Force Single Coil (Function Code 05)

Query

This Function Code forces one coil (Modbus 0x range) either ON or OFF. Any coil that exists within the controller can be forced to either state (ON or OFF). However, because the controller is actively scanning, unless the coil is disabled, the controller can also alter the state of the coil. Coils are numbered from zero (coil 0001 = zero, coil 0002 = one, and so on). The data value 65,280 (FF00 HEX) sets the coil ON and the value zero turns it OFF; all other values are illegal and do not affect that coil.
The use of slave address 00 (Broadcast Mode) forces all attached slaves to modify the desired coil.
TIP:
Functions 5, 6, 15, and 16 are the only messages that are recognized as valid for broadcast. This is the structure of the message being sent out to the Modbus network. The following byte values are displayed in hexadecimal format.
The following example is a request to slave number 11 to turn ON coil 0173.
Node Address
Function Code
Data Start Bit High
Data Start Bit Low
Number of Bits High
Number of Bits Low
Error Check Field (2 bytes)
0B
05
00
AC
FF
00
CRC

Response

The normal response to the Command Request is to retransmit the message as received after the coil state has been altered.
Node Address
Function Code
Data Coil Bit High
Data Coil Bit Low
Data On/Off
Data
Error Check Field (2 bytes)
0B
05
00
AC
FF
00
CRC
The forcing of a coil via Modbus function 5 happens regardless of whether the addressed coil is disabled or not (In ProSoft products, the coil is only affected if you implement the necessary Ladder Logic).
IMPORTANT: The Modbus protocol excludes standard functions for testing or changing the DISABLE state of discrete inputs or outputs. Where applicable, this can be accomplished via device-specific Program commands (In ProSoft products, this is only accomplished through Ladder Logic programming).
Coils that are reprogrammed in the controller logic program are not automatically cleared upon power-up. Thus, if such a coil is set ON by function Code 5 and (even months later), an output is connected to that coil, the output is “hot”.
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Normal