Notice # 0020

Version 1.0
August 15, 2014

Troubleshooting EIA-485 Networking Problems

INTRODUCTION
This document is designed to assist in the physical troubleshooting of an EIA-485 network
by following the Setup Checklist, Troubleshooting Flow Chart, EIA-485 Transceiver Test,
and the Measuring Network Voltage sections below.

SETUP CHECKLIST
ENSURE ALL CONTROLLERS ARE:

Application Notice

Set to the same baud rate*.

The MP-1, MP-2, MPZ, MPA, and SSC controllers feature auto-baud detection,
allowing them to sense the communication speed used by other devices on an MS/
TP network and automatically configure its own communication speed to match**.

Set up with a unique address and only the highest address is set to the last panel
(for Reliable Control protocol).*

Set up with a unique device instance and MAC address (for BACnet networks).*

Set to the same protocol: Reliable or BACnet.*

Ensure all controllers are set for either Main or Subnetwork.*

Grounded - all controllers must be grounded to Earth ground.

Only terminated at the extremities.***

A maximum of 2 terminators per network.

Using 22AWG or lower (thicker) - 2 conductor twisted pair, shielded, low

capacitance (characteristic impedance ideal of 108 or as close as possible)
network wire with the shield grounded in only one place.

2014 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
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ENSURE THAT:

The total length of the network wiring is less than 4,000 feet.

The network wiring polarity is correct.

The network bulbs are good (Each bulb should measure approximately 17 ohms).
Lit bulbs or red Status LED indicates a problem ****

The Status LED indicates normal operation.****

The network is daisy-chained (no star connections).

That any third-party devices with a REF pin have a third, dedicated conductor connecting
the REF pins on the third-party device to the GND or REF pin on the nearest MACHSystem device.

Third-party devices should be neither the highest MAC address nor the lowest MAC
address (when possible).

The SMART-Space Controller requires a proxy device for communications. The proxy
device must be present on the same physical network.
Reliable Controls proxy devices are the MACH-ProCom, MACH-ProSys, MACHProWebCom, MACH-ProWebSys, MACH-Pro1, MACH-Pro2, and the X-Port-2
Converter. Slave Proxy and Auto Slave Discovery must be enabled on the controller.
NOTES:

*
**

***
****

To ensure the setting, cycle power and re-check.

The only way to change the baud rate on a functioning network is to power down the entire network or
use MSet > Setup > Network Config on the host controller to change the networks baud rate before
changing the host controllers baud rate.
To determine the network extremities, calculate the maximum length between any two controllers.
Refer to the controller's User Guide.

2014 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
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TROUBLESHOOTING FLOW CHART

All items in the Setup Section should be verified for each controller prior to using the splitting
method in this flowchart.

See pages 47 and 48 of the Installation Manual.

* If an X-Port Converter can connect to a standalone controller then that controller's EIA-485 port is good.

2014 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
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EIA-485 TRANSCEIVER TEST

All new controllers starting with the MACH-ProZone use the New Transceiver. The MACHPro(Web)Com series controllers have a mix of Old and New Transceivers. The only sure way to
determine the type of transceiver on older controllers is to measure the transceiver.
To measure the transceiver, disconnect the panel from the network and install the End-of-Lines.
The voltages should read approximately 2.3 VDC on 'A' and approximately 2.7 VDC on 'B' (as
referenced to the controllers ground). Remove the End-of-Lines and the voltages should read
values shown in the Table 1.
TABLE 1: TRANSCEIVER TEST VOLTAGE READINGS OF A AND B

Transceiver

A is approximately:

B is approximately:

Old Transceiver

0.7 VDC

4.6 VDC

New Transceiver (MPA or later)

2.5 VDC

2.5 VDC

MACH-Global Main Network

0.09 VDC

0.3 VDC

MACH-Global Sub Networks

0.7 VDC

4.6 VDC

If an X-Port-2 converter is being used, ensure it is disconnected before performing any voltage
tests.

MEASURING NETWORK VOLTAGES

Disconnect the network and measure from the disconnected network wire to the ground of the
controller.
Voltages on the network wires should read approximately 2.3 VDC on 'A' and 2.7 VDC on 'B', with
reference to ground, on a properly terminated network.
For non-terminated networks, the values are shown in the Table 2.
TABLE 2: NON-TERMINATED NETWORK VOLTAGE READINGS OF A AND B

Network with:

A is approximately:

B is approximately:

Old Transceiver

0.7 VDC

4.6 VDC

New Transceiver

2.5 VDC

2.5 VDC

Mixed Transceivers

1.3 VDC

3.7 VDC

2014 Reliable Controls Corporation . 120 Hallowell Road . Victoria, BC . V9A 7K2 . 250.475.2036 . 877.475.9301 . Fax: 250.475.2096
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