Field devices - power meters, water meters, HVAC units, UPS, fans, sensors—overwhelmingly speak Modbus RTU over RS485 or Modbus TCP over Ethernet. Building automation backbones, however, use BACnet/IP and BACnet MS/TP. A gateway is essential to make these devices "speak the common language."
RS485/RS232 serial ports remain irreplaceable: legacy devices are everywhere, wiring costs are low, noise immunity is high, and transmission distances are long (RS485 reaches up to 1200 m). BACnet MS/TP itself runs on RS485. Therefore, the number of serial ports on a gateway directly determines how many devices you can connect - 2 ports handle small jobs, 6 ports take on big projects.
Quickly integrate existing Modbus devices into BACnet systems without retrofitting field hardware.
Protocol conversion
Downlink: Modbus RTU Master, Modbus TCP
Uplink: BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP
Key hardware specs
Serial ports:
BA100: 2xRS485/RS232, up to 10 devices / 512 data points
BA100P: 6xRS485/RS232, up to 50 devices / 4000 data points
Ethernet: 2xRJ45 (1 WAN + 1 LAN), 10/100 Mbps, auto-MDI/MDIX, 2 kV isolation
USB: OTG (one for firmware download, one for debugging)
Wi-Fi (optional): 802.11 a/b/g/n, client mode, 2.4/5 GHz
Power: DC 9-36 V, reverse-polarity protected, consumption ≤168 mA @ 12 V
Protection: ESD ±6 kV (contact) / ±8 kV (air), EFT 1 kV / 5 kHz, surge Level 3
Operation & reliability
Remote configuration and firmware upgrade via PC tool (Windows XP through 11)
Hardware and software watchdogs; RESET button for factory restore
Reports system status (CPU, memory, disk, Ethernet and serial port device states)
Operating temperature: -40 to 85°C, humidity 5-95% RH
Mounting: DIN35 rail or wall, dimensions: BA100 30x83x110 mm, BA100P 40x83x110 mm
Certifications: CE, FCC; EMC compliant
Quick selection guide
|
Model |
Serial ports |
Max devices |
Max data points |
Wi-Fi option |
|
2 CH |
10 |
512 |
BA100W |
|
|
BA100P |
6 CH |
50 |
4000 |
BA100PW |
Bottom line: Choose BA100 for smaller installations, BA100P for larger integrations—more serial ports mean more devices, and protocol conversion is just one gateway away.
