Obvius AcquiSuite+ A8814 User manual

A8814 AcquiSuite+ Page 1
AcquiSuite+ Data Acquisition Server
Obvius, LLC
Installation and Operation Manual
Model A8814
Date: August 27, 2013
Obvius
3300 NW 211th Terrace
Hillsboro OR 97124
Ph: 503-601-2099
www.obvius.com

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Copyright Information
Copyright © 2001 - 2013 by Obvius
Obvius and AcquiSuite are trademarks of Obvius Holdings LLc
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
U.S. Government Restricted Rights: Use, duplication or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions set fourth in subparagraph (a) through (d)
of the Commercial Computer Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19 when applicable, or subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and
Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, and in similar clauses in the NASA FAR Supplement.
Limited Warranty
Obvius provides this warranty for all its products in lieu of all other warranties (whether express or implied), including any implied warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purchase. This warranty is the buyer’s exclusive remedy for all claims against Obvius. Obvius will not be liable for
any consequential or incidental damages and total liability shall be limited to the purchase price of the product.
Obvius promises buyer that any product manufactured by Obvius shall be free from all material defects in material or manufacture for a period of 2 years
from the date of sale. This warranty does not include ordinary wear and tear or replaceable components (e.g., batteries). During the warranty period,
Obvius will repair or replace (at its sole discretion) any product shown to be defective under this warranty at no charge to buyer. Returned freight prepaid
by buyer. The warranty shall remain in full force and effect for such 2 year period, provided that the product: (1) was installed, operated, and maintained
properly; (2) has not been abused or misused; (3) has not been repaired, altered, or modified outside of Obvius’ authorized facilities; (4) has not been sold
subject to other warranty terms specified at the time of sale; and (5) is still owned by the original purchaser. This warranty provides specific legal rights
that may be varied by state law. Obvius’ products are not intended for use in critical applications such as nuclear facilities, human implantable devices or
life support. Obvius is not liable, in whole or in part, for any claims or damages arising from such uses.
Obvius strongly believes in continuous improvement, therefore we must reserve the right to change specifications and product offerings without notice.
Where possible, we will substitute products with equivalent functionality when necessary.
DANGER
Hazard of Electric Shock, Explosion or Arc Flash
●Follow safe electrical work practices. See NFPA 70E in the USA, or applicable local codes.
●This equipment must only be installed and serviced by qualified electrical personnel.
●Read, understand and follow the instructions before installing this product.
●Turn off all power supplying equipment before working on or inside the equipment. Use properly rated voltage sensing device to
confirm power is off. DO NOT DEPEND ON THIS PRODUCT FOR VOLTAGE INDICATION
●Only install this product on insulated conductors.
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
A qualified person is one who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of this electrical equipment and the
installation, and has received safety training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved. No responsibility is assumed by Obvius Holdings for
any consequences arising out of the use of this material.
CAUTION
RISK OF EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
AcquiSuite+ is rated for 50-60 HZ. Do not connect this product to circuits with high harmonic energy such as Variable Speed Drives
(a.k.a. Variable Frequency Drives, Adjustable Frequency Drives) or similar sources, as they may permanently damage the product.
This product is designed to work with 1V and 0.333V Current transformers (CTs). DO NOT USE CURRENT OUTPUT (e.g. 5A) CTs
on this product.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in overheating and permanent equipment damage.
NOTICE
●This product is not intended for life safety applications.
●Do not install this product in hazardous or classified locations.
●The installer is responsible for conformance to all applicable codes.
FCC Part 15 Information
Note: This equipment has been tested by the manufacturer and found to comply with the limits of a class A digital device, pursuant to part 15
of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Modifications of this product without the express authorization of Obvius nullify this statement.

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Table of Contents –to be added
Overview -
The A8814 (AcquiSuite +) is the first device of its kind to incorporate the ease of use and functionality of the
Obvius Data Acquisition (DAS) platform with a line powered three phase meter. Once connected, the device
begins logging data and monitoring loads with minimal configuration. The device can read inputs from a variety
of CT’s and has the option to be configured as a system, maximizing total system accuracy. By utilizing industry
standard Modbus inputs, the A8814 has the capability to monitor over 60 different loads on a single Modbus
drop. The flexible and expandable functionality of the device allows for a number of diverse applications
including:
Utility Submetering
Measurement & Verification (M&V)
Reducing energy costs
Track energy use and peak demand for Demand Response programs
Benchmarking building energy usage
Real time performance data
Alarm notifications for data points above or below target levels (including SNMP traps)
Creating load profiles for energy purchases
Monitoring performance of critical systems
Installation Checklist
An AcquiSuite™ system installation has the following components:
Required hardware
●AcquiSuite+™ A8814 data acquisition server (required)
●Current transformers rated to load being monitored
●Voltage wire for connecting to phase connectors
●Circuit breaker or fusing with disconnect switch for voltage disconnect. (15-20A)
●Data connection (LAN).
●Ethernet Cat 5 cable (required for lan or direct laptop-to-AcquiSuite connection)
Optional hardware
●Additional Modbus RTU devices power meters (e.g., Veris Enercept, PML Ion, Emon ProMon, etc)
For LAN installations only:
●Ethernet 10/100Mbit LAN connection point (hub or switch)
●DHCP, (or IP address and netmask address) (check with system administrator)
●Gateway address (check with system administrator)
●DNS server address (check with system administrator)
●HTTP Proxy address (optional), may be required if the AcquiSuite is behind a firewall (check with system
administrator)

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Markings and Symbols
WARNING: Apotential risk exists if the operating instructions are not followed
General Warning Symbol: This symbol indicates the need to consult the operating instructions provided with the
product.
This symbol indicates the presence of electric shock hazards.
This symbol indicates: Do not apply to or remove from hazardous live conductors.
Direct Current symbol.
Protection containing a voltage disconnect switch with a fuse or disconnect circuit breaker. The protection
device must be rated for the available short-circuit current at the connection point. No circuit breaker or
disconnect switch is included with the meter.
Fuse. The installer is responsible for ensuring compliance with local requirements. No fuses are included with
the meter.

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A8814 Features and Specifications
Specifications
Processor
ARM9 embedded CPU, ARM7 meter board
Operating System
Linux 2.6
Memory
32 MB Ram
Flash ROM
16 MB NOR Flash
Interval Recording
1 to 60 minutes, user selectable (default 15 minutes)
LEDs
Ethernet, Modbus TX/RX, power, alarm
Console
Interactive TFT TouchScreen
Isolation
RJ45 Ethernet and RS485 port are isolated
Serial Port
Supports up to 32 external devices (expandable)
Meter Inputs
Input Voltage
208-480 VAC three phase, 50/60 Hz
120,240,277VAC single phase, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption
8W Max
Input Current
.333V and 1V (current transformer)
Current Transformers
100, 300, 400, 800, 1600, 2400A
(contact Obvius sales for other amperages)
Serial Port
RS-485 Modbus
Accuracy
System Accuracy:
Meets or Exceeds ANSI C12.1 (class 1% meter) when calibrated with CTs.
Meter Accuracy:
+/- 0.5% from 2% to 100% of full scale.
Communications
Protocols
Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP, TCP/IP, PPP, HTTP/HTML, FTP, NTP, XML,
SNMP-Trap, Optional BACnet/IP
LAN
RJ45 10/100 Ethernet, full/half duplex, auto polarity
Baud Rate
9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200
Environment
North America
-30C to 50C, 95% RH, non-condensing
Safety
UL
UL 61010-1 Listed
CE
IEC 61010-1
EMC
FCC
CFR 47 Part 15, Class A
CE
EN 61000, EN 61326

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Installation
The AcquiSuite+ is intended for indoor surface mount applications.
Warning –These installation/servicing instructions are for use by qualified personnel only. To avoid
electrical shock, do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions unless you
are qualified to do so.
Always adhere to the following checklist:
Only qualified personnel or licensed electricians should install the AcquiSuite+ meter. The mains
voltages of 120 Vac to 480 Vac can be lethal!
Follow all applicable local and national electrical and safety codes.
Verify that circuit voltages and currents are within the proper range for the meter model.
The line voltage inputs to the meter must be protected by a circuit breakers (not included)
Use 15 or 20A circuit breaker, with separate polls for each voltage phase to be measured.
Disconnect not required for the neutral wire.
Equipment must be disconnected from the HAZARDOUS LIVE voltages before access.
The terminal block screws are not insulated. Do not contact metal tools to the screw terminals if the
circuit is live!
Do not place more than one line voltage wire in a screw terminal or more than one CT wire per screw
terminal.
Before applying power, check that all the wires are securely installed by tugging on each wire.
Do not install the meter where it may be exposed to temperatures below –30°C or above 50°C,
excessive moisture, dust, salt spray, or other contamination. The meter requires an environment no
worse than pollution degree 2 (normally only non-conductive pollution; occasionally, a temporary
conductivity caused by condensation must be expected).
Do not drill mounting holes using the meter as a guide; the drill chuck can damage the screw terminals
and metal shavings can fall into the connectors, causing an arc risk.
If the meter is installed incorrectly, the safety protections may be impaired
Mounting the Device
1) Begin by identifying the location for mounting the AcquiSuite+. Ensure the distance from the panel or
load does not exceed the length of the CT’s. The AcquiSuite+ should be mounted in a location close to
the circuit breaker/disconnect switch.
2) The mounting location should not obscure the vent holes along the side of the product. Provide at least
4 inches of space around all edges of the enclosure to allow for venting and to connect external devices
such as Ethernet LAN, RS485 and USB devices.
3) Mount the AcquiSuite + using six #8 screws, minimum 1” long (not included)
4) At least three of the mounting screws must be securely attached to a structural wall component such as
a stud. This will ensure adequate support for conduit attachment.
5) The AcquiSuite is designed to be connected using ¾”conduit. Remove the conduit knockout hole on the
bottom of the enclosure and attach the conduit to the AcquiSuite.
6) Attach the conduit to the enclosure, make sure the conduit is securely attached and make makes
contact with the ground plate inside the AcquiSuite.

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Connecting the Device
1) Ensure power to load/panel has been turned off prior to connecting the AcquiSuite +
2) The AcquiSuite+ should be connected to the mains voltages using a Disconnect switch or Circuit Breaker,
15 or 20A max to provide disconnect and overcurrent. The circuit breaker or disconnect switch should
be in an easy to access location near the AcquiSuite+. Label the circuit breaker appropriately to indicate
that it serves the AcquiSuite+.
3) Connect the ground using 12-14 AWG bare or green wire to the lug on the grounding plate inside the
AcquiSuite+.
Ground lug tightening torque: 2.3Nm (20ft-lbs)
4) Connect the voltage leads to the phase conductors at a location that is not normally turned off. Connect
voltage leads on the Line side of the conductor to ensure constant power to the AcquiSuite+. Wire
should be 12-14 AWG, Solid or stranded, rated to 600VAC, at 75c.
Screw Terminal tightening torque: 0.5Nm min, 0.6Nm max.
5) Snap the CT onto the conductor. Connect CTs to the corresponding phase as labeled on the board near
the terminals of the AcquiSuite+ and be sure to mind proper load orientation labels on the CT.
Screw Terminal tightening torque: 0.5Nm min, 0.6Nm max.
6) Once leads have been connected, secure all monitored equipment back to its original state.
7) Restore power to the load/panel
Service Notes:
Should it be necessary to open the wiring access door on the AcquiSuite+ to change or add wiring, turn off
the disconnect switch or circuit breaker before opening the service door.
Note: If cleaning is required, use a dry towel to remove dust from the AcquiSuite+. Do not use fluids to clean
the AcquiSuite+.

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General Wiring Diagram
Terminal connections details:
Electrical Connections –to be added, annotated product Photo

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208/480VAC 3 Phase 3 Wire Delta Without Neutral Installation
208/480VAC 3 Phase 4 Wire With Neutral Installation

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240VAC Single Phase 2 Wire With Neutral Installation
120VAC and 277VAC Single Phase 1 Wire With Neutral Installation
Note: The jumper wire between B and N in this configuration must be the same wire size as the Neutral wire.

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Connecting Third Party Modbus Devices
Step 4 (optional) - Connect the Modbus network loop as shown in the wiring diagram. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for installing and powering the Modbus devices. Verify that the Modbus address
settings are unique for each device (i.e., no two devices with the same address) and power up the device.
Connect each device in the chain by “daisy-chaining” the devices together . Observe + and - polarity on the
Modbus devices. For more information about Modbus loops, please read our Modbus FAQ available at
www.obvius.com
Low Voltage analog, pulse, and RS485 wiring that enters electrical panels must have a minimum insulation rating
that exceeds the voltage inside the panel. In addition, other regulations may apply; consult the building codes in
your area prior to installation.
The RS485 port on the A8814 has a built in terminator. A 150 ohm termination resistor should be placed at the
other end of the RS485 loop, between the + and – wires. For more information about RS485 termination, read
the Modbus FAQ at www.obvius.com
Some Modbus devices do not use the same label notation as the AcquiSuite. Rather than +,-,S, Emon uses Low,
High, and Gnd. To attach an Emon meter, use + to high, - to low, and shield to gnd.
The AcquiSuite A8814 built in electrical meter uses Modbus address 250, and will show up in the Modbus device
count as a single Modbus device. Additional meters and sensors can be added to the Modbus loop.
Laptop/Computer Setup
Step 1 - You must have a computer to access and configure the AcquiSuite. This computer must have an ethernet
connection (on the LAN or by direct connection) and must have a web browser installed such as Internet
Explorer or Netscape.
Note: If your building already has an existing LAN that the AcquiSuite is attached to, you can use an existing
computer on that LAN. Check with your network administrator for details. If this option is available, use a LAN
connected computer and skip to the “AcquiSuite administration overview” section below.

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The remainder of this section will assume the installer has brought a laptop to the site, and will connect the
laptop to the building LAN, or directly to the AcquiSuite. Attach the laptop to the AcquiSuite or LAN as shown in
figure 6, Ethernet hookup.
Configuring the Device – To be added (setting access code, setting IP address new Auto-IP feature, UPnP, etc)
Step 2 - Attach the Laptop to the AcquiSuite or to the LAN. The A8812 will automatically detect whether a direct
or crossover cable is required, and will reverse polarity accordingly. This feature will allow you to use either a
straight ethernet cable or a crossover ethernet cable interchangeably.
If the Laptop is to be attached to an existing LAN, obtain a static IP address (or use DHCP addressing) from the
network administrator.
Static IP Address for the laptop
DHCP
Direct Connection to Laptop
Specify an IP address
IP address: ___.___.___.___
Netmask: ___.___.___.___
Obtain an IP address automatically.
(All other required settings are
assigned by the DHCP server)
IP Address: 192.168.40.1
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
(AcquiSuite factory default settings)
Laptop Address Worksheet
Step 3 - Configure the laptop IP address using the following steps. Note: Only Windows XP is detailed below,
however you can use any OS/Browser you wish such as MacOS or Linux. Details on network setup for non-
windows operating systems is beyond the scope of
this document however.
A. From the Windows start menu, select the
"Settings”, “Network Connections" option.
Double click the 'Local Area' network
connection icon in the network folder, then
click the "Properties" button.
B. In the network setup dialog, there should be a list of items
including adapters, clients and protocols. Locate the item labeled
"Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)".
Note: If you have multiple ethernet cards, you may have multiple
lines labeled "TCP/IP --> ethernet card". Locate the ethernet card
that corresponds to the physical connection to the AcquiSuite and
then select the TCP/IP option that is linked with that ethernet
card.
C. Double click the TCP/IP option you selected in step B above. The
Ineternet Protocol properties dialog will be shown. This page
allows you to select DHCP (obtain an IP address automatically) or
configure an address manually.
D. Select the option for “Use the following IP address” as shown in

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the picture to the right. Set the IP and Netmask from the Laptop Address Worksheet above. It would be
helpful to make note of your previous settings in this dialog so you may set them back after you are done
with the AcquiSuite Configuration.
E. Close the TCP/IP settings dialog, and Network dialog.
AcquiSuite Administration Overview
The AcquiSuite should now be available on the local area network for you to access using a web browser such as
Internet Explorer or Netscape.
Step 1 - Use your web browser to connect to the AcquiSuite by entering
http://192.168.40.50/setup/
Where 192.168.40.50 is the IP address displayed on the on the AcquiSuite LCD display.
Step 2 - When prompted, use the following default login information
Login: admin
Password: admin
Step 3 - Your web browser should now display the AcquiSuite configuration menu. To the left, a list of
configuration options are available. On the right, a specific configuration page will be shown. The first page is a
welcome message with some system status information. Proceed with the configuration of the AcquiSuite using
your web browser.
Step 4 - Click on the + mark next to the Accounts menu. Select the Admin account, and click 'Change Password'.
All units are shipped with the same factory default password, and it should be changed to prevent unwanted
access.
Step 5 - Expand the Networking option, and select setup. Verify the addresses are consistent with those in the
"Network Address Worksheet."
Step 6 - Expand the Modbus option, and select "Device List." You should see a list of each Modbus device
attached to the AcquiSuite. Before the AcquiSuite can begin logging data, each Modbus device must be assigned
a unique name.
A. Click the device number to the left of the unconfigured Modbus device.
B. A page with the current device status and readings will be displayed. Click on the 'configure' button at
the bottom of the page.
C. Enter a name for the device in the supplied field.
D. Change any low and high range alarm settings you may need. (optional)
E. Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page to save your changes.
F. Repeat these steps for each Modbus device.
Some devices may require additional information. For example, the Veris H8238 Multi circuit power meter allows
the CT size to be specified. The Obvius A8923-4 IO Module and the A8812 AcquiSuite internal IO module have
additional configuration options on each data point line to specify the details of the analog or pulse input. These
include the 4-20mA device scale, multipliers and engineering units. Each 4-20mA or 0-10Vsensor should be
supplied with technical information including the low and high range values that can be used to configure the
AcquiSuite. Also, the AcquiSuite has many common sensor types pre-programmed that can be selected from a

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drop down list. Review the Modbus Advanced Configuration Options section of this manual for further
configuration details.
Step 7 - Select the Modbus/Setup menu option. Specify the Modbus Loop Name. This will become the name of
the AcquiSuite. This is the name that will appear on the BMO website service (if subscribed). Specify the data
logging period. The default is 15 minutes.
Step 8 – Decide upon a method of data transfer. (see section later in this document) . If you select the HTTP/Post
method to send data to the BMO website, you can configure this by selecting the “LogFileData, Setup/Upload”
page.
A. Make note of the AcquiSuite serial number.
B. Select upload options as needed for time of day to upload the data and retry control.
C. Check the checkbox to allow remote configuration. This will allow you to reconfigure the AcquiSuite
from the BMO web site without having to connect directly to the AcquiSuite.
D. Specify the "Target address to upload data." This is the website address where the AcquiSuite will send
the collected data. If you have an in-house data collection service, you should enter the address of your
data server in this field. Obvius also provides a service called Building Manager Online that can collect
and report data for you. If you are using the BMO service, the target address to upload data should be
set to http://www.buildingmanageronline.com/upload.php
E. When configuring the AcquiSuite to send data to the BMO site or your own data collection server, the
AcquiSuite will authenticate itself with the server by using the serial number and a password. This
password must be supplied here, and can be obtained when you subscribe for the BMO service, or by
your database administrator.
F. Click "Apply" to save your changes.
If you select a manual transfer method, remove (blank out) the target address in the Modbus/Upload Data page.
Security
The AcquiSuite has three levels of security. These are “operator”, “user” and “admin”. When using a browser to
access the AcquiSuite, basic http authentication is used to prompt your browser for a username and password.
The admin account uses “admin” as the default password. To change the password, select the Accounts menu
from the left side tree display. Next, select the account name. Click the “Change Password” button to set a new
password for the selected account.
admin: This account has full access to modify any of the system settings. The default password is “admin”.
operator: This account may view settings, however may only change modbus alarm ranges and device names.
user: This account can view some system settings including the modbus device status pages and can change
nothing.
When using FTP to access the AcquiSuite, you may use the admin account username/password for read-only
access. Log information is stored in /var/log/modbus. For read-write-delete access, use the login name “root”
and the admin password.
The three usernames specified are not able to be changed or renamed, nor can arbitrary usernames be added to
the AcquiSuite. Access is only controlled by setting the password for the three existing usernames noted above.
The “operator” and “user” accounts are disabled by default. These accounts are activated when you first set a
password for each.
Modbus

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Modbus Device List
The AcquiSuite automatically searches for Modbus devices on the RS485 serial loop. The Modbus Device List
page will show a listing of all the currently detected or configured devices the AcquiSuite has found. The device
list will show the Modbus address number, status (OK, Error, Alarm, Unconfigured), the device name (user
specified) and the device identification string.
Click on the Modbus address number for any of the devices for specific device details
Note: not all Modbus devices have built in driver support in the AcquiSuite. If a device appears in the list with
“Unknown” in the status column, you may need to upgrade the firmware on the AcquiSuite to access the device.
At the bottom of the device list page under the Type column, a link is shown that will show all the Modbus
devices with built in driver support provided in the firmware. Use the System/Firmware update page to check
for newer versions of the firmware. The Obvius.com website faq also has a list of supported Modbus devices.
Modbus devices that are not supported by built in drivers may be configured using the Modbus Framework
feature in the AcquiSuite.
At the bottom of the device list, there is an option to allow you to rename all the devices listed. This is useful for
initial deployments. There is also a troubleshooting link that will look for common configuration problems and
alert you to the appropriate solution.
Device List Options
At the top of the Modbus device list page, there are several display options that control the sorting of the device
list.
Tree display: Click this icon to organize the list by showing each ModHopper, and the devices attached
to each one.
List display: (default) Show the list of Modbus devices sorted by the Modbus address number.
At the bottom of the Modbus device list, there are several options that may be selected to view or
configure all the Modbus devices at the same time. These options are as follows:
Add: Manually add a Modbus device to the device list. This option can be used to configure a Modbus device
that is not presently connected to the system, add a framework configured device, or add a Modbus/TCP

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connected device. See the section on manually adding a device below.
Troubleshoot: The AcquiSuite will review the devices connected and offer suggestions about any problems
found.
Rename all devices: This option allows you to edit all the device names in one configuration page. This is useful
when initially configuring a large number of new devices. A name must be assigned to a device before the
AcquiSuite will log data for it.
List all supported devices: This option will show a list of all Modbus devices with built in drivers in the installed
firmware.
Show [setup]: Display links for Device configuration and Advanced configuration for each device.
Show [devinfo]: Display the communications options including baud rate, serial number and firmware version
(when available) for all devices in the Modbus device list.
Show [stats]: show packet counters for all devices in the device list. These include
Sent: Total number of packets sent to this Modbus address.
Received: Total number of valid packets received from this Modbus address.
Error: Total number of packets received that fail CRC for this device. (does not include non-response
queries)
RTT: The average round trip time for the last 7-10 packets that received a valid response. This value
is useful in configuring the Modbus timeout in the ModbusSetup/RS485 page. Note: if the timeout
is set too short, you will not see an accurate value because packets dropped for timeout are not
counted for RTT.
XML: Display the device list data in XML format.
Notes on RTT and Timeout configuration:
To best measure the true RTT, set the ModbusSetup/RS485 timeout to the maximum period and allow the
AcquiSuite to run for 5 or 10 minutes. Next, review the RTT values seen in the device list page and make note of
the longest RTT time shown for any device. Last, configure the ModbusSetup/RS485 timeout to the option that is
the next largest than the longest time seen for any device. For example; if the worst RTT is 600ms, set the
timeout to 1second.
Typical RTT values for direct connected devices should range between 40ms and 200ms. Systems that have
wireless links such as ModHoppers should expect an additional delay of 500ms per hop. A complex system with
multiple ModHoppers may have RTT values upwards of 3 seconds.
Device Details
The device detail page will show a list of all the meter data points, alarm settings and console options. The data
point names for most devices are automatically entered. Some devices such as the A8923-4 io module have
generic inputs, and will be labeled as “pulse input #1”. At the top of the page, the status of the device is shown.
This usually reports “ok” however it can include error information if the device is not responding properly. A list
of device errors is available in the log file details section of this manual. At the bottom of the page, several
buttons are present.
Done: returns you to the device list page.
Log File: This icon will display a table view of the most recent data in the current log file. Use the log file export
page for complete log data access.
XML: This icon will show the current data from the Modbus device in an XML format. The URL from this icon

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can be copied and used to gather xml data for client side Javascript or Java applications.
Configure: This button will allow you to change the device parameters such as the name, alarm and console
settings.
Device Configuration
When the “configure” button is clicked from the device details page, the screen will be refreshed, with the same
information, however the device name, alarm settings and console checkbox will be available.
Device Name: This field allows you to specify a name for the device such as “main building power” or other
useful name to indicate the location or function of the device. A name must be assigned to a device before the
AcquiSuite will log data for it.
Low Alarm, High Alarm: Specify a threshold for the alarm. If the data point is recorded below the Low Alarm, or
above the High Alarm levels at the time a log entry is taken, the point will be considered in an alarm state.
Console: Checking this checkbox will cause the AcquiSuite to display this data point on the LCD console. Multiple
data points are rotated about every 10 seconds. The values on the LCD console are updated when the next log
interval occurs.
Point Config: Some devices have configurable point features. The A8923-4 IO module has 4 pulse and 4 analog
inputs that require additional configuration as detailed in the next section. The H663/704 BCM product only
requires the circuit breaker name in this menu. Most data points are automatically configured and this option
may not be displayed.
Advanced: At the lower right corner of the page, an advanced configuration button may be present depending
on the Modbus device features.
Advanced Configuration Options
The advanced configuration page contains special options specific to the device you are configuring. For the
A8923-4 io module, you may specify the pulse rate speed that the pulse inputs will work at, as well as review the
4-20mA/0-10v input status. On power meters, the CT size and orientation options may be present. The device
serial number and other specific parameters will be displayed if available.
Specific options available in the Advanced Configuration page vary depending on the features available in the
Modbus Device, as well as the features implemented in the built in AcquiSuite driver.
Meter Configuration Device 250– to be added (CT sizing, etc)
Troubleshooting Modbus Devices
If the device you have attached does not appear in the Modbus device list, check the following:
Verify the + (red), - (black), and Shield connections are correct on all connections. Look for any connection in
the middle of the loop that may have the wires reversed, or shorted together. Check the Modbus faq on the
obvius.com website for further details on wiring a Modbus serial connection.
Verify the address settings of every Modbus device. No two devices may have the same address. Note: the
AcquiSuite A8812 uses the address 250 for the internal IO module. Do not assign this address to any other
Modbus device.
If only one device is not working, try disconnecting all the other devices on the Modbus loop to isolate the
problem. If possible, bring the failed device adjacent to the AcquiSuite and attach it with a short stub of wire
to eliminate possible wiring problems. If the AcquiSuite can find a device on the short stub, the problem is
probably a wiring related issue on the RS485 loop.

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Check to verify the Modbus device is supported by the AcquiSuite. Usually, the AcquiSuite will locate the
device and print “Unknown” in the device status column if the device is not recognized by the AcquiSuite
firmware drivers. In the lower right corner of this screen, there is a link that will show a list of supported
devices. Use this to verify the Modbus device in question is supported by the AcquiSuite firmware version. If
not, check for firmware upgrades online with the Firmware Update configuration page.
Remember, the AcquiSuite may take between 2 and 5 minutes to detect a new device that has been attached
to the Modbus rs485 loop. Rebooting the AcquiSuite, refreshing the device list page, or using the console
'Modbus status' menu will not speed up the recognition process.
Click the “Troubleshooting” link at the bottom of the Modbus device list page for further diagnostics.
Modbus Setup
The Modbus setup page provides several options related to the Modbus RS485 serial port.
AcquiSuite Name: This is the name of the AcquiSuite. This name will be present on all log file descriptors when
uploaded to a central database website such as BMO. It is helpful to name the AcquiSuite based on the physical
location of the system, or building. Note: this feature was labeled “Loop Name” in older firmware versions.
Data logging period: This option sets the log interval for the AcquiSuite. Options range from once per minute to
once per hour. All of the selections are even divisions of one hour. The AcquiSuite calculates the next log time
by finding the next multiple of the log period past the start of the hour. For example, if the log period is 15
minutes, log readings will be taken at 0, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour. The log period is not calculated
based on “15 minutes after the last reading”
When the AcquiSuite is first started, it will take an initial reading of all the Modbus devices immediately.
Following that, the next log reading will be calculated as a multiple of the log period after the hour. The initial
reading is taken to allow the AcquiSuite to gather information for meters that require demand calculations, as
well as provide accurate information starting when the AcquiSuite is booted.
Modbus/TCP access: The AcquiSuite has a Modbus TCP gateway feature that allows other systems to send
queries to all attached Modbus RS485 devices. This feature allows control of what systems have access to the
Modbus TCP gateway feature. The settings include “no access”, “local subnet only” and “allow any”. This basic
security feature only allows control based on the IP address of the system making the request. The Modbus TCP
protocol does not have provisions for any authentication password or other methods of security. By default, the
gateway feature is disabled, and set to “No Access.”
The Modbus TCP gateway is a feature that allows the AcquiSuite to share the attached Modbus RS485 devices
with other systems such as PCs with software and building control systems. The gateway receives incoming TCP
requests, verifies the length of the packet does not exceed 255 bytes, and forwards the packet to the Modbus
RS485 loop. The gateway does not verify the contents of the packet, nor the target address specified in the
request. If the Modbus RS485 device sends a valid response back, the gateway will return this information to
the the system requesting it via TCP. If no response is received, a timeout failure will be sent to the requester.
Because the gateway does not process the contents of the request or reply, it is possible to query devices on the
Modbus RS485 loop that are not specifically supported by the AcquiSuite. A Modbus/TCP technical guide may
be available soon at www.obvius.com.
Modbus RS/485 baud rate: This feature allows the configuration of the RS485 serial port speed which the
AcquiSuite uses to communicate with Modbus devices. Options include 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and
115200. The default is 9600, most Modbus devices communicate at this speed as well. Multiple baud rates may
be selected in this menu. If multiple rates are selected, the AcquiSuite will automatically detect the baud rate of
each Modbus device from the chosen options. Once the baud rate has been detected for a specific Modbus
device address, and will continue to communicate with that specific device address at the detected speed. This
feature will allow you to mix multiple devices on the same RS485 loop with different baud rates. Modbus
devices default to a baud rate of 9600. Note: Modbus device manufacturers usually do not 'officially' support

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this configuration, however we have not seen any problems with this in any of the Modbus devices we provide
drivers for. Most Modbus devices simply ignore packets received at the wrong baud rate. If you are experiencing
Modbus communications problems, you should set the baud rate to a fixed 9600 before troubleshooting.
Modbus RS/485 Parity: This feature allows alternate parity options to be set. Default is no parity.
Modbus RS/485 Stopbit: This feature allows alternate stop bit options to be set. Default is one stop bit.
Modbus RS/485 timeout: This feature sets the period of time the AcquiSuite will wait for a response from any
device on the Modbus RS485 serial loop. The default of 200ms is long enough for most Modbus devices. Longer
timeouts may be required if you have a very slow device, or if you have a Modbus repeater device in the serial
loop. Devices such as the ModHopper, the Veris H8936 Local Display, or any RS485 wireless link repeaters add a
substantial delay. Setting the delay longer than the default will increase the time required to auto-detect new
Modbus devices when attached to the AcquiSuite. For ModHopper connections, use a minimum setting of 1.5
seconds. The allowed range is 100ms to 5 seconds.
Tip: Set the timeout to the longest available setting, and use the “stats” option on the bottom right of the device
list page to monitor the actual RTT (response time) for each device. Next, decrease the RS485 Timeout that is
close to (but longer than) the slowest device in the device list.
Modbus RS/485 Debug: This feature records Modbus RS485 transaction data in the system debug log file. You
must click the “start log” button on the system/log files page to record this information. Debug options are as
follows:
None: No RS485 information is logged.
Errors: Only Modbus errors are logged.
Transaction: One line is logged describing every RS485 query, and the result of that query.
Full Debug: Complete listing of all queries including hex dumps of all data sent/received.
Search for Modbus/RS485 Devices: This option allows the AcquiSuite to search for Modbus devices attached on
the RS/485 port. This feature may be disabled to reduce queries on the RS/485 port. Default is enabled.
Search for Sensor Network Devices: This option will allow the AcquiSuite to search for sensor network enabled
ModHoppers (R9120-3SN) , and log data from attached devices. Note: this is for sensor network devices such
as PointSix and Badger receivers, and not Modbus or Pulse devices. Default is disabled.
Alarm Setup
The Modbus Alarms section provides the ability to send messages when alarm levels are exceeded. Messages
can be sent by email, snmp or displayed on the LCD console. Alarms are processed at the end of the data
logging period. For more frequent alarms, shorten the data log interval. Log readings and alarm processing can
be set to as often as once per minute.
Display all alarms on LCD console: When checked, all alarm messages are shown on the LCD display of the
AcquiSuite.
SNMP Trap Send Enabled: When checked, SNMP Trap messages are sent after every log period for each data
point that is in an alarm state. The trap includes information about the AcquiSuite system data point, and alarm
state. A full MIB is located on the AcquiSuite, click the MIB link to the right of this option.
SNMP Trap Host 1 (2,3): When SNMP traps are enabled, a trap message is sent to each of the trap host
addresses. Specify the trap host by IP address, not DNS name.
Direct email on alarm. When checked, the AcquiSuite will send an email message when any data point changes

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its alarm state.
SMTP Mail Server Address: The ip address of the email server on the LAN that will process and forward the
email message to the recipient.
Sender Address: The address that will be used in the “From:” line of the email. This is helpful in identifying the
source of the alarm email message. If your SMTP mail server has junk filtering, you may be required to use a
sender address that matches a mailbox address on the SMTP mail server; check with your mail server
administrator for specific details on this issue.
Recipient address 1 (2,3): The AcquiSuite can send a copy of the alarm notice to multiple email addresses.
Specify one, two or three email addresses in the fields provided for the recipient addresses.
Modbus Framework
The Modbus Framework feature is a tool to allow the AcquiSuite to read data from any Modbus device by
creating a template in the Modbus Framework editor. The template describes the Modbus register read
commands, and the conversion required for each data point that is to be read. The Framework feature is an
advanced feature of the AcquiSuite that requires the user to be familiar with the Modbus protocol and with the
Modbus register point list for the specific Modbus device that will be used. For more information on the
Modbus Framework feature, download the Modbus Framework documentation from www.obvius.com.
Wireless
Sensor List
The sensor list feature works in conjunction with a number of non-Modbus sensors. Sensor devices such as
PointSix, BAPI, and Badger/Orion typically transmit data on a pre-set interval and are not polled by the
AcquiSuite. Data is received and uniquely identified by the sensor's serial number. Each sensor may be given a
name, and some have additional options to configure such as input value scaling.
ModHopper Map
The AcquiSuite has additional diagnostic features that assist with ModHopper deployments. The most useful is
the ModHopper route map. Select the ModHoppers menu from the Wireless section in the AcquiSuite menu
tree as shown below.