How can I simultaneously connect a UART device and an I2C device to a Raspberry Pi via a Cat6 cable?

Question

I have been researching related questions to this one for a while but decided I needed to ask this myself, as no one seems to be having quite the same issue and I am not knowledgeable enough yet to extrapolate an answer based on related discussions on this (and other) forums.

I am trying to use my RPi 3B to receive data from a I2C device (BME280 mudule) and a UART device (MH-Z19B). Due to logistical constraints, these two devices must be located in the same spot, approximately 25 ft away from the Pi. I have purchased a 50-foot (15.2 m) cat6 ethernet cable and a pair of surface mount boxes (see links below) for the purpose of connecting the two devices to the Pi.

What I've read so far seems to indicate that both I2C and UART struggle to send data reliably over a distance of more than a few inches, and that if I want to send them over this 50-foot cable, I will need a P82B715 bus extender for I2C and a RS232 (or RS485) for UART.

SO my question is, what is the best way for me to wire both of these devices, as well as the necessary drivers/extenders, through my cat6 cable? I am aware that one must be careful which signals are assigned to twisted pairs, so as to avoid crosstalk.

Equipment I've purchased:

-BME280 module: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0118XCKTG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-MH-Z19B module: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083YXFSDM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Cat6 ethernet cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0134QJH4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Surface mount boxes (x2): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005E2Y9WY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Answer 1

I²C is designed to operate over short distances, typically on the same board.

Attempting to use over long distances is unlikely to succeed.

The application to UART is rather less clear.

The RS232 specification uses ±15V bipolar and is supposed to work over 1000', although this was very conservative. No modern systems actually implement this; ±12V was common in the 1980s, but most modern systems (if you can find one that implements serial) use 0/5V unipolar.

These work over reasonable distances, as does the 0/3.3V unipolar on the Pi (which also differs in polarity from RS232).

The problem with serial is that it requires a common Gnd (this is more critical with unipolar) and is dependent on layout. You could get away with 50-foot (subject to layout) but I would use buffers to drive the signals.

I used to use 20mA current loop (which has its ancestry in telex) and can operate over thousands of km (with 50V drive) and is easily implemented with opto-isolators to avoid Gnd problems.

Probably the easiest and most reliable would be to use Ethernet, which is inherently galvanically isolated and uses balanced common mode signalling.

Answer 2

I used I2C sensors on appx. 3M cable (with ESP8266) in my weather station for few months without any problem, that was normal sensor data cable, no twisted wires etc. With Cat 6 successs should be higher. It is reliable and based on your cable lenght connection speed will be affected, not signal. If possible, try using smaller pullup resistors on SDA and SCL lines, (like 1k) and desolder any voltage regulator if there is any presented on sensor, since there will be voltage drop in the cable itself OR you can use higher voltage input so sensor will recieve enough voltage at the end. If you have cable available, just try and see for yourself.