Wireless forecourt communicator WFC

Appointment #

Various wired interfaces are often applied for communication exchange between the management systems and the forecourt equipment at petrol station (dispensers, price poles, others): various types of current loop interfaces, voltage driven interfaces, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232, others. These interfaces have many benefits, but all of them have a common disadvantage – they are wired, so require putting of cabling for connection. As a rule wires are put in underground pipes, which requires excavation (removing the top layer of asphalt or other cover, digging of trenches, laying of cables, etc.).

Wireless communication is an alternative to wired connection, it simplifies the whole process and eliminates a necessity of placing cabling – the management systems and the forecourt equipment are able to communicate, but communication is done over-the-air instead of wired cabling.

The WFC communicator works in conjunction with the PTS-2 forecourt controller, where the WFC communicator provides wireless communication and connection to devices using various hardware interfaces and the PTS-2 controller manages communication with the connected devices (dispensers, ATG consoles and probes, price poles, readers and AVI systems).

Wireless forecourt communicator WFC has advantages as quick of mounting, flexibility of settings, high security, high noise immunity and others.

Presence of a rich set of interfaces on the WFC communicator boards allows it to connect to almost all existing brands of dispensers in a wireless way without a need to put any cables. The PTS-2 forecourt controller undertakes communication with the dispenser using a communication protocol and the WFC communication undertakes wireless connection to it.

Besides the wireless communication the WFC communicator is also able to work in a wired mode, in which the WFC serves as a universal interface converter for dispensers able to convert from input RS-232 or RS-485 interfaces in many other output interfaces:

• 2-wire current loop interface
• 3-wire current loop interface
• 4-wire current loop interface
• 2-wire voltage driven interface

Dimensions of the WFC communicator board are extremely small with a size of a credit card, which makes its suitable for installation inside any third-party hardware.

Technical characteristics #

WFC communicator is using ESP32-WROOM-32UE-N4 MCU inside. Information on its technical characteristics, certificates and permissions are given in its technical guide, which is available for download from the following link: https://espressif.com/documentation/esp32-wroom-32e_esp32-wroom-32ue_datasheet_en.pdf.

Communication ports #

Board overview #

Wireless communication #

In order to use wireless communication between the PTS-2 forecourt controller and the WFC communicators they need to be configured to use the same network, which is established by a separate secured Wi-Fi router:

At this you can locate a separate WFC communicator for each of the forecourt devices you need to communicate with. Or you can unite several such devices to use the same single WFC communicator if the used communication interface allows it, for example if these devices are using the RS-485 interface and the same communication protocol.

Wired communication #

At wired communication the WFC serves as a universal interface converter for dispensers able to convert from input RS-232 or RS-485 interfaces in many other output interfaces:

• 2-wire current loop interface
• 3-wire current loop interface
• 4-wire current loop interface
• 2-wire voltage driven interface

In such a way, application of the WFC communicator allows to connect dispensers with different hardware interfaces in a common way. At this connection of the PTS-2 forecourt controller to the WFC communicator is to be done in a wired way using RS-485 interface.

Order information #

WFC communicator PCB board with terminal blocks
Order code: WFC-PCB-001

 

WFC communicator in a mounting box
Order code: WFC-BOX-001