- Converts RS-232 to 4-wire RS-422 or to 2- or 4-wire RS-485
- Bidirectional data conversion
- Select RS-485 2-wire half-duplex or RS-485 4-wire full-duplex operation
- Optically isolated circuits protect the converter from overvoltage damage caused by ground loops, surges, and spikes
- RS-422 operation with transmit and receive always enabled
- Set operating mode with four switches
- Automatic RS-485 driver control, so it works without any special programming for handshaking signals
- Also enables transmitter from RS-232 TD signal and receiver when not transmitting
- Built-in bridging switches for 2- or 4-wire operation with no external jumpers to set
- Converts using either port power or power from an external 120-VAC / 12-VDC power supply (power supply ordered separately)
- No external power is required if two RS-232 output handshake lines are available
Convert async RS232 to RS422/485 at speeds up to 115.2 kbps with distances up to 4000 ft. over CATx cables. The BLACK BOX(r) Universal RS-232 to RS-422/485 Converter with Opto-Isolation isolates and converts RS-232 signals into RS-422/RS-485 signals and vice versa. Unlike other converters external software is not required to control data flow. The RS-232 input is wired for DCE through a DB9 female connector and RS-422/RS-485 signals are interfaced through a removable terminal block. To supply external power to the terminal block you need our 120-VAC/12-VDC Wallmount Power Supply (PS1003). For RS-232 the connection requires RD TD and Signal Ground. In RS-422 mode the driver is always enabled for full-duplex communications. A twisted pair is required for transmit and a twisted pair is also required to receive. A ground reference wire is also needed. Switch settings are Switch 1 RS-422 Switch 2 Echo On Switches 3 and 4 4 Wire. In both RS-485 modes the RS-485 driver is automatically enabled during each space state by the presence of an RS-232 signal. When the RS-232 data is in a mark or idle state the RS-485 driver is disabled and the RS-485 data lines are held in a mark state by the bias provided by a 4.7-ohm resistor the value of this resistor may need to be changed depending on the termination you use. To connect to several RS-485 devices with minimal wire select the unit's 2-wire half-duplex RS-485 mode. When data is requested the addressed device transmits and then reverts back to receive status. Switch settings for this mode are Switch 1 RS-485 Switch 2 Echo Off Switches 3 and 4 2 Wire. For 4-wire master/slave circuits select the unit's 4-wire full-duplex RS-485 mode. In this mode addressed devices can receive data while transmitting data from a previous request. When used as a master in a single-master system Switch 1 may be selected because the unit is the only transmitter in the system. When used as an RS-485 slave the RS-232 device must provide addressability. Biasing in a master/slave system is provided by the end-of-line slave. Switch settings for this mode are Switch 1 RS-485 Switch 2 Echo On Switches 3 and 4 4 Wire.