8 
 
Figure 5-5: Communication Cable Routing 
Electrical current flowing through a conductor forms a magnetic field around the wire as shown above. 
Interference is coupled into the wires in the cable through electromagnetic fields. Just as current through a wire 
causes a magnetic field to form around it, a magnetic field can cause current to flow in a wire. This induction of 
current is a function of the geometry or orientation of the wires. If the communication cable is at a right angle 
with the power conductor, it is aligned with the direction of the magnetic field and no current is induced. 
7.  Follow these guidelines when you route communications cables between electrical equipment: 
  Run communications cables in the same cable raceways (cable routes, cable trays, or cable gutters) as 
unshielded digital and analog signal cables up to 60 V. 
  Run communications cables in the same cable raceway with shielded signal and supply cables up to 230 V. 
  Run communications cables 4 inches away from unshielded signal and supply cables of up to 230 V. 
  Run cables with voltages greater than 230 V in separate ducts (routes, conduits). 
5.3  RS-232 Connections 
The following section describes the connection requirements for RS-232 cable. This cable will allow you to connect 
the MJ-5 Control Panel to an RTU or personal computer. 
Five of the standard RS-232 wires are used for this application. 
  Signal Return (RTN) 
  RXD 
  TXD 
  CTS 
  RTS 
Table 7-2 lists the connections that must be made to connect the RS232/485 interface to a personal computer, RTU, 
or other supervisory device. The MJ-5 Communications Module defaults to no-handshaking-required mode. 
However, the communications module asserts RTS while it transmits data, but the module will ignore the CTS input 
signal. 
Table 5-2 RS-232 Intelligent Electronic Device Wiring 
MJ-5 RS-232/485 
Communications Interface 
Personal computer, supervisory 
device, or other network device 
 
Table 7-3 lists the connections that must be made to connect the RS232/485 interface to a modem. 
Table 5-3 Modem Wiring 
MJ-5 RS-232/485 
Communications Interface 
Current
Flow
Magnetic Field
Around Conductor
Electric Power
Conductor
Communication Cable