Installation
MetPak Base Station User Manual
©
Gill Instruments Ltd
Last Change
Page 12
22 April, 2013
Remote Base Communication Cabling
MetPak Base Station has five communication connection options:
USB (using the 1.8m Gill USB cable, Part No. 1723-10-051).
RS232
RS422
RS485 (two wire point to point).
SDI-12 (Not with 3 axis WindMaster and WindMaster pro connected)
MetPak Base Station has one external Sensor Input connection:
Gill Wind Sensor via 10 Metre cable (RS422 connection)
It is important that the cable is appropriate for the chosen connection option. The
following sections describe the recommended types and maximum lengths of cable
in each case.
NOTE.
A 15-metre, 6-pair cable (wires stripped at each end) suitable for
RS232/RS422 or SDI-12 communication is available from Gill Instruments (Part
No. 1723-10-053).
Cable Type
Wire type:
24AWG
Wire size:
7x32 AWG.
Cable outer diameter:
6-8mm (to match the hub box gland).
For RS422/485 operation the cable should contain twisted pairs screened to match
the application.
The following table shows an example manufacturers’ reference; other
manufacturers’ equivalents can be used.
Table 2
Recommended Belden cable types
Application
No. of Pairs
Belden Ref.
SDI-12 or RS485
2
9729
Digital RS232
3
9503
Digital RS422
4
9504
Multiple External Sensors
6
9506
Cable length
The maximum cable length is dependent on the chosen communication method.
The following table shows the maximum cable lengths for the supported
communication protocols at the given baud rates, using the recommended cable. If
any problems of data corruption etc. are experienced, then a slower baud rate
should be used. Alternatively, a higher specification cable can be tried.
Table 3 Maximum cable lengths for supported communication and sensor network
Communication format
Baud rate
Max. cable length
RS232
19200
6.5M
RS422/485
19200
1000M
SDI-12
1200
90M
