Data Type Mapping; Float Definition - Siemens SITRANS F Operating Instructions Manual

B.7

Data type mapping

Some standard datatypes are defined in the SITRANS F protocol. Most of these datatypes
are not present in the MODBUS® RTU protocol as it defines 'Registers' and 'Coils' for all
variables. A register in this context is always 16 bit long. This will prove restrictive for the
parameters found in Siemens Flow products and therefore a number of approaches have
been adopted to overcome this restriction.
Table B- 11 Data type mapping
Datatype
Byte
Word
float32
float64
String
B.8

Float definition

Stuffing of multi-byte numbers into multiple MODBUS RTU registers differs among MODBUS
devises.
"Big Endian" and "Little Endian" describe the order or sequence in which multi-byte data is
stored in memory. This device uses a 'Big-Endian' representation for addresses and data
items. This means that when a numerical quantity larger than a single byte is transmitted, the
MOST significant byte is sent first.
Modbus RTU RS485
Operating Instructions, 06/2010, A5E00753974-04
Modbus RTU implementation
Data organized as 8-bit unsigned integers. The parameters are read using function code
03hex 'Read multiple registers'. Parameters are written using function code 10hex 'Write
multiple registers'. 'uint8' type of data is accessed through a single register, where the
data is found in the lower byte of the register. Datavalue can be 0 – 255 with no sign bit.
Data organized as 16-bit unsigned integers. The parameters are read using function code
03 hex 'Read multiple registers'. Parameters are written using function code 10 hex 'Write
multiple registers'. 'uint16' type of data is accessed through a single register. Datavalue
can be 0 – 65536 with no sign bit.
Data organized as 32-bit signed floats (IEEE format). The parameters are read using
function code 03 hex 'Read multiple registers'. Parameters are written using function code
10 hex 'Write multiple registers'. 'float32' type of data is accessed through two registers.
Datavalues are coded in IEEE floating point format.
Data organized as 64-bit signed floats (IEEE format). The parameters are read using
function code 03 hex 'Read multiple registers'. Parameters are written using function code
10 hex 'Write multiple registers'. 'float64' type of data is accessed through four registers.
Datavalues are coded in IEEE floating point format.
Consecutive pairs of 8-bit ASCII characters stored one pair per 16-bit register. Strings are
read using function code 03 hex "Read multiple registers'. Strings are written using
function code 10 hex 'Write multiple registers'. 'string' type of data must be read or written
as a series of 1 to 25 consecutive registers, depending on the number of characters
specified for the string. The max. string length is therefore 50 chars (incl. delimiter).
Strings are terminated by a zero-delimiter.
Appendix
B.7 Data type mapping
71