PS6, GE80V, PU3, MUC500 M 125, GSLE500, GE20M, GEWB … are reminiscent of the song “MfG – Mit freundlichen Grüßen“ of the popular German band „Die Fantastischen Vier” (The Fantastic Four).
Whoever is familiar with our products is aware that all these are product names, preceded in most cases by “MBUS-“. Exceptions do exist, but these confirm the rule as a German proverb states.
But how did we coin these product names? Simply concatenating characters and numbers was not our intention. There is brainwork in it.
Our product portfolio comprises level converters, data concentrators (also known as data loggers), gateways and further M-Bus components.
Let’s get started with our level converters. Here, we offer three product groups: MBUS-PS6/32, MBUS-PS20/80, MBUS-PS125/250/500 and the MBUS-GE20/80V as well as the smallest one in our product line, the MBUS-PU3.
Our PS-level converters are fit for a direct connection of a control unit respectively of a host system to a M-Bus. Interfaced with an appropriate M-Bus-Master software these devices link the M-Bus to the serial interface RS-232.
And this is the origin of the “S“ in the name – “serial“. The “P“ is the initial character of the German word for level converter („Pegelwandler“) and the numbers represent the unit loads, more precisely the maximum quantity of meters that can be connected to our level converters.
Picking the MBUS-PS80 as an example, it is a serial level converter with 80 unit loads.
Thus, not too complex.
Next, proceeding to the level converter MBUS-GE20/80V.
After an initial configuration via the integrated web server our GEV can be addressed via a TCP/IP-port, or optionally also via a virtual COM-port-driver directly from the host system. And here is the origin of the “V“, virtual COM-port. Finally, what is symbolised by “GE“? Gateway Ethernet. The product communicates via Ethernet.
Now, the question pops up why the MBUS-GEV is classified in the product line of the level converters? Good question. Originally, the GEV was assigned to the gateways as it features a controller, and thus an active component to process the data. However, confusion arose in the sales department with our Modus gateways, the MBUS-GEMs, and we have thus reassigned it to the level converters. Technically, it is a gateway, but from the customers’ perspective it is a level converter.
And finally our compact level converter, the MBUS-PU3. This one is suited for a USB-port and is thus ideal for servicing using mobile devices with the appropriate M-Bus software.
Hence, a level converter (recall the initial “P“) for a USB-port with 3 unit loads.
The labeling turns out to be easy once you have understood the underlying principle.
In the next blog post we will investigate the labeling of our data loggers.
