The Gilbarco Two-Wire Protocol is a proprietary communication standard used to connect fuel dispensers to point-of-sale (POS) systems and site controllers. For third-party developers, understanding this protocol is essential for building custom controllers or integrating new forecourt management software with Gilbarco hardware like the Encore 500 and SK700. Technical Foundations of the Two-Wire Protocol
| Feature | Two-Wire Protocol | Modern Gilbarco (Ethernet/D-Box) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Fuel price lookup | Yes (polled) | Instant | | Receipt printing | No | Yes | | Loyalty/card reader | No (simple auth only) | Yes | | Grade status (full/empty) | No | Yes | | Multiple POS per site | Not supported | Yes |
Why go through the trouble of two-wire when you could use IFSF (International Forecourt Standards Forum) or Ethernet? When configuring your third-party controller
: Releasing the pump for a transaction after a user has been verified or a payment pre-authorized. Preset Management
The Gilbarco dispenser two-wire protocol offers several benefits for third-party pump controllers, including: ensuring fast and efficient communication.
The Gilbarco dispenser two-wire protocol is designed to work with a wide range of third-party pump controllers, including:
When configuring your third-party controller, the standard baud rates and frame settings depend on the dispenser series: such as authentication and encryption
The two-wire connection uses a standard RS-485 interface, which provides a reliable and robust communication link between the dispenser and the pump controller. The protocol supports data transmission rates of up to 19200 bps, ensuring fast and efficient communication.