The Azimut Gateway is an IoT device that acquires data from different types of sources and communication protocols and sends them to Ubidots and/or Azimut cloud platform. Applications include Smart Energy, Industry 4.0 (integration with PLC/HMI), Remote Asset monitoring and Control, Smart Pumps, and Air conditioning Systems.
The Azimut Gateway supports two different types of cloud communication, via cellular network using a GSM SIM card, and through an Ethernet port.
Supports various industrial energy meters, AC drives, PLCs, and Utilities (like UPS, SVG) through Modbus TCP/IP or/and Modbus RTU.
Supports up to 63 Modbus slaves.
Includes a DIN rail to suit various industrial applications.
Supports 3 digital inputs, 3 analog inputs, and 2 digital outputs.
Using this guide, you will learn how to set up the Azimut Gateway to send real-time process data to Ubidots Application Development Platform. In this example, an Azimut Cellular Gateway is integrated with an energy meter through Modbus RTU.
Requirements
Azimut Cellular Gateway with its accessories:
Micro USB cable.
SIMCard with the network provider.
MicroSD.
Cellular antenna.
Power cable.
Energy meter with Modbus RTU support
Table of contents
Terminals and basic wiring connections.
General settings configuration.
Modbus RTU variable configuration.
Send data to Ubidots.
Feedback, Suggestions, and Related Articles
1. Terminals and basic wiring connections.
First, let’s know the terminals and the basic wiring connections to set up the Azimut Gateway.
Azimut Gateway is powered through an 80/220V AC supply.
Three analog inputs of 12 bits resolution. They can be configured as voltage signals (0 – 10 VDC) or current signals (4 – 20 mA). If the current signal is used, they require an external 24VDC power supply. This section has six terminals, due to the ground references being independent between them. The terminals are named as [AI1, GND1], [AI2, GND2], [AI3, GND3].
Three optocoupled digital inputs (0 – 24 VDC or switch type contact). They can be configured as pulse counters or alarm signals. The terminals are named DI1+, DI1-, DI2+, DI2-, DI3+, DI3-
2 digital outputs. 15 mA @ 5VDC
Modbus RTU port. A, B, and V+ terminals.
To set up the connections for this example, follow the next steps:
Step 1: Connect the Gateway and the energy meter through Modbus ports (A-A and B-B)
Step 2: Connect the power supply to the energy meter.
Step 3: Connect the antenna to the Gateway.
Step 4: Verify that SDcard and SIMCard are positioned in their respective slots.
Step 5: Connect the power supply to the Gateway.
Step 6: Connect the USB cable between the Gateway and the computer.
2. General Setting Configuration
To configure the Azimut Gateway, you should use Azimut’s configuration program called GatewayApp. Here’s what the configuration interface looks like:
Azimut Cellular Gateway:
Azimut Ethernet Gateway:
Before configuring any variable to send to a Ubidots platform, follow the next steps to set up the Azimut Gateway.
Step 1: Access to the internet
If you are using an Azimut Ethernet Gateway, you must define the way to get an IP address, you may choose between DHCP and Static. It depends on the application.
If you are using an Azimut Cellular Gateway, you must define a network operator.
Step 2: Define the baud rate and the parity for the Modbus protocol, it must be equivalent to the energy meter configuration.
Step 3: Define your UTC Zone.
Step 4: Define your Modicon type variable, if you are not using this kind of variable, you may use the value by default.
Step 5: Define the Ubidots Token that is required to make a successful connection.
Step 6: Finally click on the button "generate initial configurations"
For this example, these variables are being used:
3. Modbus RTU variable configuration.
Azimut Gateway acts as a Master Modbus, which means it requests data from slave devices, in this case, an energy meter. The GatewayApp allows you to configure analog inputs, digital inputs, digital outputs, and Modbus variables.
Step 1: Define Ubidots devices name, this name must be created in the Ubidots platform.
Step 2: Define the variable name, this name must be linked with the device's name defined in step 1.
Step 3: Define slave ID.
Step 4: Define the read attempts used by the Gateway when the communication with the slave failed.
Step 5: Define sample time and read time.
Step 6: Define Modbus parameters such as register, data type, register type, endianness, conversion factor, and offset.
Step 7: Click on the button "generate Modbus variable".
Step 8: Finally click on the button "finish configuration"
4. Send data to Ubidots
After completing the configuration, remove the USB cable and let the Azimut Gateway boot up. When the red signal from the gateway starts to blink, it means the Gateway started successfully.
Here's the energy and its current measurement:
Also, the GatewayApp allows you to visualize a log from the gateway, here’s what it looks like:
And the data received on Ubidots device will be visible as follows:
5. Feedback, Suggestions, and Related Articles
Feel free to post questions or suggestions in Ubidots community portal, or contact us via support@ubidots.com.
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