Product article · Level measurement When a site has many tanks and high demands on operational reliability, a simple sensor is no longer enough. SiteEasy II RS485 EXT is built for exactly that situation – one unit that measures up to 15 values, continuously, with no battery limitations. 
The problem with large sites
Industrial and chemical sites often have dozens of tanks with different media, spread over large areas or in hard-to-reach spaces. Traditional measurement solutions require one unit per measuring point, which quickly leads to complex hardware, high installation costs and maintenance needs that are hard to keep under control. The consequences show up in operations: values are updated too rarely, batteries run out without warning and there is no overall picture of what is actually on site. That is costly – not least in the form of unnecessary refills, spills and emergency interventions.
SiteEasy II RS485 EXT: one unit, three parameters, up to 15 values
SiteEasy II RS485 EXT uses RS485 communication and daisy-chaining to connect up to five external sensors to one and the same unit. Each sensor measures three parameters at once – level, product type and temperature. This gives up to 15 individual values from a single hardware unit, visible in real time in SiteInfo. 
- Up to 15 values – five daisy-chained sensors per unit, each with level, product type and temperature.
- External power supply – powered by the site’s mains supply, no battery limitations and measurement every hour around the clock.
- RS485 communication – the industry standard for robust, interference-resistant communication in demanding environments.
- Straight to SiteInfo – SiteInfo automatically collects all values in one shared view, regardless of the number of connected sensors.
Why an external power supply changes the picture
Battery-powered sensors are excellent for remote locations or installations with few measuring points. But for a site that is always in operation, the battery is a bottleneck: it limits measurement frequency, requires regular maintenance and creates a vulnerability that can leave blind spots in data collection. SiteEasy II RS485 EXT eliminates that problem. With an external power supply, the unit can measure and report continuously – without the operator having to keep an eye on battery levels or plan maintenance stops.
| “A single sensor is rarely enough any more. With RS485 EXT, you get the whole picture of your site from one and the same unit – and it’s always connected.” Sture Berg, International Business Developer, MCD |
Installation in the field
MCD’s technicians install the unit and adapt it to the conditions on site. The technician fits the sensors in each tank and connects them in a daisy-chain configuration. In many cases, you can reuse existing cable infrastructure. The connection to SiteInfo is via the mobile network and requires no local servers or network installations on site. 
When is SiteEasy II RS485 EXT the right choice?
The product is best suited to sites with several tanks and high demands on operational continuity – where missing values are not acceptable and maintenance needs to be kept to a minimum. Typical applications are the chemical and process industries, fuel and lubricant depots, and sites with mixed products requiring continuous temperature monitoring. For installations with fewer measuring points, MCD offers the battery-powered SiteEasy II, and for demanding environments, SiteMonitor.
Compatible with existing measuring systems
SiteEasy II RS485 EXT can be adapted for industrial measuring systems that use MODBUS and measure level, volume and temperature. This means existing infrastructure can often be kept – the unit is instead integrated into the system already in place. The unit can be connected to several well-known measuring system manufacturers on the market, also via RS232 with a converter:
- Fafnir
- AssyTech
- Gilbarco
- Alisonic
- VeederRoot
- Nivelco
Want to know whether SiteEasy II RS485 EXT suits your site? We’re happy to tell you more and can put together a proposal based on your conditions. Contact us