Control Solutions is your source for LonWorks I/O.
LonWorks® to Modbus/RTU Universal Gateway

Translates any Modbus register to any supported LonWorks SNVT variable and vice versa!

• Connect Modbus devices to a LonWorks network
• Connect LonWorks devices to a Modbus network
• Any LonWorks SNVT, any Modbus Register Format
Control Solutions’ Babel Buster 232 is a fully configurable universal LonWorks to Modbus RTU gateway. The RTU master is used to make Modbus RS-232 devices accessible on a LonWorks network. The RTU slave is used to make LonWorks devices accessible on a Modbus RS-232 network. The Babel Buster 232 gateway is designed to be economical enough to use multiple gateways, one per device.

An RTU master Babel Buster 232 can poll a single Modbus slave, and can be bound to any number of LonWorks devices. An RTU slave Babel Buster 232 responds to a single Modbus slave unit ID, and may be bound to any number of LonWorks devices. LonWorks network variable data is translated to Modbus register data, and vice versa. Modbus polling rates and LonWorks network update rates are fully configurable. Register mapping and network variable types (SNVT) are fully configurable.

The LonMark Certified Babel Buster 232 conforms fully to LonMark version 3.3. The only tool required to configure Babel Buster is LonMaker version 3.

• Universal, fully configurable
• You pick the Modbus register
• You pick the SNVT type
• No extra software or drivers to buy

• LonWorks TP/FT-10 (FTT-10A) to Modbus RS-232 Gateway
• Translate 58 LonWorks network variables to Modbus registers
• LonMark Ver. 3.3 Sensor & Actuator Functional Profiles
• Supports Modbus “coils”, input registers, and holding registers
• Single or double Modbus registers, signed, unsigned, IEEE 754
• All scalar LonMark SNVT types supported including floating point
• SNVT_switch & SNVT_state also supported
• SNVT types dynamically assignable via LonMaker
• Modbus register mapping dynamically mappable via LonMaker
• Modbus registers may be scaled (x10, x100, x0.1, x0.01, etc.)
• Min/max send time, send on delta configurable per point
• Modbus (master) polling interval configurable per point
• Object override supported on point by point basis
• Bidirectional communication between LonWorks and Modbus
• LonMark certified, version 3.3
• 3150L Neuron® Chip, 48K Flash memory, 10K RAM
• TP/FT-10 (FTT-10A) transceiver
• Powered by 10-30VDC or 12-24VAC 50/60 Hz
• Power Consumption: 0.1A @ 24VDC
• DIN rail mounting, 100mm H x 70mm W x 60mm D
• Modbus standard RJ-45 connector, RS-232 pin-out
• LED indicators for LonWorks & Modbus status
• Pluggable screw terminal block for power & LonWorks network
• Operating temperature -40°C to +85°C
• Humidity 5% to 90%
• FCC Class B
• CE Mark

BB232 Babel Buster 232 Modbus RTU to LonWorks Gateway $319.00
How do you map Modbus registers to LonWorks network variables? Click here to see how the configuration tool works for a better idea of how this is done.

Click here for LonMark Functional Profile details.
The RJ-45 pinout on Babel Buster 232 follows the Modbus-IDA standard. You may find a need to convert this to a 9-pin D connector. There are a variety of places to purchase an RJ-45 to 9-pin D adapter. We offer them in our Online Catalog for convenience.

By using one of these adapters, any stock CAT-5 Ethernet cable can be used as an RS-232 cable.

Click here for a Concise Guide to RS-232.

These come only paritally assembled. To assemble a DF45 adapter (female 9-pin) that will connect directly to your PC, insert the blue wire in pin2, orange wire in pin 3, and white wire in pin 5 of the 9-pin female.

Typical Configurations
Software Options
The standard Babel Buster 232 provides 30 NVOs and 28 NVIs. The -F50 option provides 46 NVOs and 8 NVIs. The -T50 option provides 8 NVOs and 50 NVIs. Select the "T50" option if data is flowing mostly "To Modbus", and "F50" if data is flowing mostly "From Modbus". Select the standard version (no suffix) for a roughly even mix.
You can convert Babel Buster 232 to another version simply by re-commissioning the device in LonMaker, and selecting "Load Application Image". The optional images and XIF files may be downloaded from the zip file right here.

Babel Buster 232 Images

Here is a non-Modbus application of Babel Buster 232. Check out the
LonWorks to X10 Gateway
for high end residential use.