The control cable is not Ethernet
C-Bus uses its specified pink control cable for network power and signalling. Similarity to Cat5 cable or an RJ45 connector does not make a port Ethernet: never connect a C-Bus socket to a LAN switch or PoE equipment. Mains wiring and the C-Bus network are separate parts of the installation.
The hardware handbook describes permitted daisy-chain and star arrangements and warns against closed-loop wiring. Use the current instructions for the exact units, cable segregation and installation environment. Do not borrow DMX termination rules or add generic RS485 resistors. C-Bus network burdens, clocks and approved power supplies have their own commissioning requirements; their number and settings must be checked for the complete network.
What do the messages address?
An application identifies the type of information, while lighting group addresses associate controls and outputs. An individual unit address is a different concept. For example, a button can request a level for a lighting group that several outputs follow. A reported command/group level does not independently measure whether each lamp illuminated.
A PC interface exposes a supported serial/network integration path. C-Gate is software above that interface, with its own command interface; it is not the electrical bus itself. Prefer a supported gateway/integration rather than connecting a generic serial adapter directly to the network wiring.
Where are the specifications?
Clipsal's official developer library describes serial integration and C-Gate documentation. Treat it as manufacturer-owned integration material, not an unrestricted open hardware standard. Some links and tools are archival; confirm current product support and applicable licence/program terms with Schneider Electric. The legacy serial-protocol download links checked while preparing this guide returned errors, so the working official developer-library entry is linked below rather than a guessed replacement PDF.
Commissioning software, interface firmware and the project database must match the installation. Keep backups, restrict LAN control access and do not expose integration services directly to the internet. The handbook is useful background, not a substitute for current device instructions or licensed electrical work.
Official reading
Official wiring, network clock and burden handbook
Official developer library: protocol/integration entry point