10 Best Modbus Courses and Certifications Online

Modbus is a widely used communication protocol in industrial automation systems that allows for data exchange between devices. As such, an understanding of Modbus is essential for professionals working in the field of automation. With the increasing popularity of online learning, professionals can now access Modbus courses online. The availability of different Modbus courses online makes it challenging to determine the best course to enroll in. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help professionals identify the factors to consider when evaluating the best Modbus courses online.

Here’s a look at the Best Modbus Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Modbus Courses and Certifications Online

1. Mastering Modbus RS485 Network Communication by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The Mastering Modbus RS485 Network Communication course is taught by Emile Ackbarali and focuses on teaching the design, implementation and management of the Modbus protocol. This automation protocol is still the most popular in the field of process automation and SCADA. Being able to integrate devices from different manufacturers into a seamless network is a valuable skill in the industry.

The course provides a theoretical background on both the Modbus protocol and RS485. It then demonstrates how the two work together to create a Modbus RS485 network. Two freeware applications are used to create a Modbus network on the PC to show communication in action. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to integrate Modbus compliant devices from different manufacturers to form a seamless network.

The course is divided into several sections, including Introduction, Course Problem to be Solved, Modbus Protocol Memory Map, Modbus Protocol Network Messaging, RS485 Serial Communication Standard, Query-Response Cycle, Introduction to Modbus Software Tools, Simulation of Modbus Commands, Modbus Exception Codes, Floating Point Data, Configuration of the Direct Logic DL05 PLC for Modbus Communication, Essential Documentation, and Bonus Section – How to Always get the Lowest Prices for my Courses.

2. Mastering Modbus TCP/IP Network Communication by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The Mastering Modbus TCP/IP Network Communication course aims to equip automation and process control professionals with the knowledge and skills required to design, build, and troubleshoot Modbus TCP/IP client-server networks. Traditionally, Modbus has been used on RS485 networks, but Modbus TCP/IP is becoming increasingly popular. However, implementing and maintaining Modbus TCP/IP networks requires knowledge of IT technologies. This course bridges the gap by combining existing knowledge of Modbus RTU with IT knowledge necessary for building and troubleshooting Modbus TCP/IP networks.

The course is designed to be practical and time-efficient. It covers several sections, including an introduction, network layering, Modbus TCP/IP characteristics, IP addressing, Ethernet, Modbus TCP/IP query-response cycle, Modbus TCP/IP simulations, and configuring the DL05 PLC, NETIO 4C, and NETIO Power Cable for Modbus TCP/IP communication. Additionally, there is a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for courses.

Overall, by the end of the Mastering Modbus TCP/IP Network Communication course, participants will have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to implement, maintain, and troubleshoot Modbus TCP/IP networks.

3. The 1-Hour Modbus RS485 Primer by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The 1-Hour Modbus RS485 Primer Course, taught by Emile Ackbarali, aims to teach participants how to interconnect Modbus devices on an RS485 network in an hour. The Modbus protocol is the oldest and most widely used automation protocol in the field of process automation and SCADA. Understanding how to create Modbus based networks that run on the RS485 serial communication standard is crucial for electrical technicians and engineers working in these fields. The ability to integrate devices from various manufacturers is an in-demand skill that makes individuals more valuable and marketable in the industry.

The course covers the theory behind the Modbus protocol and RS485 and how they work together to create a Modbus RS485 network. Upon completion, participants should be able to integrate devices from the same or different manufacturers, as long as they are Modbus compliant and form a seamless network. The course content includes an introduction, a brief history of Modbus protocol, the Modbus protocol memory map, Modbus protocol network messaging, the RS485 serial communication standard, and a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for courses.

4. How to Program an Arduino as a Modbus RS485 Master & Slave by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The course “How to Program an Arduino as a Modbus RS485 Master & Slave” is designed to teach individuals how to create their own Modbus RS485 Master and Slave Device using the Arduino Uno Development System. This course is beneficial for those who work in the Automation Industry and find that automation equipment is often too expensive, especially for small applications. The Arduino development board provides a solution to create simple but powerful Modbus master or slave devices through the use of “C” programming. By mastering Modbus on the Arduino, individuals can increase their skill level and value in the Automation Industry.

Throughout the course, individuals will learn how to choose the appropriate Arduino hardware, interconnect Arduino hardware with other add-on hardware, write “C” applications to implement Modbus master and slave functionality, and use software and hardware to test each application they write. All programs written in the course are downloadable and provide a starting point for further development. By the end of the course, individuals will have the knowledge to create their own custom Modbus master and slave hardware.

The course is broken down into several sections, including the Introduction, The Hardware We Will Be Using, The Software We Will Be Using, Quick Start – Creating our First Arduino Modbus Master Application, Extending the Arduino Modbus Master Application, Configuring the Arduino to Read/Display Data from a Modbus Temperature Sensor, Configuring the Arduino to Write Modbus Data to the Slave, Configuring the Arduino as a Modbus Slave Device, and a Bonus Section on how to always get the lowest prices for the courses.

5. How to Program an Arduino as a Modbus TCP/IP Client & Server by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

This course titled “How to Program an Arduino as a Modbus TCP/IP Client & Server” focuses on teaching individuals how to develop their own Modbus TCP/IP client and server devices using the Arduino Uno development system. The course is ideal for individuals working in the automation industry, as it allows them to create powerful Modbus client or server devices at a lower cost. Through the use of the Arduino development board, learners can create efficient and lean devices for specific purposes. At the end of the course, learners will be able to choose appropriate Arduino hardware, interconnect it with other add-on hardware, write “C” applications to implement Modbus client and server functionalities, and test each application using software and hardware.

The course content is divided into several sections, including an introduction, the hardware used, the software used, creating the first Arduino Modbus TCP server application, extending the Arduino Modbus TCP server application, and programming the Arduino to be Modbus TCP client. Additionally, there is a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for the courses.

All the programs written during the course are available for download, providing learners with a perfect starting point for further development. After completing the course, learners will possess the knowledge to develop their own products and custom Modbus client and server hardware.

6. Create a Windows Modbus Master Program using Microsoft .NET by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The “Create a Windows Modbus Master Program using Microsoft .NET” course offers instruction on creating custom Windows Modbus Master and Basic Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) using Microsoft .NET programming. The course is intended for those who design and implement projects in the area of Process Automation or SCADA, as “one size does not fit all” when it comes to data acquisition and HMIs. Sometimes it is necessary to create a very simple application that acquires a few data points from a Modbus network and displays them on a computer screen, rather than using a very expensive HMI with all sorts of bells and whistles for a small project.

The course teaches students how to use free tools with basic programming to create a Modbus Master application and HMI. At the end of the course, students will have a finished Windows Modbus Application that they can customize as they wish. This course offers a start to a new area of Process Automation/SCADA, which is increasingly in high demand.

The course includes the following sections: Introduction, Downloading the Software Applications, Quick Start, Explaining the “Quick Start” Application, Implementing Polling in our Application using a Timer, Expanding the Application with additional Modbus Read/Write Functions, Modifying the Application for Serial Communication, and Creating a Release Version of the Application.

A bonus section is available for learners on how to always get the lowest prices for courses offered by the instructor.

7. How to Build a Basic HMI and Connect it to a Modbus Slave by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The “How to Build a Basic HMI and Connect it to a Modbus Slave” course is a practical, hands-on training that guides participants through building a Basic Human Machine Interface (HMI) application using free software tools. The course videos cover building a live HMI application that communicates with a Modbus slave simulator. The course is effective because it requires no additional software tools, and participants will walk away with a firm grasp of HMI application development.

The HMI Development application used in the course is a real product used in the industry, priced at only Euro 49.00, making it an affordable option for those involved in HMI application development in their work or hobbies. The knowledge gained from this course is immediately applicable to the process automation industry.

Course content and sections include an introduction, downloading software applications, basic concepts and an initial data connection, adding a graphical link to a Modbus coil (output), working with analog data values, template management and communications monitoring, and connecting the HMI application to the DL05 PLC. A bonus section covers how to always get the lowest prices for courses.

8. How to Program Microsoft Excel as a Modbus Master HMI by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The course titled “How to Program Microsoft Excel as a Modbus Master HMI” is being offered by instructor Emile Ackbarali. The course is designed to teach individuals how to use Microsoft Excel to communicate serially or via TCP/IP with any Modbus Slave.

The course is targeted towards individuals who are involved in Process Automation or SCADA projects and require customization for data acquisition and Human Machine Interfaces. The course aims to provide a simple application for acquiring data points from a Modbus network and displaying them on a computer screen, without the need for an expensive HMI.

The course content includes an introduction, details on the software to be used, quick start instructions, expanding on the initial quick start example, adding Modbus write commands to the Excel application, and changing from Modbus serial communications to TCP/IP communications.

Individuals who complete the course and follow all instructions will be able to create their own Modbus Master application and Human Machine Interface with Microsoft Excel, providing superb data analysis capabilities. The course is a great starting point for individuals interested in exploring the area of Process Automation and SCADA, which is currently in high demand.

The course also includes a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for instructor Emile Ackbarali’s courses.

9. How to Log Modbus Data to Microsoft Access and Excel by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The course titled “How to Log Modbus Data to Microsoft Access and Excel” teaches how to set up the Winlog Lite HMI Development application to log data from a Modbus slave to Microsoft Access and Excel. Archiving of process control data is crucial for tracking process performance and troubleshooting issues with the process plant. The use of Modbus to acquire process data via the use of Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) is common, but archived data is usually stored in a proprietary format. This course explains how to archive data in a non-proprietary format, which makes porting data to other systems for further analysis easier.

The course demonstrates the use of the Winlog Lite HMI in archiving process data directly to a Microsoft Access database as well as a Microsoft Excel workbook. By being able to do this type of archival, porting of data becomes much easier and faster. The course uses a Modbus slave simulator to acquire a single data point, which is deemed a line pressure. The HMI is then configured to have this data point archived every 10 seconds in both the Microsoft Access database and a Microsoft Excel file. Structured Query Language (SQL) is introduced to the student, along with an example of HMI scripting.

The course is practical, and the student can perform all tasks that are shown in the videos. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to do all that is shown in the videos for maximum learning effect. The course content includes an introduction, downloading the software applications, building a basic single master/slave Modbus network, configuring Microsoft Access and Excel for data logging, using SQL for reading from and writing to the databases, configuring the logging to the MS Access and Excel, and a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for the courses.

10. How to View Modbus RS485 Data on the Web using Arduino & IoT by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

The course titled “How to View Modbus RS485 Data on the Web using Arduino & IoT” is designed for individuals who are interested in learning how to program an Arduino to read Modbus data and display it on a SmartPhone App and the Web using IoT Technology. The course is instructed by Emile Ackbarali and is suitable for those who work in the Automation Industry but cannot justify the use of expensive equipment for small applications. The Arduino development board allows for the creation of simple and efficient devices for specific purposes through the use of “C” programming. At the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge to create their own products and custom Modbus master and slave hardware.

The course will cover the appropriate Arduino hardware choice, interconnecting Arduino hardware with other add-on hardware, writing “C” applications to implement Modbus master and slave functionality, and using software and hardware to test each application that is written. All of the programs written in the course are freely downloadable and give participants a perfect starting point for further development.

The course is divided into several sections, including an Introduction, Building the Arduino Modbus Network – The Hardware Setup, Building the Arduino Modbus Network – Writing The Program Code, Connection of the Arduino Mega to the ESP8266 Wifi Module, Updating the Firmware on the ESP8266 Wifi Module, Linking the Arduino Mega with the Blynk SmartPhone App, Combining the Modbus Code with the Blynk Test Code to create the IoT System, Our 2nd IoT Project – Connecting the Arduino to the Thingspeak IoT Server, and a Bonus Section – How to Always get the Lowest Prices for my Courses.

Overall, this course will provide participants with the necessary skills to take their skill level and value in the Automation Industry to a whole new level.