Your Power Solutions Partner
Cordex HP Controller
Modbus Integrator Guide
Part # 0350114-J0
Effective: 01/2016
Cordex HP Controller: Modbus Integrator Guide
NOTE: Photographs contained in this manual are for illustrative purposes only. These photographs may
not match your installation.
NOTE: Operator is cautioned to review the drawings and illustrations contained in this manual before
proceeding. If there are questions regarding the safe operation of this powering system, contact Alpha
Technologies or your nearest Alpha representative.
NOTE: Alpha shall not be held liable for any damage or injury involving its enclosures, power supplies,
generators, batteries, or other hardware if used or operated in any manner or subject to any condition
inconsistent with its intended purpose, or if installed or operated in an unapproved manner, or improp-
erly maintained.
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 Alpha Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Alpha is a registered trademark
of Alpha Technologies.
No part of this documentation shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, translated, transcribed,
or transmitted in any form or by any means manual, electric, electronic, electromechanical, chemical,
optical, or other-wise without prior explicit written permission from Alpha Technologies.
This document, the software it describes, and the information and know-how they contain constitute the
proprietary, confidential and valuable trade secret information of Alpha Technologies, and may not be
used for any unauthorized purpose, or disclosed to others without the prior written permission of Alpha
Technologies.
The material contained in this document is for information only and is subject to change without notice.
While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy,
Alpha Technologies assumes no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this document, or from the
use of the information contained herein. Alpha Technologies reserves the right to make changes in the
product design without reservation and without notification to its users.
)RUWHFKQLFDOVXSSRUWFRQWDFW$OSKD7HFKQRORJLHV
&DQDGDDQG86$
,QWHUQDWLRQDO
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Purpose and Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Knowledge and Permissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2USING MODBUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Modbus Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Modbus Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
DC System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Known Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
iii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table 2: Modbus Device IDs for the CXC HP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 3: Output Coils (0) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 4: Input Contacts (1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Table 5: Input Registers (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Table 6: Holding (Output) Registers (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
iv
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 1
1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
The purpose of this manual is to provide information on how to use Alpha Technologies Cordex™ High
Performance System Controller (CXC HP) and software along with Modbus. This guide contains infor-
mation on setup, and operation of Modbus using Alpha’s CXC HP controller.
1.2 Purpose and Audience
The audience for this manual are engineers, technicians, IT professionals and network operation
personnel who are tasked with remote monitoring of the power system using Modbus. They should be
well versed in the Modbus protocol as well as the network management, remote monitoring or network
operations center software and tools that will be used to monitor the controller.
1.3 Knowledge and Permissions
It is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of, and access to, the following:
• Modbus monitoring software and tools
• Network and port monitoring tools like Firebug and Wireshark
• Ethernet cables and TCP/IP settings needed to connect your computer to the CXC HP controller
• Current version of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer (9+) or Safari
• Power system that the controller currently controls
• Controller admin password, and the appropriate level of permissions
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 2
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 3
2 Using Modbus
2.1 Modbus Setup
To setup Modbus TCP/IP on the CXC HP controller, you need to enable the Modbus client via the web
interface.
1. Go to Controller > Configure Controller > Communications > Modbus to enable Modbus, and
then select the byte order.
Figure 1: Enabling Modbus on the CXC HP
Client Application Setup
Client applications connect to the controller through TCP/IP via a Modbus client. The standard,
non-configurable Modbus service port 502 is used. The sample application used for following figure, is
Modscan32 available via: WinTech Software Design - www.win-tech.com.
Table 1: Configuration
Name Description
Modbus Agent Turns the Modbus Agent on or off. To complete
changing this configuration, a soft reset is
required.
The default configuration is Disabled.
Byte Order The order of 16-bit halves of the 32-bit data form.
All numeric data are represented as 32-bit
floating point values. Two address spaces are
used for each data value presented through
Modbus.
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 4
Figure 2: Modbus Connection Configuration
Once the connection is made, data can be retrieved using proper indexing values as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Data Retrieving Configuration
Device ID: Device ID of the data of interest.
Address: Starting address of the data block to read.
Length: The length of the data block to read.
Modbus Point Type: The register channel of the data of interest. The example shows Command code
04 - Input Register (read-only data).
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 5
NOTE: The data shown have “unknown” values represented as the floating point value of 0xFFFFFFFF
(-1.#QB). Non-available data or data addresses that are not populated display as 0.
2.2 Modbus Reference
The design of the Modbus Agent for the CXC HP is to use Device IDs to represent the various inven-
tory items in the controller. Currently, only the DC System has been added to the Modbus Agent. At
this time, the Device ID for the DC System is fixed. It is likely that the device IDs will need to be user
configurable as the Modbus Agent evolves.
Following Modbus standards, the CXC HP Modbus Agent also supports:
• Up to 256 Device IDs numbered: 0 - 255
• Up to four data channels (tables) per Device ID labeled: Coil Status (0), Input Status (1), Input
Register (3), Holding Register (4)
• Up to 65,536 data values (rows) per data channel (table) numbered: 0 - 65535
• All non-single bit data are represented in 32-bit form. Two 16-bit entries/rows are required for
each data point to represent the 32-bit data form
• All numeric values are represented as 32-bit floating point values
• Unknown or invalid numerical representation are 0xFFFFFFFF
2.3 DC System
This section documents the Modbus data values available for the DC System (Device ID: 250). The
standard defines that there should be four tables. Alpha only uses one, the Input Registers, the others
display as empty.
Output Coils are used to control and represent things like Relays. Output Coils are read-write.
Input Contacts are used to represent things like Alarm Status or Digital Inputs. Input Contacts are
read-only.
Table 2: Modbus Device IDs for the CXC HP
Inventory Item Modbus Device ID on the CXC HP
DC System 250
Table 3: Output Coils (0)
Address (Hex) Name
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 6
Input Registers are used to represent measured or complex data values like analog inputs, times, dates
or states. Input Registers are read-only.
Output Registers used to represent configuration data like a target float voltage or an alarm threshold.
Output Registers are read-write.
Table 4: Input Contacts (1)
Address (Hex) Name
Table 5: Input Registers (3)
Address (Hex) Name
0001 System Voltage
0003 Total Load Current
0005 Total Capacity Installed in Amps
0007 System Mode - (0) Unknown, (1) No Battery, (2) System
Off, (3) Battery on Discharge, (4) Battery Conditioning,
(5) Battery Charging, (6) Battery on Discharge Test
0009 Average Rectifier AC Input Voltage
000B Estimated Battery Runtime
000D Last Discharge Duration
000F Output Voltage Low Alarm Threshold
0011 Output Voltage High Alarm Threshold
0013 Battery Runtime Low Alarm Threshold
0015 AC Mains Voltage Low Alarm Threshold
0017 AC Mains Voltage Hight Alarm Threshold
Table 6: Holding (Output) Registers (4)
Address (Hex) Name
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 7
2.4 Known Issues
Items listed in this section are known issues or behaviors that are not obvious when using the CXC HP
controller and may change in the future.
• Live Data Updates: The data published through Modbus are linked in real time to the system built
and configured in the CXC HP controller. When these items are removed from the controller, the
Modbus client will lose the internal link to them and will stop updating the published data until a
new system is created, configured and the controller is reset.
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 8
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 9
3 Glossary
AC
Alternating Current
ADIO
Analog-digital input-output
ALCO
Alarm cutoff
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode; e,g. ATM cell
BCT
Battery current termination
BOD
Battery on discharge
BT
Battery test (or test mode)
CAN
Controller Area Network
CEMF
Counter electro-motive force
CX
Cordex series; e.g. CXC for Cordex™ System Controller
DC
Direct current
DOD
Depth of discharge
EQ
Equalize (mode or voltage)
FL
Float (mode or voltage)
GUI
Graphical User Interface
HVA
High voltage alarm
HVSD
High voltage shutdown
ICMP
Internet control message protocol
IP
Internet Protocol
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
LED
Light Emitting Diode
0350114-J0 Rev B Page 10
LVA
Low voltage alarm
LVC
Low voltage connect
LVD
Low voltage disconnect
MAC
Media Access Control; e.g. MAC address
MIB
Management Information Base
MUX
Multiplexer
OCP
Over Current Protection
OLED
Organic LED, in-shelf controller display
OVP
Over-voltage protection
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant
PPP
Point to Point Protocol
RAS
Remote access server
SCI
Serial Communication Interface
SNMP
Simple Network Management Protocol
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol
Trap
Event notification
Visit us at www.alpha.ca
Due to continuing product development, Alpha Technologies reserves the right to change specifications
without notice. Copyright © 2016 Alpha Technologies. All Rights Reserved. Alpha® is a registered trademark
of Alpha Technologies.
Alpha Technologies Ltd.
7700 Riverfront Gate
Burnaby, BC V5J 5M4
Canada
Tel: +1 604 436 5900
Fax: +1 604 436 1233
Toll Free: +1 800 667 8743
www.alpha.ca
Alpha Technologies Inc.
3767 Alpha Way
Bellingham, WA 98226
United States
Tel: +1 360 647 2360
Fax: +1 360 671 4936
www.alpha.com
Alpha Industrial Power Inc.
1075 Satellite Blvd NW.
Suite 400
Suwanee, GA 30024
Tel: +1 678 475 3995
Fax: +1 678 584 9259
www.alpha.com
Alpha Energy
17825 59th Ave. NE, Suite B
Arlington, WA 98223
United States
Tel: +1 360 435 6030
Fax: +1 360 435 6019
www.alpha.com
Alpha Technologies GmbH.
Hansastrasse 8
D-91126
Schwabach, Germany
Tel: +49 9122 79889 0
Fax: +49 9122 79889 21
www.alphatechnologies.com
Alpha Technologies Europe Ltd.
Twyford House, Thorley
Bishop’s Stortford
Hertfordshire, CM22 7PA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1279 501110
Fax: +44 1279 659870
www.alphatechnologies.com
Alphatec Ltd.
339 St. Andrews St.
Suite 101 Andrea Chambers
P.O. Box 56468
3307 Limassol, Cyprus
Tel: +357 25 375 675
Fax: +357 25 359 595
www.alpha.com
Alpha Technologies Pty Ltd.
Suite 2 32-34 Peter Brock Drive
Eastern Creek NSW 2766
Australia
Tel: +61 2 8599 6960
www.alpha.com
Alpha Innovations Brasil
Address: Rua Alvares Cabral,
Nº 338 – Diadema - SP
09981-030
Brazil
Tel: +55 11 2476 0150
www.alphainnovations.com.br
Alpha Technologies S.A.
1, Avenue Alexander Fleming
B-1348 Ottignies, Louvain-la-Neuve
Belgium
Tel: +32 10 438 510
Fax: +32 10 438 213
www.alphatechnologies.eu
OutBack Power
17825 59th Ave. NE, Suite B
Arlington, WA 98223
United States
Tel: +1 360 435 6030
Fax: +1 360 435 6019
www.outbackpower.com
Alpha Tec Trading (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
Suite 1903, Tower 1,
China Hong Kong City,
33 Canton Road,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2736 8663
Fax: +852 2199 7988
www.alpha.com
Alpha Technologies Turkey Enerji Ltd Sti
Altaycesme MAh.Sarigul Sok No 33 Umut Kent
Sistesi A Blok D:5
Maltepe, Istanbul
Turkey
Tel: +90 216 370 23 28
Fax: +90 216 370 23 68
www.alpha.com.tr
Alpha Mexico Network Power S.A. de C.V.
Calle Dakota #204, of 303, Col. Nápoles.
México D.F. C.P.03810, México
Tel: +55 5543 1114
Toll Free: +01 800 0082 886
www.alphapower.mx
NavSemi Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Bengaluru, India Ofce
Plot No: 29 (P1) & 31 (P1),
Electronic City Phase 2,
Bengaluru - 560 100, India.
Tel: +91 80 6539 2666
www.navsemi.com
For technical support, contact Alpha Technologies:
Canada and USA: 1-888-462-7487
International: +1-604-436-5547
/
