Reading data from USB port

[sharikbaig]

This is a bit complicated and strictly application oriented question.
I want to take a RS485 communicable energy meter's reading into a windows application. I have connected the 'Schneider Electric- Conzerv EM6436' meter to 'MOXA Transio A52' RS485 to RS232 converter and then RS232 to USB converter connects it to USB port of my computer.
Just to simplify:
Energy Meter (RS485) ---> RS485 to RS232 converter ---> RS232 to USB converter ---> Windows PC
By doing this I successfully got the data in ModScan Software from WinTech. Now i dont want to use modscan but i want my own windows application to show the readings from Energy Meter.
How can i achieve that, how can i read the same data in Visual Studio 2012. I am new with Visual Studio, so a detailed answer would be appreciated. The meter uses MODBUS RTU protocol. I got the data into PC as i said. Now i just want it in Visual Studio. You have to enter some memory address in modscan to get particular reading. For example address 3915 gives Frequency. These memory addresses are specified in data manual of energy meter.

Energy Meter manual attached below.
ModScan Download Link - https://www.win-tech.com/html/demos.htm

 

[srizbf]

you must read the serial port data . the port no (COM xx) is fixed by the system when you connect the usb2serial interface.

so , write the code for reading and writing the com port no.

you can use the windows api for doing this.

 

[horace1]

if you look in Visual Studio's Toolbox you will find the SerialPort component
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.ports.serialport(v=vs.110).aspx

you can set up the COM port, baudrate, etc and read/write data from/to the port
the code can be writen in C++, C#, VB, etc

 

[sharikbaig]

Thanks for replying. Are there any sample codes to help me with programming?

 

[horace1]

Thanks for replying. Are there any sample codes to help me with programming?

if you scroll dwon the page of
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.ports.serialport(v=vs.110).aspx

you will find sample code for C#, C++ and VB

also each method usually has sample code associated with it

also if you search the forum you will find threads on the topic

 

[srizbf]

a simple to program c library is available in:

https://github.com/ynezz/librs232/

(this is multiplatform)

go through it and you can use it for any purpose.
the only requirement is c programming ability.

 

[subbav]

In fact, I have been working on similar requirement to get meter data to windows application. But was struggling to get successful connection.

We tried with modscan as well.But no luck..I followed EM6438 manual that you attached in the post.

May i know what settings you configured in modscan.Great help if you send your c# code.

 

[sharikbaig]

Subbav,

In MODSCAN, suppose you want to read Power from the Meter,

Set address as 3901
Device ID - 1
Length - 2
MODBUS point type - 03-Holding Register

Now Click connection > connect, to see the connection detail window. In that window,
Direct connection to (The port at which you've connected your meter, COM9 in my case).
Baud Rate - 19200
Word Length - 8
Parity - EVEN
Manual Hardware Flow Control with 0 delay for DSR & CTS.

Now click on Protocol Selection, set Transmission Mode as RTU and Slave Response Timeout as 1200ms.
Click on OK and you must be able to see Power Total there. If not, set it to read as float from toolbar and you're done!

For reading other parameters such as voltage, frequency etc, see the attached manual for addresses. As far as i remember, its 3927 for Volage at V1, and 3915 for frequency.

Hope this helped. I am unable to get it into c due to lack of knowledge on that subject. Will upload the c code if done at any time. Request you to share if you got any further success.