Manual

E-M-HF5-V1_25

Rotronic AG

Bassersdorf, Switzerland

Document code

Unit

HygroFlex HF5 Humidity Temperature

Transmitters: User Guide

Instruction Manual

Document Type

Page

7 of 30

Document title

3.5 Digital interface (HF53 with digital option and HF55)

a) RS-485 serial interface

All HF5 models with a digital interface have a RS-485 serial port. When the number of available network ports

is limited, this port can be used to connect together up to 64 devices in a multi-dropped arrangement. In

principle, an unlimited number of such networks can be monitored with the HW4 software, but each RS-485

multi-drop network is limited to 64 devices. The HF5 can be used either as a slave or a master, without special

configuration. The master is automatically the device that is directly connected to a network (PC or LAN) by

means of a USB port or TCP/IP port.

RS-485 Compatibility: The communication protocol used by the HF5 and other AirChip 3000 products is not

compatible with the protocol used by the previous generation of ROTRONIC instruments. Do not connect

legacy products and AirChip 3000 products to the same RS-485 multi-drop network.

b) USB or Ethernet interface

The HF5 is also available with the following interface combinations: USB + RS-485 or Ethernet +RS-485. In

this case the protection grade of the HF5 enclosure is no longer IP65 / NEMA 4 rated.

3.6 Service connector

The service connector is a UART digital interface (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) with a mini-

USB type connector. This allows connecting the HF5 with a service cable to a PC running the ROTRONIC

HW4 software. See “Maintenance” for the location of the service connector and for the type of service cable to

be used. The service connector is used to configure the HF5 and to and update its firmware with the HW4

software.

Note: the digital interface (USB, Ethernet and RS-485) offers the same functionality as the service connector.

3.7 Probe

The HF5 is compatible with all available models of HygroClip 2 probes. For detailed information on the probes

see document E-M-HC2 Probes-V1.

4 User configurable settings and functions

The HF5 ships configured as specified on the customer order. Models with analog outputs can be installed

and used just as any conventional humidity and temperature transmitter and most users will never need to use

the HF5 configurable settings and functions. Models with a digital interface generally require some

configuration by the user.

Making use of the HF5 and probe configurable settings and functions is entirely up to the user and the

appropriate settings depend on the user application. We have provided below a short description of the HF5

and probe functions and also indicated the factory default settings.