Protocol Explanation V2.

21-
For Arctech Communication Box

Protocol Explanation V2.21

-for Arctech Communication Box

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 Protocol Explanation V2.21-
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Contents
1. Communication Data Format.............................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Read Data Format ........................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 Format to Read Data Return ........................................................................................................................ 3
1.3 Format to Send Multi-Byte Data .................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Return Format to Send Multi-Byte Data ...................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Calculation Method for CRC Checking ......................................................................................................... 6
2. Communication box data composition .............................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Communication Box Address List....................................................................................................................... 6
3. Control box data composition .......................................................................................................................... 13
3.1 Control box Address list ................................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Data format of work mode in control box (address 1-2) ................................................................................. 14
4. Device ID rules................................................................................................................................................... 15
5. Failure explanation ........................................................................................................................................... 16
6. Work mode explanation ................................................................................................................................... 20
7. Soft Limit ........................................................................................................................................................... 20
8. Wind Protection ................................................................................................................................................ 21
9. Explanation of the control box device address and the storage location of the device in the communication
box ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21
10. Example of monitoring software reading communication box point table and sending working mode
command................................................................................................................................................................... 22

List of Tables
Table 1, Read data format information ........................................................................................................................ 3
Table 2, Format to read data return............................................................................................................................. 4
Table 3, Format to send multi-byte data ..................................................................................................................... 4
Table 4, Return format to send multi-byte data .......................................................................................................... 5
Table 5, Communication address list for device ID 200/201 ........................................................................................ 7
Table 6, Failure Explanation of SkySmart control box ................................................................................................ 16
Table 7, Faiure Explanation of SkyLine control box .................................................................................................... 19
Table 8, Failure Explanation of ArcTracker Pro Single Axis Tracker(AC) control box .............................................. 19
Table 9, Failure Explanation of Small-Horizontal Single Axis Tracker(DC) control box ......................................... ..18
Table 10, Failure Explanation of New Small-Horizontal Single Axis Tracker(DC) control box………………………..…18
Table 11, Failure Explanation of AI tracker control box ………………………………………………………………………….…………19
Table 12, Communication Box Alarm…………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………..19

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1. Communication Data Format

The Protocol shall be compliant with Modbus Protocol.

System communication modes:9600, N, 8, 1, RTU

Register current value sequence: from the starting address, each register takes 2

bytes.
1.1 Read Data Format
Table 1, Read data format information

Device ID Functional Read Register Read Register Read Register Read Register CRC Checking
CODE starting starting Qty-high byte Qty-low byte
address-high address-low
byte byte

1byte 03 1 byte 1 byte 1 byte 1 byte 2 bytes

Command issue: C8 03 00 02 00 01 34 53 (Total 8 Bytes)

Command Explanation:”C8” describes Device ID 200 in Hexadecimal way, ”03”

describes a functional code, “00 02”is the starting register address, and “00 01”

register address Qty to read, “34” for CRC Checking in low byte and “53” for CRC

Checking in high byte.

1.2 Format to Read Data Return

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Table 2, Format to read data return

Device ID Functional Data Return Returned Returned … Returned Returned CRC

CODE Qty value of value of value ofN# value of
first register first register register N#register
Address- Address- Address- Address-
high byte low byte high byte low byte

1byte 03 1byte 1byte 1byte … 1byte 1byte 2bytes

Return Demand: C8 03 02 00 01 A5 94 (Total 7 Bytes)

Demand Explanation: “C8” describes Device ID 200 in Hexadecimal way, ”03”

describes a functional code, “02” describes the Qty of Data in Byte (Each Register

current value takes 2 Bytes to record), “00 01” these 2 bytes indicate returned value,

“A5” is for the low byte of CRC Checking, “94” for its high byte.
1.3 Format to Send Multi-Byte Data
Table 3, Format to send multi-byte data

Device ID Functional The starting The starting Qty of Qty of Byte Qty of data
Code address- high address- low registers-high registers-low to write
byte to write byte to write byte byte
into register into register

1byte 10 1byte 1byte 1byte 1byte 1byte

Input Data 1#- Input Data 1#- … Input Data N#- Input Data N#- CRC Checking
high byte low byte high byte low byte

1byte 1byte … 1byte 1byte 2bytes

1.4 Return Format to Send Multi-Byte Data

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Table 4,Return format to send multi-byte data

Device ID Functional The starting The starting Byte Qty of data Byte Qty of data CRC
Code address- high byte address- low to write– high to write– low Checking
to write into byte to write byte byte
register into register
1byte 10 1byte 1byte 1byte 1byte 2bytes

Example: to demand Device- ID #200- to set register 0A value to 100, you got

Sending command: C8 10 00 0A 00 01 00 02 00 64 0E FA (Total 11 Bytes)

Command Explanation: “C8” describes Device ID 200 in Hexadecimal way,

“10”describes a functional code, “00 0A” indicates the register address, “00 01”

indicates is the Qty of registers to write, “02” is data Qty of bytes to write (this value

always is the double of the Qty of registers), “00 64” is data to write, “0E” is the low

byte of CRC Checking and “FA” is its high byte

Command Response: C8 10 00 0A 00 01 30 52 (Total 8 Bytes)

Command Explanation: “C8” describes Device ID 200 in Hexadecimal way, “10”

describes a functional code, “00 0A” indicates the register address, “00 01” indicates

is the Qty of registers to write, “30” is the low byte of CRC Checking and “52” is its

high byte.

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1.5 Calculation Method for CRC Checking

2. Communication box data composition

2.1 Communication Box Address List
Single Unit Communication Box has 2 MCUs and each MCU has 2 channels. Every

MCU monitors up to 57 control boxes (in another word, each MCU has 2 channels and

the sum of control boxes connected to these 2 channels cannot exceed 57. This also

means that each communication box can monitor up to 114 control boxes.

The Communication Module has two MCU with default ID 200 / 201 (ID is

configurable) and communicated through MODBUS Protocol.

NOTE: If two boards are used for each Communication box, the ID of RS485 of the

second board can be set to 202 / 203. In this case, One Communication box has 4

MCUs, and each communication box can monitor up to 228 control boxes.
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Note: The addresses 200 and 201 here refer to the ID number of Modbus

communication. 200 and 201 correspond to two MCUs with the same function and

working independently. These two MCUs are connected on the same 485 bus and

communicate with the SCADA. The following table is the register address table of

each MCU's external communication. When SCADA reads the point table, it should

read the point table corresponding to the respective MCU.

Device ID 200 control channel 3 & 4. Device ID 201 control channel 1 & 2.

Table 5, Communication address list for device ID 200/201

Data Info. Decimal Command Data Unit Note

Address Type Type
Software Version 160~161 R NA NA ASCII indicates” V1.15”
Communication Box ID 162 R Char NA Communication Box ID
Set target angle for entire 163 R/W Short degree This determines the angle which
block the trackers will be sent to when
the sub-mode under manual “set
angle mode” is triggered. All
angles transmit in multiple of 10,
for example 886 means 88.6
Degree. This is used for the whole
array.
The scope is 30~150 degree.
Reserved 164~167
Restore the automatic 168 R/W Char NA Low byte validity;
mode of the control box This address is used to return to
assigned the ID number the auto mode after the angle
setting for the individual control
box.
Enter the manual target 169 R/W Char NA Low byte validity;
angle mode for the control This address is used to set the
box assigned the ID specific angle for an individual
number control box.
This address must be written with

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register address 170 at the same

time.
Set manual target angle 170 R/W Short Degree Set a specific angle for an
for the specified ID individual control box which ID
number control box address has been written to
register address 169.
This address must be written with
register address 169 at the same
time.
All angles transmit in multiple of
10, for example 886 means 88.6
Degree.
The scope is 30~150 degree.
Alarm 171~172 R Int NA Communication Box Alarm Status.
See table 10 below.
Set the control box work 173 R/W Char NA Low 8 Bits:
mode for the entire block 0x01: Wind Mode
0x02: Rain Mode
0x03: Snow Mode
0x05: Auto Mode
0x06: Maintenance Mode
0x07: Set Angle Mode
0x08: Cleaning Mode (Only valid
for Skysmart, SkyLine and AI
Control Box)
Time - Year 174 R NA NA
Time - Month 175 R
Time - Date 176 R
Time - Hour 177 R
Time - Minute 178 R
Time - Second 179 R
Reserved 180~181 R NA NA
Irradiance Sensor 1 182~183 R Int W/ m2 Example: 100 means 100 W/ m2
Ambient Temp. 1 184 R Short °C Example: 266 means 26.6°C
-155 means -15.5°C
Irradiance Sensor 2 185~186 R Int W/m2 Example: 100 means 100 W/ m2
Ambient Temp. 2 187 R Short °C Example: 266 means 26.6°C
-155 means -15.5°C
Irradiance Sensor 3 188~189 R Int W/m2 Example: 100 means 100 W/ m2
Ambient Temp. 3 190 R Short °C Example: 266 means 26.6°C
-155 means -15.5°C

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Wind Speed 1 191 R Char m/s Range: 0~50m/s

Wind Direction1(optional) 192 R Short degree Range: 0~360 degree
Wind Speed 2 193 R Char m/s Range: 0~50m/s
Wind Direction2(optional) 194 R Short degree Range: 0~360 degree
Longitude 195 R Short Degree Actual Value*100
Latitude 196 R short Degree Actual Value*100

Time Zone 197 R Short NA Range -120~+120

Actual Value*10
Example: -80 means West 8
Zone+55 means East 5.5 Zone
Big Wind Alarm 198 R Char NA Wind speed status:
0: No Alarm
1: Big Wind Alarm
Reserved 199
Control Box Quantity 200 R Char Set Reads the number of control box
connected to a single MCU.
Status for control box 1 (n = 0)
Control Box 1 - Device 201 R Char NA This ID is Used for identifying the
Address control box. This is determined by
the rules explained below under
“control box ID rules”
Reserved 202
Control box 1- 203 R Char NA 0x00 means the connection failed
communication status between the Control box 1 and
the communication box.
0x01 means the connection is
good
Control box 1 –Device type 204 R Char NA Low 8 Bits:
1. Big Horizontal Single Axis
Tracker
2. Small Horizontal Single Axis
Tracker
3. Tilted Single Axis Tracker,
4. Redundancy DC Horizontal
Tracker
5. Double Axis Tracker
6. SkySmart Tracker
7.SkyLine Tracker
8. AI Tracker
9. New Small Horizontal Single
Axis Tracker

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High 8 Bits: (This is only for

SkySmart tracker)

1: 1-for-1
2: 1-for-2
3: 1-for-3

P.S 1-for-1 means one control box

controls 1 row, 1-for-2 means one
control box controls 2 row…and so
on.
Control box 1 - Mode 205 R Char 0x01: Wind Mode
0x02: Rain Mode
0x03: Snow Mode
0x05: Auto Mode
0x06: Maintenance Mode
0x07: Set Angle Mode
0x08: Cleaning Mode
Control box 1 - Failure 206-207 R UINT16 NA Refer to the table 6-9 below.
Control box 1 - Target 208 R Short Degree This is the angle calculated by our
Angle 1 tracking algorithm to achieve
maximum tracking efficiency. All
angle transmits in multiple of 10,
for example 886 represents 88.6
degree
Control box 1 - Target 209 R Short Degree This angle is only used in Double
Angle 2 Axis Tracker.
Control box 1 - Actual 210 R Short Degree This is the angle reads from the
Angle 1 tilt sensor equipped on each row
of tracker
Control box r 1 - Actual 211 R Short Degree This is the angle reads from the
Angle 2 tilt sensor equipped on each row
of tracker
Valid in One Drag Two System or
One Drag Three System.
Control box r 1 - Actual 212 R Short Degree This is the angle reads from the
Angle 3 tilt sensor equipped on each row
of tracker.
Valid in One Drag Three System.

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Control box 1 - Motor 213 R short Ampere This is the current of motor 1, all
Current 1 current transmits in multiple of
10, for example 12 represents 1.2
A.
Control box 1 - Motor 214 R short Ampere This is the current of motor 2, All
Current 2 current transmits in multiple of
10, for example 12 represents 1.2
A.
Valid in One Drag Two System or
One Drag Three System.
Control box 1 - Motor 215 R short Ampere This is the current of motor 2, All
Current 3 current transmits in multiple of
10, for example 12 represents 1.2
A.
Valid in One Drag Three System.
Reserved 216
Reserved 217
Control box 1 –SMPS 218 R Short V All Voltage transmitted by 10
Voltage times, like 236 means 23.6v
Control box 1- Battery 219 R Short V All Voltage transmitted by 10
Voltage times, like 256 means 25.6v
Control box1 – Battery 220 R Short Ah SOC transmitted by 100 times, like
SOC 100 means 1Ah
...
...
Control box ID Rules (n =0~56)
Control box n - Device n*20+201 R Char NA
Address
Control box n Reserved n*20+202 R Char NA

Control box n n*20+203 R

communication Status
Control box n - Type n*20+204 R Char NA Low 8 Bits:
1. Big Horizontal Single Axis
Tracker
2. Small Horizontal Single Axis
Tracker
3. Tilted Single Axis Tracker,
4. Redundancy DC Horizontal
Tracker
5. SkySmart Tracker
7.SkyLine Tracker

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8. AI Tracker
9. New Small Horizontal Single
Axis Tracker

High 8 Bits: (This is only for

SkySmart tracker)
1: 1-for-1
2: 1-for-2
3: 1-for-3
P.S 1-for-1 means one control box
controls 1 row, 1-for-2 means one
control box controls 2 row…and so
on.
Control box n - Mode n*20+205 R
Control box n - Failure n*20+206~2 R NA NA
07
Control box n - Target n*20+208 R Short Degree
Angle 1
Control box n – Target n*20+209 R Short Degree
Angle 2
Control box n - Actual n*20+210 R Short Degree
Angle 1
Control box n Actual Angle n*20+211 R Short Degree
2
Control box n Actual Angle n*20+212 R Short Degree
3
Control box n - Motor n*20+213 R short Ampere
Current 1
Control box n - Motor n*20+214 R short Ampere
Current 2
Control box n - Motor n*20+215 R short Ampere
Current 3
Reserved n*20+216
Reserved n*20+217
Control box n SMPS n*20+218 R Short V Only apply to Sky Smart Tracker;
Voltage All Voltage transmitted by 10
times, like 236 means 23.6v
Control box n Battery n*20+219 R Short V Only apply to Sky Smart Tracker;
Voltage All Voltage transmitted by 10
times, like 256 means 25.6v
Control box n Battery SOC N*20+220 R Short Ah Only apply to Sky Smart Tracker;
SOC transmitted by 100 times, like

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100 means 1Ah

* One Float occupies 2 addresses (Total 4 Bytes). For example, a 32-bit Float -

“0x12345678”– get an address of “91, 92”, with “91” representing “0x1234” and “92”

for “0x5678”.

*int type Data in the Protocol processes sequencing the same way as Float.

* Functional Codes like 0x03/0x10 is applicable to this table.

3. Control box data composition

3.1 Control box Address list
Data Info. Decimal Data Type Unit Note
R/W
Address
Device Version 0 N/A High byte is Software version.
R/W short (2bytes)
Example: 101 means V1.01.
Low byte is Hardware version.
Work Mode 1-2 N/A See the table of work mode
R/W uint (4bytes)

3—4
Reserved R uint (4bytes)

5 N/A 6：the Sky Smart System

Device Type R ushort (2bytes)

6 bit0-channel 1，bit1-channel 2，
Channel Selection R/W ushort (2bytes)
bit2-channel 3；
1-Selected，0-Non Selection.
7—8
Reserved R uint (4bytes)

9—10
Reserved R uint(4bytes)

11—12 Degree
Actual Target R float(4bytes)

Angle Angle

13—14 Degree
Actual R float(4bytes)

Angle1

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15—16 Degree
Reserved R float(4bytes)

17—18 Degree
Actual R float(4bytes)

Angle1

19—20 Degree
Reserved R float (4bytes)

21—22 Degree
Actual R float (4bytes)

Angle1

3.2 Data format of work mode in control box (address 1-2)

Bit31—bit11 reserved

Bit10—bit8 000 Only used in Tilted Single

Axis Tracker
001 Channel 1
Apply to one Controller
010 Channel 2
Connect three motor
100 Channel 3
(Channels can be all

selected.)

Bit7—bit0 00000000 IDLE

01000000 Maintenance Mode

00100000 Auto Mode

00100001 Rain Mode（with Auto Mode）

00100010 Snow Mode（with Auto Mode）

00100100 Remote Storm Mode（with Auto Mode）

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0 0 1 0 x xxx Reserved

10000000 Target Angle Set by Manual

00010000 Manual Mode

01100000 Cleaning Mode

00011010 Reserved

00011001 Reserved

00010110 Reserved

00010101 Reserved

00010010 Reserved

00010001 Reserved

Others Undefined

4. Device ID rules
Address list in communication and control box is different, with the same frame

format, data communicating with communication box or control box just

distinguished by the device ID. For communication box, the range of device ID is

200-250 (default is 200 & 201 for two MCUs), and for control box, the device ID range

is 1 – 150 (maximum 114 number be taken). Arctech engineer will configure the IDs

for control box and communication box to make groups. Because there are two MCUs

in one communication box, one communication box is divided into two groups. In one

group, there will be a MCU of one communication box and a certain quantity of

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control boxes (maximum 57) configured to the same unique wireless frequency, so,

no interference between communication groups. In the both groups of one

communication, no device ID will be configured more than once , so no conflict will

happen. In one communication box, a port is opened for user to access. With the ID

map and address list, user can access in relevantly. Device ID maps will be shared to

customer for SCADA development.

NOTE: The address list of the communication box is stored in the order of effective

control box number. If a control box number does not exist, the next control box will

store its location. Therefore, you must get the control box number according to the

device ID parsed.

5. Failure explanation
Table 6, Failure Explanation of Sky-Smart control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Motor 1 Motor 1 Tracker 1 Tracker1 Tracker1 tilt Tracker1 Tracker 1 Reserved
Over current Reverse exceed East exceed West sensor tilt sensor Limit
soft limit soft limit Communicati no Position
position position on Failure change in Protect
value
Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15
Motor 2 Motor 2 Tracker2 Tracker2 Tracker2 tilt Tracker2 Tracker 2 Reserved
Over current direction exceed East exceed West sensor tilt sensor Limit
Reverse soft limit soft limit Communicati no Position
position position on Failure change in Protect
value
Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23
Motor 3 Motor 3 Tracker3 Tracker3 Tracker3 tilt Tracker3 Tracker 3 Reserved
Over current direction exceed East exceed West sensor tilt sensor Limit
Reverse soft limit soft limit Communicati no Position
position position on Failure change in Protect

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value

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

RTC Failure Time Big Wind Switch Low battery Battery Time lost Battery
Calibration State power error communic
Fault supply Low ation
voltage abnormal

Table 7, Failure Explanation of Sky-Line control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Motor 1 Motor 1 Tracker 1 Tracker1 Tracker1 tilt Tracker1 Tracker 1 Reserved
Over current Reverse exceed East exceed West sensor tilt sensor Limit
soft limit soft limit Communicati no Position
position position on Failure change in Protect
value
Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15
Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

RTC Failure Time Big Wind Switch Low battery Battery Time lost Battery
Calibration State power error communic
Fault supply Low ation
voltage abnormal

Table 8, Failure Explanation of ArcTracker Pro Single Axis Tracker(AC) control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Power 1 Power Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Failure 2-Failure

Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15

Motor Phase Start up Reserved Reserved Reserved East Limit West Limit
Overcurrent unbalance of the backup Position Position
motor phase motor Failure Failure
sequence
Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

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Reserved Reserved Motor 1 Motor 2 Internal RTC Failure Reserved Tilt

reverse reverse Communication Sensor 1
Fault Failure
Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31
Reserved Tilt Sensor 2 Reserved Reserved Motor reverse Time Reserved Reserved
Failure Calibration
Fault

Table 9, Failure Explanation of Small-Horizontal Single Axis Tracker(DC) control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Channel 1 Tilt Sensor 1 Channel 1-East Limit Channel1-West Limit Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Overcurrent Alarm Position Failure Position Failure

Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

RTC Failure Time Big Wind State Reserved Reserved Reserved Time Reserved
Calibration lost
Fault

Table 10, Failure Explanation of New Small-Horizontal Single Axis Tracker(DC) control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Channel 1 Tilt Sensor 1 Channel 1-East Limit Channel1-West Limit Tracker1 Reserved Reserved Reserved
Overcurrent Alarm Position Failure Position Failure tilt sensor
Communi
cation
Failure
Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15
Channel 2 Tilt Sensor 2 Channel2-East Limit Channel2-West Limit Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Overcurrent Alarm Position Failure Position Failure

Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

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Channel 3 Tilt Sensor 3 Channel3-East Limit Channel3-West Limit Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Overcurrent Alarm Position Failure Position Failure

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

RTC Failure Time Big Wind State Power switching Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Calibration protection
Fault

Table 11, Failure Explanation of AI tracker control box

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Motor 1 Motor 1 Tracker 1 Tracker1 Tracker1 tilt Tracker1 Reserved Reserved
Over current Reverse exceed East exceed West sensor tilt sensor
soft limit soft limit Communicati no
position position on Failure change in
value
Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15
Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

RTC Failure Reserved Emergency Reserved Low battery Battery Time lost Battery
stop error communic
disconnect ation
abnormal

Table 12, Communication Box Alarm

Bit0 Bit1 Bit2 Bit3 Bit4 Bit5 Bit6 Bit7

Wind Sensor Wind Sensor Irradiance Irradiance Irradiance GPS 1 GPS 2 Big Wind
1- Failure 2- Failure Sensor 1 Sensor 2 Sensor 3 Failure Failure Alarm
Failure Failure Failure

Bit8 Bit9 Bit10 Bit11 Bit12 Bit13 Bit14 Bit15

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit16 Bit17 Bit18 Bit19 Bit20 Bit21 Bit22 Bit23

Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Bit24 Bit25 Bit26 Bit27 Bit28 Bit29 Bit30 Bit31

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Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

6. Work mode explanation

 AUTO

In this mode, the system will track automatically. There are also three sub-modes under Auto.
• Big wind mode

In AUTO mode, when wind speed exceeds the stowed wind speed set by user value, system will automatically
switch into the big wind mode to stow the tracker. And recover to AUTO mode after the wind speed drops
below the user determined recovery value.
• Snow mode

When snow mode is triggered tracker will move to the nearest soft-limit and stop.
• Rain mode

In Rain mode trackers will move between 60°and 120° back and forth. There will be a 2 minutes break in
every 15°step. This is mostly use for cleaning the tracker when heavy rain is presence.
 Manual

In this mode, trackers operation can be controlled manually. The direction and motor can be select using the
keys on communication box user interface. It is used for debugging & testing tracker functionality typically,
additionally under manual mode there’s also a cleaning mode as explained below.
• Set angle mode
This mode allows user to determine the angle they wish to send the control box. First defining the angle then
trigger this mode under manual.
 The address 163 + 173 is to set the angle for the all the control boxes which ID under the current
communication MCU.
 The address 169 + 170 is to set the individual control box to a specific angle, and 168 is to set it back
to auto mode by input its ID

• Cleaning mode

This mode can be used for cleaning the trackers.

7. Soft Limit

In our software, 0°is in the vertical position. So the limit is from 30°to 150°.
It means±60°when 0°is in the horizon position.
Please refer to the commission manual for the details.

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8. Wind Protection
The up limit of wind protection is 30m/s, and the down limit is 3m/s. The default is 18m/s and 14m/s.
The delay time is from 2 to 2000s. The default is 300s.
Please refer to the commission manual for the details.

9. Explanation of the control box device address and the storage location
of the device in the communication box
9.1. The number of control boxes (trackers) monitored by each MCU of the communication box is stored in the
MCU register address 200, and the data of the control box is stored in the MCU register address 201-1340. Each
communication box MCU can store up to 57 control box data. Each control box data occupies 20 registers. The
data of the control box is arranged from the low address to the high address in the register of the communication
box. For example, if there are 10 control boxes connected to the MCU of the communication box, the data of these

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10 control boxes are stored in the communication box register in turn, and the addresses are 201-400.

9.2 Explain the difference between the ID number of the control box and the storage serial number of the control
box. The ID number of the control box is the 485 communication address. The storage serial number of the control
box refers to the storage location of the communication box in the communication box. These two numbers are
different. ID numbers can be discontinuous, but storage numbers must be consecutive. For example, the ID
number of the control box can be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ..., but their storage locations in the communication box are
continuous. In this example, the data of ID 2 is stored in the registers of 201-220, and the data of ID 4 is stored in
the registers of 221-240.

Serial number of control box MODBUS address of the The storage address of the control box data
data in communication box control box in the communication box register table
1 2 201~220
2 4 221~240
3 6 241~260
4 8 261~280
5 10 281~300

9.3 Note the difference between Modus address 200/201 and address 200 and 201 in the register table. The
former refers to the MCU device address and the latter refers to the register address in the register table.

10. Example of monitoring software reading communication box point

table and sending working mode command
Example 1. In the following example, a communication box has a communication board, which is the point table
allocation of two MCUs. The corresponding MODBUS addresses of the two MCUs of the communication box are
200 and 201 respectively. Corresponding to two point tables, please read data from the corresponding point tables
In the table below, each control has two or three tracking axes.

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 Protocol Explanation V2.21-
For Arctech Communication Box

The storage
Control number of the Control
Control Communication
Tracking axis box control box box ID Target
box box MODBUS
number MODBUS data in the number angle Actual angle
number address
address communication register register register
box point table address address address
TRC-1A-01 0 201 208 210
CB-1 1
TRC-1A-02 211
TRC-1A-03 230
CB-2 TRC-1A-04 2 1 221 228 231
TRC-1A-05 232
TRC-1A-06 250
CB-3 TRC-1A-07 3 2 241 248 251
TRC-1A-08 252
TRC-1A-09 270
CB-4 TRC-1A-10 4 3 261 268 271
TRC-1A-11 272
TRC-1A-12 290
CB-5 TRC-1A-13 5 4 281 288 291
TRC-1A-14 292
200
TRC-1A-15 310
CB-6 TRC-1A-16 6 5 301 308 311
TRC-1A-17 312
TRC-1A-18 330
CB-7 TRC-1A-19 7 6 321 328 331
TRC-1A-20 332
TRC-1A-21 350
CB-8 TRC-1A-22 8 7 341 348 351
TRC-1A-23 352
TRC-1A-24 370
CB-9 TRC-1A-25 9 8 361 368 371
TRC-1A-26 372
TRC-1A-27 390
CB-10 10 9
TRC-1A-28 381 388 391

23
 Protocol Explanation V2.21-
For Arctech Communication Box

The storage
Control number of the Control
Control Tracking Communication
box control box box ID Target Actual angle
box axis box MODBUS
MODBUS data in the number angle register
number number address
address communication register register address
box point table address address
TRC-1B-1 210
CB-25 TRC-1B-2 25 0 201 208 211
TRC-1B-3 212
TRC-1B-4 230
CB-26 TRC-1B-5 26 1 221 228 231
TRC-1B-6 232
TRC-1B-7 250
CB-27 TRC-1B-8 27 2 241 248 251
TRC-1B-9 252
TRC-1B-10 270
CB-28 TRC-1B-11 28 3 261 268 271
TRC-1B-12 272
TRC-1B-13 290
CB-29 TRC-1B-14 29 4 281 288 291
TRC-1B-15 201 292
TRC-1B-16 310
CB-30 TRC-1B-17 30 5 301 308 311
TRC-1B-18 312
TRC-1B-19 330
CB-31 TRC-1B-20 31 6 321 328 331
TRC-1B-21 332
TRC-1B-22 350
CB-32 TRC-1B-23 32 7 341 348 351
TRC-1B-24 352
TRC-1B-25 370
CB-33 TRC-1B-26 33 8 361 368 371
TRC-1B-27 372
TRC-1B-28 390
CB-34 TRC-1B-29 34 9 381 388 391
TRC-1B-30 392

Example 2: using Modbus Poll test control command

The figure below shows the data of control box 1 read from the communication box register read by Modbus poll.
It can be seen from the figure that the current working mode of No. 1 control box is 5 (automatic mode).

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 Protocol Explanation V2.21-
For Arctech Communication Box

You can write 6 (maintenance mode) to the register address 173 to make the control box of the entire block enter
maintenance mode. See below,

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