---
title: "More energy meters on a single Modbus RTU bus"
description: "Configure multiple energy meters on a single Modbus RTU bus with TapHome. Slave ID assignment and bus topology guide."
url: "https://taphome.com/en/docs/integration/modbus/multiple-meters/"
language: en
lastmod: 2026-11-06
generator: hugo
ai:
  topics: ["modbus-rtu","energy-meters","slave-id","bus-configuration"]
  questions: ["How do I connect multiple energy meters to one Modbus RTU bus?","Why should I avoid setting Slave ID to 1?","In what order should I configure multiple Modbus meters?","Where do I change the Slave ID of a Modbus meter in TapHome?","Why should I connect meters one by one instead of all at once?","How do I assign Slave IDs when I have 5 energy meters?","Where do I unbind the bus terminal for Modbus RTU?"]
---

# More energy meters on a single Modbus RTU bus

Configuration of multiple energy meters connected to a single Modbus RTU bus

Last updated: 2026-11-06

To connect several energy meters to one Modbus RTU bus in TapHome, add each meter from a template as a Modbus RTU interface, assign it to a bus terminal (Bus1, Bus2 or Bus3) and give every meter its own Slave ID. You need the bus terminal unbound first and the meters connected one by one, because they all ship with the factory Slave ID 1. Start with a high Slave ID for the first meter (for 5 meters, 5 for the first, 4 for the second and so on) and change it in **Service settings** using the service action Slave ID. The result is a bus on which every meter has a different Slave ID.

## Steps for configuring energy meters

1.  **Unbind the bus terminal**
    -   Go to **Settings → Hardware → TapHome Bus**.
    -   Unbind the **bus terminal** to which the energy meters are connected.

2.  **Add new interface**
    -   Go to **Settings → Hardware → Add new interface → Modbus RTU**.
    -   Go to **Add from template**, locate your energy meter and select **Add**.

3.  **Assign the terminal**
    -   Open the meter details.
    -   At the top, go to **Terminals** and assign **Bus1, Bus2 or Bus3**.

4.  **Connect the meters one by one**
    -   Do not connect all meters at once; start with the **first meter**.
    ![1.png](https://taphome.com/documentation/compatibility/1.png)

5.  **For the first meter, assign a high Slave ID**
    -   Avoid setting the Slave ID to **1** (the default value from the factory).
    -   Example: If you have **5 meters**, set the Slave ID of the first meter to 5.

6.  **Adjust the Slave ID in the service settings**
    -   Click on **Service settings**.
    -   Scroll down and click on **Slave ID** (the service action "Slave ID", not the module communication setting).
    -   Assign the value **5** (if you are configuring 5 meters).
    -   **Save Service settings**.
    ![2.png](https://taphome.com/documentation/compatibility/2.png)

7.  **Connect the second meter**
    -   Now connect the **second meter** to the same bus as the first meter.
    -   Repeat the same sequence:
        -   **Set a different Slave ID (one lower than the previous meter)**
        -   **Go to Service settings**
        -   **Scroll down**
        -   **Click on Slave ID**
        -   Assign the value **4** (if this is the second of 5 meters).

8.  **Repeat for the remaining meters**
    -   Continue configuring each meter one by one, following the same procedure.

**See also** — [Simple configuration using templates](https://taphome.com/en/docs/integration/modbus/templates/), [Modbus RTU Wiring Examples](https://taphome.com/en/docs/wiring/modbus-wiring/).

## Troubleshooting

Common issues related to this topic:

- [Modbus ID collision](https://taphome.com/en/troubleshooting/configuration/modbus-id-collision/) — Multiple Modbus devices with the same Slave ID causing communication errors

[View all troubleshooting articles](https://taphome.com/en/troubleshooting/)