Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF Modbus Interface Manual
This manual provides detailed information on the Mitsubishi Electric IntesisBox® Modbus Server Modules (ME-AC-MBS-50 and ME-AC-MBS-100) for integrating City Multi VRF air conditioning systems into Modbus RTU (RS485) networks.
1. Introduction
The IntesisBox® interface modules ME-AC-MBS-50 and ME-AC-MBS-100 enable the quick and easy integration of Mitsubishi Electric VRF room air conditioners or group units into a Modbus RTU (RS485) network. These modules are designed for use with City Multi VRF air conditioning systems and are compatible with all room air conditioners from the City Multi VRF series.
Note: For M-Series and Mr. Slim room air conditioners from Mitsubishi Electric, specific versions of the interface modules are available. Please consult your dealer or Mitsubishi Electric sales partner for more information.
The IntesisBox® interface requires the Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF air conditioner to be equipped with a central control unit, either EW-50E or AE-200E. This central control unit acts as a gateway, transmitting control signals to the City Multi VRF air conditioner via the XML protocol. Each central control unit can access the control signals of up to 50 City Multi VRF indoor units or 50 group units, regardless of the number of outdoor units installed in the system. Group units are the smallest control unit for the central control. Each group unit can contain 1 to 16 indoor units. Only group units can be monitored and controlled; individual indoor units cannot. If individual indoor unit monitoring and control is desired, group units with only one indoor unit must be set up. A central control unit is not included and must be ordered separately. Please consult your dealer or Mitsubishi Electric service partner for more information.
The IntesisBox® interface module can communicate with up to two central control units via the XML protocol, managing and distributing the control signals of the indoor unit groups connected to the central control units. The IntesisBox® interface module acts as a Modbus slave, with each signal corresponding to a predefined fixed Modbus address. The central control unit can be equipped with expansion modules, as specified in Section 1.2 "Capacities of the Interface Modules" on page 05.
The IntesisBox® Modbus interface modules are freely configurable as RTU RS232, RTU RS485, or TCP. The IntesisBox® interface module is ready for immediate use via Plug & Play. Only the IP addresses of the involved control components need to be configured using the free Windows™™ configuration software LinkBoxMB, which is supplied with the IntesisBox® interface module.
1.2 Capacities of the Interface Modules
Two different models of the IntesisBox® Modbus Server Module with different capacities are available:
- ME-AC-MBS-50: Connects to an EW-50E or an AE-200E. Allows control of up to 50 group units.
- ME-AC-MBS-100: Connects to up to two EW-50E or AE-200E units. Allows control of up to 100 group units.
| Feature | Max. | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Central Controls | 2 | Number of independent modules: 2 x EW-50E/AE-200E or 1 x AE-200E (with 1 expansion module) |
| Number of City Multi VRF Groups | 50 / 100 | Maximum number of groups |
| Number of Variables per Group | 19 | Modbus Addresses |
| Number of Variables per Central Control | 951 | Modbus Addresses |
| Maximum Number of Variables | 1902 | Modbus Addresses |
1.3 Application Examples
Integration of Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF air conditioning systems with central controls as Modbus Gateways.
Control systems with Modbus Master Interface:
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- SCADA
- PLCs
- Digital Converters
- Home Automation
- AMX, Crestron...
Typical Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems with Central Control:
- City Multi VRF series.
- Central Controls: EW-50E (web-enabled control, without monitor and keyboard) and AE-200E (with color touchscreen) are equally supported.
- Each EW-50E/AE-200E can control 50 City Multi VRF indoor units or group units.
- Each group unit can consist of one to a maximum of 16 indoor units.
1.4 Typical Application
To integrate a Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF air conditioning system into a Modbus system using the IntesisBox®, a central control unit EW-50E or AE-200E from Mitsubishi Electric is required.
2. Properties of the Modbus Interface
2.1 Performance Overview
| General | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum Number of Central Controls | Up to two central controls are supported. |
| Virtual Signals | A virtual error signal for each central control. A virtual error signal for each group unit of a central control. All mentioned signals can be read and written in Modbus. |
| Modbus Interface | Description |
|---|---|
| Device Type | Slave |
| Modbus Modes | TCP, RTU RS232 or RS485 |
| Configuration Parameters Modbus TCP | IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address, TCP Port |
| Configuration Parameters Modbus RTU | RS232/RS485, Baud Rate, Parity, Slave Number |
| Further Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Configuration | All signals are automatically linked to fixed predefined Modbus addresses. |
| Supported Modbus Function Codes | Read Functions: 3 - Read Holding Registers 4 - Read Input Registers Write Functions: 6 - Write Single Register 16 - Write Multiple Registers |
| Modbus Data Encoding | All data is encoded in 2-byte registers (even if their possible values are 0 and 1) and represented in MSB..LSB. |
When reading/writing query data sets, the range of addresses to be queried must contain valid addresses. A non-existent address will result in a Modbus error message.
2.2 Excerpt from the Table with Predefined Modbus Addresses
The following table provides an excerpt of predefined Modbus addresses for controlling Mitsubishi Electric VRF systems.
| Modbus Address | Central Control | Group | Description | Modbus Address | Central Control | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 1 | 1 | Drive | 5101 | 2 | 1 | Drive |
| 102 | 1 | 1 | Mode | 5102 | 2 | 1 | Mode |
| 103 | 1 | 1 | SetTemp | 5103 | 2 | 1 | SetTemp |
| 104 | 1 | 1 | AirDirection | 5104 | 2 | 1 | AirDirection |
| 105 | 1 | 1 | FanSpeed | 5105 | 2 | 1 | FanSpeed |
| 106 | 1 | 1 | RemoCon | 5106 | 2 | 1 | RemoCon |
| 107 | 1 | 1 | Driveltem | 5107 | 2 | 1 | Driveltem |
| 108 | 1 | 1 | Modeltem | 5108 | 2 | 1 | Modeltem |
| 109 | 1 | 1 | SetTempltem | 5109 | 2 | 1 | SetTempltem |
| 110 | 1 | 1 | Filterltem | 5110 | 2 | 1 | Filterltem |
| 111 | 1 | 1 | Ventilation | 5111 | 2 | 1 | Ventilation |
| 112 | 1 | 1 | FilterSign | 5112 | 2 | 1 | FilterSign |
| 113 | 1 | 1 | ErrorSign | 5113 | 2 | 1 | ErrorSign |
| 114 | 1 | 1 | InletTemp | 5114 | 2 | 1 | InletTemp |
| 115 | 1 | 1 | FilterSignReset | 5115 | 2 | 1 | FilterSignReset |
| 116 | 1 | 1 | ErrorSignReset | 5116 | 2 | 1 | ErrorSignReset |
| 117 | 1 | 1 | Error Com. Group | 5117 | 2 | 1 | Error Com. Group |
| 118 | 1 | 1 | Polling Active | 5118 | 2 | 1 | Polling Active |
| 5001 | 1 | 50 | Drive | 10001 | 2 | 50 | Drive |
| 5002 | 1 | 50 | Mode | 10002 | 2 | 50 | Mode |
| 5003 | 1 | 50 | SetTemp | 10003 | 2 | 50 | SetTemp |
| 5004 | 1 | 50 | AirDirection | 10004 | 2 | 50 | AirDirection |
| 5005 | 1 | 50 | FanSpeed | 10005 | 2 | 50 | FanSpeed |
| 5006 | 1 | 50 | RemoCon | 10006 | 2 | 50 | RemoCon |
| 5007 | 1 | 50 | Driveltem | 10007 | 2 | 50 | Driveltem |
| 5008 | 1 | 50 | Modeltem | 10008 | 2 | 50 | Modeltem |
| 5009 | 1 | 50 | SetTempltem | 10009 | 2 | 50 | SetTempltem |
| 5010 | 1 | 50 | Filterltem | 10010 | 2 | 50 | Filterltem |
| 5011 | 1 | 50 | Ventilation | 10011 | 2 | 50 | Ventilation |
| 5012 | 1 | 50 | FilterSign | 10012 | 2 | 50 | FilterSign |
| 5013 | 1 | 50 | ErrorSign | 10013 | 2 | 50 | ErrorSign |
| 5014 | 1 | 50 | InletTemp | 10014 | 2 | 50 | InletTemp |
| 5015 | 1 | 50 | FilterSignReset | 10015 | 2 | 50 | FilterSignReset |
| 5016 | 1 | 50 | ErrorSignReset | 10016 | 2 | 50 | ErrorSignReset |
| 5017 | 1 | 50 | Error Com. Group | 10017 | 2 | 50 | Error Com. Group |
| 5018 | 1 | 50 | Polling Active | 10018 | 2 | 50 | Polling Active |
To obtain the corresponding Modbus address for signals indicating an error code in one of the M-Net devices, use the following formula:
MODBUS ADDRESS = (20000 + (Central Control Number × 1000)) + M-Net Address*
* M-Net Address Ranges:
Indoor Units: 1-50
Outdoor Units: 51-100
Remote Controls: 101-200
Central Controls: 201-250
Please consult your Mitsubishi Electric partner for further information.
3. Properties of the Central Control
3.1 Interface Properties
| Central Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Device Type | Client |
| Polling Interval | 1 – 600 seconds |
| Configuration Parameters | Must be set for each central control: • IP Address • TCP Port |
3.2 Command List
The following list details the possible control commands for Mitsubishi Electric room air conditioners or group units.
| Command / Function | Description / Status |
|---|---|
| Drive | Start/Stop Read/Write: ON, OFF |
| Mode | Operating Mode Read/Write: COOL, DRY, FUN, HEAT, AUTO, HEAT RECOVERY, LC_AUTO, BYPASS Read Only: AUTO HEAT, AUTO COOL |
| SetTemp *1 | Set Room Temperature Read/Write: For COOL or DRY: 19-30 °C, for HEAT: 17-28 °C, for AUTO: 19-28 °C |
| AirDirection | Air Outlet Direction Read/Write: HORIZONTAL, MID1, MID2, VERTICAL, SWING |
| FanSpeed | Fan Speed for Indoor Unit or LOSSNAY Ventilation Unit Read/Write: HIGH, MIDH, MIDL, LOW |
| RemoCon | Lock/Unlock Local Remote Control Read/Write: PROHIBIT, PERMIT |
| Driveltem | Local Remote Control: Lock/Unlock POWER ON/OFF Button Read/Write: CHK_ON, CHK_OFF |
| Modeltem | Local Remote Control: Lock/Unlock Mode Selection Button Read/Write: CHK_ON, CHK_OFF |
| SetTempltem | Local Remote Control: Lock/Unlock Temperature Setting Buttons Read/Write: CHK_ON, CHK_OFF |
| Filterltem | Local Remote Control: Lock/Unlock Filter Reset Button Read/Write: CHK_ON, CHK_OFF |
| Ventilation | Operating Status for LOSSNAY Ventilation Unit or Outdoor Unit Read/Write: HIGH, LOW, OFF |
| FilterSign | Air Filter Status Read: ON, OFF Write: RESET |
| ErrorSign | Indication of an Error Read: ON, OFF Write: RESET |
| InletTemp | Room Temperature (Return Air Inlet) Read: 0.0 to 99.9 °C |
| GB50 Communication Error | Communication with Central Control Disrupted IntesisBox® sends an error message when a communication disruption with the central control occurs. |
| Group Communication Error | Communication with a Group Disrupted IntesisBox® sends an error message when an unconfigured group of a central control is detected. |
| Polling Active | Data Query (Polling) Active IntesisBox® sends an error message to indicate that a group cannot actively participate in polling. |
| Alarm Code | Error Message in a Group The signal provides an error code. Each error code corresponds to a specific error message within a group unit. "0" means no error message. |
*1 For PWFY water heat exchanger models, operating modes and set temperatures differ and are already considered in the LinkBoxMB configuration tool. Please refer to the LinkBoxMB configuration tool manual (Section 3.4) for details.
4. Configuration and Setup
4.1 Configuration Tool LinkBoxMB
- The LinkBoxMB configuration tool provides simple operation for gateway configuration and monitoring. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems and is available free of charge via a download link.
- The tool allows simultaneous monitoring of communication.
- Configuration data can be exported as a text file, allowing it to be quickly and easily loaded and edited in Microsoft Excel (very useful for projects with many devices).
- Gateway parameter and signal configuration can also be done offline (when not connected to the gateway).
- Connecting the interface module to a PC via the serial interface allows for loading and saving configuration data. A PC connection cable is supplied.
- The tool allows saving, editing, and managing all configurations for multiple IntesisBox® Modbus Gateways.
5. Technical Specifications
5.1 Technical Data
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Housing | Plastic housing PC (UL 94 V-0) Dimensions: 107 mm x 105 mm x 58 mm |
| Color | Gray: RAL 7035 |
| Electrical Connection | 9 to 30 V DC +/-10% 1.4 W 24 V AC +/-10% 1.4 VA |
| Mounting Type | Connection to a pluggable, 2-pin terminal block Wall mounting DIN rail according to EN60715, TH35 |
| Modbus RTU Interface | 1 x Serial RS232 (9-pin DSUB connector DTE) 1 x Serial RS485 (pluggable, 2-pin terminal block) |
| Modbus TCP & GB50 Interface | 1 x Ethernet 10BT RJ45 connector |
| LED Indicators | 1 x Power 2 x Ethernet Interface: Link and Activity (LNK, ACT) 2 x Modbus RTU Interface: Activity (Tx, Rx) |
| Programming Interface | RS232 9-pin DSUB socket (DCE) |
| Configuration | Via Console *1 |
| Operating Range | Temperature: 0 °C to +70 °C Humidity: 5% to 95%, non-condensing |
| Protection Class | IP20 (IEC60529) |
| RoHS Compliance | Compliant with RoHS Directive (2002/95/CE) |
| Certification | CE |
*1 A standard PC connection cable (9-pin DSUB socket to 9-pin DSUB connector, 1.8 m) is supplied for connection to a standard PC. The configuration software for MS Windows® PC is provided via a download link.
