Unitronics PLC pin assignment for the RJ11 socket
The RJ11socket in the Unitronics PLC s provides six signal pins. In RS232 mode all pins are used for RS232signals. When in RS485mode, only pin 1 and 6are reassigned. The central four pins remain their original RS232 functionality.
Unitronics PLC RJ11 pin assignment
Pin RS232 function RS485 function
1 DTR A (+)
2 Signal ground RS232 signal
3 TxD RS232 signal
4 RxD RS232 signal
5 Signal ground RS232 signal
6 DSR B (–)
Basic Unitronics RJ11 connection cables
The symmetrical pin layout of the RJ11 sockets on the Unitronics PLCs allows an easy way of interconnecting the PLCs with both RS232and RS485 communications. For RS232 a crossover cable is used where pin 1 is connected with pin 6 at the other connector, pin 2 with pin 5, etc. This interconnects the transmit and receive signals of both PLCs, and also the handshaking signals DTR and DSR. If handshaking is not necessary, an ordinary 4 wire telephone cable could be used, provided that the pins are cross-connected as shown in the picture below. Otherwise a full
6 wire cable must be used. Two wire telephone cables will not function because in that case the ground signal levels on both sides will be floating.
Unitronics RJ11 RS232 crossover cable
RJ11 plug 1 RJ11 plug 2 Function
1 6 DTR DSR
2 5 Signal ground
3 4 TxD RxD
4 3 RxD TxD
5 2 Signal ground
6 1 DSR DTR
RS485 is in its design a different interface from RS232. The RS485 interface allows the creation of multipoint networks. The normal way to implement this is with a two wire system with differential signal levels. These signals are commonly called A and B in RS485 systems. The
A signals of all devices should be connected with each other and the same goes for the
B signals. Therefore for RS485communications no crossover cable is used. To prevent noise to interfere with the communications, often twisted pair cable is used. The diagram below shows a basic RS485 cable for use with the RJ11 socket on Unitronics PLCs. You can easily connect more devices by splitting the cable at one connector and adding another cable to it.
Unitronics RJ11 RS485 cable
RJ11 plug 1 RJ11 plug 2 Function
1 1 A (+) A (+)
6 6 B (–) B (–)
RS232 to Unitronics RJ11 PC programming cables
PCs are normally not equipped with an RJ11 socket for serial RS232 communications. If we want to connect a PC with an Unitronics PLC, for example for programming or debugging reasons, we need a connection cable which is on one side fitted with a female DB9connector, and on the other side with an RJ11 jack. The layout for this cable is shown below.
Unitronics RJ11 RS232 programming cable
DB9 RJ11 Function
2 3 RxD TxD
3 4 TxD RxD
4 6 DTR DSR
5 2 + 5 Signal ground
6 1 DSR DTR
The Jazz PLC series from Unitronics are not standard equipped with a RJ11 connector for serial communications. The only way to add RS232 capabilities to the Jazz PLCs is by using the MJ20-PRG programming port add-on module. This MJ20-PRG module clicks in the PLC and provides one RJ11 socket for serial communications with a PC. This module is powered by the RS232 port from the connecting computer. Therefore the pin assignment is a little bit different from the default pin assignment on the RJ11 socket. The main difference is, that pin 1 and 6 on the RJ11 socket of the MJ20-PRG module are used as power supply. These pins have to be connected to handshaking outputs at the PC side on the RS232 port. Normally pin 7 (RTS) and pin 4 (DTR) are used on the DB9 connector.
Unitronics Jazz RJ11 RS232 programming cable
DB9 RJ11 Function
2 3 RxD TxD
3 4 TxD RxD
4 6 DTR Power
5 2 + 5 Signal ground
7 1 RTS Power。