Master Time Source

[MaxPowers76 3]

We have several pieces of equipment in production that utilize Kinnetix 5500 drives with motion.  We are running into issues controlling the Master Clock the drives are looking to for time synchronization.  In many cases piece of equipment, A is looking at equipment B as its master time source. Since we start and end jobs in production at any time of the day, A might get shut down which then crashes B or vice versa, C might get turned on and become the master time sources crashing both A and B.  Are there techniques that can be used to control this?

[Joe E. 259]

We have a system with a Kinetix 6500 drive controlled by a CompactLogix -L33ERM. The local CompactLogix is the system time master. It's networked to a few other Logix 5k machines, but we've never had issues with them fighting each other to be time master. On the Date/Time tab of the controller properties, there's a button labelled "Advanced..." that lets you set the priority of each machine. You might tinker with those settings to make sure that each PLC is its own time master.

Hmmm....

I checked that line again and we actually have time synchronization turned off on the other Logix 5000 processors, so this reply may or may not be good information...

Edited 31 Jul 2019 by Joe E.

[Michael Lloyd 85]

In the Ham radio community there is a need for time synchronization for weak signal communication (FT-8 and JS8Call). The link below will take you to a very popular option for a networked time NTP server. It lives on a network, uses the global GPS satellite system to set the time, and at $425.36 the price is reasonable.

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=272