Supmea R6000F Recorder Modbus RTU Testing

March 30, 2025 Jasher Simmons

We recently conducted in-depth testing of the Supmea R6000F recorder to showcase its powerful Modbus RTU capabilities. The results highlight its ability to deliver both standalone value and easy integration as an IO module with a PLC/SCADA architecture for data acquisition and control.

The Challenge:

Many industrial facilities face the challenge of balancing immediate data logging needs (and budget) with long-term system integration requirements. Traditional approaches have been to use a standalone data loggers initially, then later add PLC/SCADA systems. Typically, the first data acquisition solution you buy will not have any compatibility when it comes time to upgrade and integrate.

The Solution:

The Supmea R6000F offers a comprehensive solution by functioning as:

Standalone: Providing local, real-time display and historic trending of essential process parameters, up to four PID loops for localised control process control, local alarm handling etc.
A Modbus RTU Slave: Effortlessly integrating with third-party SCADA or PLC systems via Port #1, enabling centralized monitoring and control.
A Modbus RTU Master: Simultaneously acting as a master on Port #2 to retrieve data from up to six other Modbus slave devices, such as the Supmea MDC-PH pH transmitter.

Key Benefits:

Improved Fault Diagnosis and Reduced Downtime: Local display of process variables on the R6000F facilitates quick fault localization. Technicians can diagnose and resolve issues efficiently, minimizing downtime and reducing reliance on specialized PLC/SCADA engineers.
Future-Proof Flexibility: The R6000F provides immediate value through standalone data acquisition while offering seamless integration into a PLC/SCADA system when needed. Fulfilling both immediate and long-term business objectives.
Simplified Architecture: Reduces the number of devices, wiring, and complexity of system design.
Real-time Data: Provides machine-side and remote access to accurate and timely data for improved process visibility and decision-making.

Example Application:

In our testing, we simulated a typical wastewater process monitoring scenario. We connected an analogue pH sensor with integrated pt1000 temperature compensation, using a Supmea MDC-PH transmitter, to the R6000F. This setup demonstrated the R6000F's ability to:

Acquire and log pH and temperature data locally.
Transmit this data to a remote SCADA system via Modbus RTU.
Act as a Modbus master to read data from the pH transmitter.

To perform this test, we used the Mr Signal 9270S as the modbus master to poll data from the R6000F recorder.

Conclusion:

The Supmea R6000F is a versatile and robust solution for industrial data acquisition and control. Its dual Modbus master/slave functionality, combined with standalone data logging capabilities and local display, provides both immediate value and future-proof integration flexibility. This translates to simplified systems, reduced downtime, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Technical Details:

Communication Standard: Modbus RTU over RS485
Baud Rate: 9600 bps
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Byte Order: 2143 (1032)
Supmea Register Addressing: 0-indexed (e.g., Mr Signal register 2 = Supmea register 1)
R6000F Analog Input Mapping:
- AI 15 = Remote IO 1 (pH) = register 30
- AI 16 = Remote IO 2 (temperature) = register 32
MDC-PH Modbus Registers: Register 1 = pH, Register 3 = temperature