The RS-485 transceiver standard was jointly developed by two trade associations, the Electronic Industries Association (now the Electronics Industries Alliance), and the Telecommunications Industry Association. The RS-485 standard defines the transceiver’s electrical characteristics for use in a balanced digital multipoint system. Data is transmitted differentially over a twisted pair of wires, which helps for better noise immunity. RS-485 can travel long distances up to 4000 feet or 1200 meters. A RS-485 network can accommodate multiple nodes and is based on a +5 V system, but can operate with a common mode voltage from -7 V to +12 V.