HAI RS-485 Data Bus details

[neillt]

OK everyone, time to stretch the envelope a little bit.
 
I need to place an expansion enclosure in an area that I can't pull cable to back to a LuminaPro, but I have reliable ethernet connectivity in both places.  There are companies out there than make RS-485 to Ethernet bridges, that pairs with a twin on the other side and spits out the original RS-485.
 
Since the HAI data bus is just RS-485, is there any reason this won't work?  I do need to figure out the data bus speed and what not... unless HAI is willing to give up the secret :-D
 
I know that it could be potentially unreliable, yadda yadda yadda... but has anyone heard of this working?

 

[gatchel]

My guess is that the latency between the conversion to and from ethernet may give you a problem. I am not an HAI guy by any means. Just a guess. DO you have an extra CAT5/6 cable at the location that is accessible from the main panel? You can run 485 over 2 PAirs to you location (out and back) using UTP.