WSAL17286 – USB TO RS485/en
Documentation notice: This technical documentation was independently rewritten from an archived supplier source. Check technical details and commands against the product version and manufacturer documentation before use.
Summary
A compact industrial converter that translates a USB interface into a bidirectional RS485 link. It features an FT232RL chip, built-in surge and ESD protection, and three status LEDs.
Related products at JW Tech
Technical overview
- The converter is based on the original FT232RL chip for stable and reliable communication.
- RS485 side: screw terminals for A+, B-, and GND; transmission distance up to about 1200 m at low bit rates.
- USB side: USB-A connector, 5 V operating voltage, 200 mA self-recovery fuse, and ESD protection.
- Direction control is handled automatically by hardware (no manual mode switch).
- Three red LEDs: PWR (power), TXD (transmit), and RXD (receive).
- Supported operating systems: Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Mac, Linux, Android, WinCE.
- Modbus is supported at the protocol layer; the device only provides physical-layer conversion from USB to RS485.
- For short-range communication issues, the 120 Ω termination resistor can be removed.
Notes and version constraints
- If spontaneous disconnections occur after extended use, check power supply quality, cable condition, driver version, and ground loop connections.
- Using the device on non-Windows systems requires downloading the appropriate FTDI driver; the exact installation steps are incomplete in the source text.
- When connecting more than 16 nodes, using repeaters is recommended.
- Cross-device compatibility or additional certifications are not stated in the source and must be confirmed before integration.
Source and revision record
- USB TO RS485 - Waveshare Wiki
- Source revision: 101107
- Captured: 2026-08-31T04:11:15+00:00
- SHA-256:
9da0ceab1d72a963f8ce260d0a9cbe6232b862491ce3da63fe085a93b9352c54