Configuration

Modbus is an open communication protocol. It is typically being used for integration with HVAC devices.

Core comes with three bus terminals. Besides TapHome internal bus they also support Modbus RTU. The LAN port on Core supports Modbus TCP. This means that you don’t need to buy any extra device from TapHome in order to connect to Modbus devices.

Setup

In Settings → Hardware → Modbus, define new interface:

Modbus RTU (Define terminal: BUS1, BUS2 or BUS3)
Modbus TCP (Define IP address for each device)

If you are using Modbus RTU (via RS485 cable), make sure that terminal where your Modbus device is connected is not used for TapHome Bus. Keep in mind that you can use more than one modbus device on the same BUS but they have to use the same general modbus settings (Baudrate, Parity, Data Bits, Stop Bits) and specific Slave ID for each connected device.

It is not possible to combine Modbus RTU devices with TapHome Bus devices on one terminal. Both interfaces are electrically compatible, but use completely different communication protocol.

Modbus communication general settings (provided by manufacturer in manual)

Implementation within Taphome:

Modbus communication table provided by manufacturer

Implementation within Taphome

If the communication does not work in the following test, try changing the registers' addresses by -1 or +1 compared to the values in the table. This usually helps.

In Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP interface, you can either add set of devices from template: https://taphome.com/support/15695874, or define your own:

Supported Modbus device types

Use generic device types to define custom Modbus integration:

Device type	Visualisation	Variable for write expressions
Temperature sensor		-- read-only --
Thermostat		Se
Switch		St
Multi-value Switch		Mu
Dimmer / Analog Output		Le
Electric meter		-- read-only --
Modbus Wrapper		-- read-only --
Reed contact		-- read-only --
Variable		Va

Reading and writing values

Types of Modbus Registers

C – Coil (1-bit, read/write)
SC – Single Coil (1-bit, read/write)
D – Discrete input (1-bit, read only)
H – Holding register (16-bit, read/write)
SH – Single holding register (16-bit, read/write)
A – Analog input (16-bit, read only)

The ‘S’ register types are only for write functions and should be used for devices which do not support writing to multiple registers at once.

Data Types

Int16 (-32,768 to 32,767)
Uint16 (0 to 65,535)
Int32 (-2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647)
Uint32 (0 to 4,294,967,295)
Float (IEEE 754 Single precision floating point)
Bool – (-inf, 0> = false, (0, inf) = true
BigEndianInt16
LittleEndianInt16
BigEndianUint16
LittleEndianUint16
BigEndianInt32
LittleEndianInt32
BigEndianUint32
LittleEndianUint32
BigEndianFloat
LittleEndianFloat

BigEndian is the default setting for each data type e.g. Int32 is the same as BigEndianInt32.

MODBUSR (MODBUS READ)

MODBUSR(register_type, register_address, data_type)
Example: MODBUSR(H, 20, Int16)/100

Returns value of holding register on address 20 in int16 format and divides it by 100.

MODBUSW (MODBUS WRITE)

MODBUSW(register_type, register_address, data_type, value_to_write)
Example: MODBUSW(H, 20, Int16, Te/100)

Writes the temperature of the sensor divided by 100 int int16 format to holding register 20.

MODBUSWNE (MODBUS WRITE NOT EQUAL)

Writes to the register only if the current value is different. Reads the value, checks if equal and writes to the register if not. Useful for saving EEPROM memory.

MODBUSWNE(register_type, register_address, data_type, value_to_write)
Example: MODBUSWNE(H, 20, Int16, Te/100)

First reads the value from holding register on address 20 in int16 format, compares it to the temperature sensor temperature divided by 100 and only if the values are different writes the temperature of the sensor divided by 100 int int16 format to holding register 20.

Expressions

Follow this link to find more information about expressions: https://taphome.com/support/41123985