 / 40000 – means holding register 0.
Quantity 2 means that we are reading two consecutive addresses.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
The Modbus-Flex-Getter node will specify the Modbus Server. In our case, this will be the Click PLC. To set the server select the icon next to the Server name.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Here are the Modbus server settings for the Click PLC. The default port of 502 is used for Modbus TCP. Timeouts for the server are set for the default of 1 second and 2 seconds for the reconnect. Select update to update any changed parameters.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Select show errors and activities under the Optionals tab of the Modbus Flex Getter node. The errors will be used to trigger the Catch node.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
If a node notifies the runtime of an error then the Catch node can be used to create a flow to handle it. Select the Modbus Flex Getter as the node we want to monitor for errors.
Save and deploy our Node-RED program.
Watch the video below to see an explanation of the Node-RED program.

Click Plus Modbus TCP Server Program

The Click Plus PLC will be used as our Modbus TCP Server. We will use a self-resetting timer to give us a value in one of the registers we are reading from Node-RED.
PLC Ladder Logic Sample Program
Modbus addresses in the Click PLC can be displayed using the address picker.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Select Display MODBUS Address in the lower right-hand corner of the address picker window in the Click programming software.
Additional information on the Click PLC can be obtained in our Click PLC Series. This will take you through all of the features of this low-cost powerful controller.

Node-RED Modbus TCP Testing Errors

Monitoring the Debug tab we can see that the Modbus addresses are being displayed correctly.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
If we were to disconnect the Ethernet cable or power down the Click PLC Modbus Server, the catch node will pick up the error and display it.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Plugging the cable back in or powering up the Modbus Server will automatically resume operation.
Stop Node-RED from running on the computer by entering Ctrl+X.
Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Communication Errors
Our browser will now display the lost connection to the server message.
Flow Communication
Starting Node-RED will automatically remove the error message and continue running our Node-RED program.

Watch the video below to see the communication error handling of Modbus TCP using Node-RED.

Download the Node-RED, and PLC programs here.

Node-RED Links
Node-RED Organization Home Page
Getting Started – Run Locally
Node-RED running on Windows (Run at Startup)
Securing Node-RED
Node-RED Essentials Videos (Basics of the Editor)

Learn JavaScript Free
w3schools JavaScript Tutorial
learn-js.org
Node-Red JavaScript Primer

Modbus
Node-RED Modbus TCP and Serial

Dashboard – HMI
Node-RED Dashboard
Node-RED Dashboard extra nodes

SQL Database
Node-RED SQL Database
Node-RED SQL Plus – Execute queries and stored procedures

Modbus Learning Links:
Simply Modbus Frequently Asked Questions
Modbus TCP/IP Overview – Real-Time Automation
All You Need to Know About Modbus RTU – Video

Watch on YouTube: Node-RED Modbus TCP Handling Errors

If you have any questions or need further information please contact me.
Thank you,
Garry

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