Modbus TCP/RTU Integration
Connect EpiSensor to BMS and SCADA systems using the industry-standard Modbus protocol.
The Universal Industrial Protocol
Modbus has been the backbone of industrial communication for over four decades. It remains the most widely supported protocol in building management systems, SCADA platforms, and energy meters. Whether you are working with a legacy BMS or a modern energy management platform, Modbus provides a proven, straightforward path to integration.
EpiSensor supports both Modbus TCP (over Ethernet/IP networks) and Modbus RTU (over RS-485 serial connections via the ZMB Wireless Modbus Bridge), covering virtually every Modbus deployment scenario.
How It Works with EpiSensor
The EpiSensor system operates as both a Modbus master and a Modbus slave, depending on your integration requirements. As a master, the ZGW-10 Gateway polls third-party Modbus meters and sensors, bringing their data into the EpiSensor ecosystem alongside native wireless sensor readings. As a slave, the gateway exposes all collected energy data as Modbus holding registers that any BMS or SCADA system can read.
For Modbus RTU devices, the ZMB Wireless Modbus Bridge connects to RS-485 serial buses and relays register data wirelessly over ZigBee to the gateway, eliminating the need for long cable runs. The gateway handles protocol conversion, register mapping, and data type translation automatically.
Key Features
Master and Slave Mode
Operate as a Modbus master to poll third-party devices, or as a slave to expose EpiSensor data to your existing BMS. Run both modes simultaneously.
TCP and RTU Support
Connect over Ethernet with Modbus TCP or over RS-485 serial with Modbus RTU via the ZMB Wireless Modbus Bridge.
Auto-Discovery
Scan Modbus networks to discover connected devices automatically. Pre-built register maps for popular energy meters reduce configuration time.
Register Mapping
Flexible register mapping with support for 16-bit, 32-bit, and floating-point data types. Define custom register maps for any Modbus device.
Wireless RS-485
The ZMB Modbus Bridge eliminates wiring by relaying Modbus RTU data over the ZigBee mesh, reducing installation cost and time significantly.
Use Cases
BMS Integration
Expose energy data to building management systems from Honeywell, Siemens, Johnson Controls, and others. Add granular sub-metering data to existing BMS installations without replacing infrastructure.
Legacy Meter Aggregation
Bring data from existing Modbus energy meters into a unified IoT platform. Consolidate readings from mixed-vendor meter estates into a single data stream for cloud analytics.
Industrial SCADA
Feed energy data into SCADA systems for process monitoring and control. The gateway's Modbus slave registers integrate directly with SCADA polling engines.
Getting Started
To expose EpiSensor data via Modbus TCP, enable the Modbus slave service on the gateway, assign a port, and configure your BMS or SCADA system to poll the gateway's IP address. Register maps are auto-generated based on the sensors connected to the gateway and can be exported for easy import into third-party systems.
To read from third-party Modbus devices, add them via the gateway interface or Core platform. Select a pre-built register map or create a custom one. For Modbus RTU devices, pair a ZMB Modbus Bridge to the gateway's ZigBee network and connect it to the RS-485 bus. Data begins flowing within minutes.
Ready to Integrate with Modbus?
Talk to our team about connecting EpiSensor to your BMS or SCADA system.