Can XNX Gas Detector Honeywell Analytics Connect To SCADA?

Short and useful: yes — XNX detectors from Honeywell Analytics are commonly connected to SCADA systems either via 4–20 mA analog outputs or via digital Modbus RTU (RS-485) when the unit has the communications option. To integrate, determine which outputs your specific XNX has, wire the 4–20 mA to an analog input or wire RS-485 to your SCADA’s serial port (or use a TCP gateway if needed), configure baud rate/address/termination for Modbus, and map the tags/registers in SCADA. Don’t forget to handle intrinsic-safety wiring, use shielded twisted-pair cable, and verify register maps from Honeywell’s manual. Typical pitfalls are wrong comms settings, missing termination, and ignoring hazardous-area barrier requirements. Once configured, you can read concentrations, alarms, and fault states directly in SCADA — it’s a satisfying setup when everything starts reporting cleanly.

Yes — in practical terms an XNX series gas detector from Honeywell Analytics can be integrated into a SCADA system, but the how and how easy depends on the exact XNX model and which communication options are fitted. I’ve wired a few of these in plants and what I look for first are the available outputs: most XNX transmitters offer standard 4–20 mA outputs (ideal for any SCADA analog input), optional relay outputs for alarm contacts, and many units can be fitted with an RS-485 Modbus RTU option. If your SCADA supports Modbus RTU (very common), that’s often the cleanest digital route because you get multiple points (gas reading, status flags, fault codes) over a single twisted-pair cable.

Practical checklist that helped me in the field: confirm the model and firmware, check whether it has the Modbus card or only 4–20 mA, verify hazardous-area wiring requirements (IS barriers or Zener barriers if needed), choose shielded twisted-pair cable, set the device Modbus address/baud/parity, and map registers in the SCADA HMI. If you only have analog inputs, scale 4–20 mA to engineering units in SCADA and map alarm relays as digital inputs or discrete tags. If you need Modbus TCP-based SCADA, a serial-to-Ethernet Gateway or an RTU-to-TCP converter will bridge the gap.

Common gotchas I’ve run into: forgetting to terminate RS-485, mismatched baud/parity, not enabling the Modbus protocol in the device menus, or wiring the loop power incorrectly. Also mind intrinsic-safety barriers and proper earthing in hazardous areas. A quick sanity test is using a Modbus polling tool to read registers before configuring the SCADA tag tree. Bottom line — yes, XNX detectors are SCADA-friendly, but confirm outputs/options on your specific unit and plan the wiring and protocol mapping up front. It always feels good to see live gas values pop into the control room after a bit of head-scratching and wiring, so I find the setup pretty satisfying.

I get a little excited about these sorts of integrations because they’re where the real-world sensor meets the control room. From my tinkering, the simplest path is the 4–20 mA loop: every SCADA system knows what to do with that signal, you wire it to an analog input, and then scale it so 4 mA equals zero concentration and 20 mA equals your span (or whatever calibration your site uses). That’s reliable and works even when you don’t want to touch serial networks.

If you want richer data — like alarm states, sensor health, or multiple gas channels — you’ll want the RS-485/Modbus option. An XNX fitted with Modbus RTU will expose registers for the measured value, status bits, faults, and more. The integration steps are straightforward: set matching baud rate and parity, assign a unique Modbus address to the XNX, test communication with a Modbus poller, then create tags in SCADA that point to the appropriate registers. If your SCADA is Modbus TCP-only, use an RTU-to-TCP gateway.

A few practical tips from my bench: use a proper shielded twisted pair for RS-485, terminate the bus at both ends, and avoid daisy-chaining power grounds that can create noise. Also keep an eye on hazardous-area requirements — many installations require barriers or isolators. If in doubt, Honeywell’s comms manual lists register maps and wiring diagrams, and their technical support can confirm the exact option cards needed. I always prefer testing on the bench before committing to 100 meters of cable in the field — saves headaches and makes commissioning way more pleasant.