Productivity 1000 PLC to Modbus TCP RTU BX-MBIO

We will now look at the productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu communication to the BX-MBIO controller.
The Productivity 1000 PLC can communicate to a remote I/O (input and output) controller modules using the Modbus protocol for communications. The BX-MBIO provides both Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP interfaces. Modbus RTU is a serial communication and Modbus TCP is an Ethernet communication. Modbus RTU is supported over an RS-485 serial connection. Modbus TCP is supported over an Ethernet connection. They function as listening/replying devices (slave, server) and can connect with any mastering (master, client) device that communicates using the Modbus protocol.
Previously we looked at the BX-MBIO Modbus RTU TCP Remote IO Controller wiring and configuration.
Modbus RTU TCP Remote IO Controller BX-MBIO
BX-MBIO Hardware Video
BX-MBIO Powering and Configuring Video

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
We will connect the Productivity 1000 PLC to the Modbus remote IO. This will be done using the Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU protocol. Ethernet and serial RS485 communication to the BX-MBIO unit will be the media.
The BX-MBIO remote I/O expansion units feature the following:
• RJ45 Ethernet port for communications via Modbus TCP
• RS485 serial port for communications via Modbus RTU
• Supports up to 8 additional Expansion Modules (Add the discrete or analog I/O you require)
• AC and DC powered units available
• AC powered units include an integral 24VDC auxiliary output power supply
• Power connector and serial port connector included
Let’s get started.

Previously in this Productivity 1000 series PLC, we have discussed:
System HardwareVideo
Installing the SoftwareVideo
Establishing CommunicationVideo
First ProgramVideo
Documenting the ProgramVideo
Monitoring and Testing the ProgramVideo
Online Editing and Debug ModeVideo
Numbering Systems and Tag DatabaseVideo
Contact and Coil InstructionsVideo
Timer InstructionsVideo
Counter InstructionsVideo
Math InstructionsVideo
Data Handling Instructions Part 1Video
Data Handling Instructions Part 2Video
Array Functions Part 1Video
Array Functions Part 2Video
Array Functions Part 3Video
Program ControlVideo
Drum Sequencer InstructionsVideo
Data LoggerVideo
Web ServerVideo
Modbus RTU Serial CommunicationVideo
Modbus TCP Ethernet CommunicationVideo
Firmware UpdateVideo
AdvancedHMI Modbus TCP Ethernet CommunicationVideo
Email and Text CommunicationVideo
PID InstructionVideo
PID Ramp Soak InstructionVideo

Stride Field Remote IO Modules Modbus TCP Ethernet
Unboxing SIO MB12CDR and SIO MB04ADS Video
Powering and Configuring Video
Productivity 1000 PLC to Stride Field IO Modbus TCPVideo

Modbus RTU TCP Remote IO Controller BX-MBIO
BX-MBIO Hardware Video
BX-MBIO Powering and Configuring Video

Our entire P1000 series can be found here.
The programming software and manuals can be downloaded from the Automation Direct website free of charge.
Watch the video below to see P1000 Productivity PLC control analog and digital inputs and outputs remotely.

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu

Productivity 1000 PLC System Modbus Setup – Client (Master)

Our productivity plc will act as the Modbus Client (Master). It will communicate to the BRX BX-MBIO remote I/O which are Modbus Servers (Slaves).
Call up the Hardware Configuration window by using the main menu | Setup | Hardware Config.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Double click on the CPU module to call up the P1-540 window.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
The options tab has the status bits and user tagnames for the RS485 and Ethernet ports that we will be using in our program. The Heartbeat Timeout Bit can be useful for picking up errors in our program with the remote input and output unit.
Select the Ethernet Port tab.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Here is where we can set our IP address for the P1-540 PLC Ethernet port. We will leave the timeout, Modbus TCP port, and Comm Heartbeat Value as their default.

Productivity 1000 PLC System Modbus RTU Setup – Master (Client)

Select the Serial Ports tab on the P1-540 window.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
We will set the settings as indicated above under the RS-485 (Terminal Block – TB Style)
The port settings (baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity, etc.) must match the settings on the BX-MBIO remote IO unit. Select OK. The protocol is automatically selected as Modbus.
The P1000 PLC is now ready to be a Modbus RTU Client (Master).

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu

BX-MBIO Modbus Server (Slave) Setup Address and Parameters
Previously we used NetEdit3 and a web browser to configure our modbus remote input and output unit. See the links above.
Start NetEdit3 by selecting it from the Applications section of the Launchpad on our Do-More Designer software.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Select the BX-MBIO module from the list that was scanned and then select the MBIO Settings tab at the bottom.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Select the General… button.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Here is the IP address for our unit.
Select the Serial Port… button.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Here are the port settings for the modbus RTU remote IO unit. This must match the settings on the P1000 PLC that we set above.

BX-MBIO Modbus Addresses

Using the web-based configuration from the NetEdit3 software we can call up the main menu. This can be done also by entering the IP address of the MBIO unit in your web browser software.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Select display modbus I/O mapping. This will show us the Modbus addresses that we will need to program our PLC.
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
This table will now be used to program our productivity 1000 PLC.

System Wiring

The first relay output of the BX-08CD3R will be wired to the input of the first point on the same mixed IO unit. This unit is located on our remote input and output modbus unit. This will allow us to see the input working.
Using the voltage input tester that we created previously, we will be wiring this up to the first voltage input on the BX-08AD-2B unit.
Create an Analog Voltage Input Tester for a PLCVideo

P1000 PLC Program
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Our sample program has a Main program that will do the overall logic. The two others run every scan program that will handle the communications to the BX-MBIO unit.
– Modbus TCP BX-MBIO Communication – Modbus TCP via Ethernet RJ45
– Modbus RTU BX-MBIO Communication – Modbus RTU via Serial RS485

Main Program
productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Unconditional rung 1 will take the Analog Input 1 signal coming from the remote Modbus input and output unit and divide by 10. This will be used in our simple timers for the following rungs.
Rung 2 and 3 will set up timers based on the math result from the previous rung.
If timer 0 is not done, rung 4 will compare the simple timer preset value to a value of 100. This is to ensure that the timer will not chatter the output if the value becomes too low. The first discrete output relay is then turned on.

Modbus TCP BX-MBIO Communication
Modbus TCP Communication to BX-MBIO

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu

Modbus_RTU_MBIO
Modbus RTU Communication to BX-MBIO

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu

productivity 1000 plc modbus tcp rtu
Watch the videos below to see the running of the P1000 PLC program to communicate to our BX-MBIO Modbus remote I/O unit.
We have included programming for Modbus TCP and RTU. (This is done for demonstration purposes. Normally you would use either Modbus TCP or RTU and not both.)

Download the Productivity 1000 PLC program here.

Productivity 1000 Series PLC from Automation Direct
Overview Link (Additional Information on the Unit)
Configuration (Configure and purchase a system – BOM)
User Manual and Inserts (Installation and Setup Guides)
Productivity Suite Programming Software (Free Download Link)
This software contains all of the instruction sets and help files for the Productivity Series.

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: Productivity 1000 PLC to Modbus TCP RTU Remote IO Controller BX-MBIO

Productivity 1000 PLC to Modbus TCP...
Productivity 1000 PLC to Modbus TCP RTU Remote IO Controller BX MBIO

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



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