manav

Yep sounds good. A cleaner solution I am looking at right now is to replace 5/03 with 5/04 and take all 3 devices on DH+ into CLX and use its serial port or prosoft module to act as RTU slave on modbus. I am sceptical of 1771-ACN15 as I have used them and the data gathering has limitations and reliability is not good. Being a burner management process being involved which is extremely safety critical, I would not put the PLC I/O on a network. Any cheaper solution than this though? Remember, even if the modbus link fails, no problem as only data gathering will be affected, so a cost optimal solution can be looked at. Application is only safety critical at the I/O level.

Thanks. What about getting the data from DH+ to modbus serial? I can goto modbus serial thru Flex or Microlgx. I have to offer a Modbus RTU Slave to the DCS. Any converter / messaging solution to get data on Flex or uLgx from DH+. Any other direct slave converter from DH+ to modbus??

Not easy to change from RA products after using them for 5 yrs.

I have a complicated ash vessel control application. Even though the I/Os are not many. About 50-100. All digital. Now this is basically a batch stepping application. And it fits right into SFC programming using Logix series. But due to the small I/O size client is not willing to move to Compact from MicroLgx. My options are limited if I program in RLL. The programming can be done but not in a standardized fashion with more time and space consumption in the processor. Any ideas on this? I have never used Sequencer control instructions and am dimly aware of what they do, can they be used to program steps? Any cost effective solution I can look forward to? Brainstorming would be appreciated here as the project is in its infancy. One approach that comes to mind is to use the JMP instruction and form steps in RLL. Or use a lot of JSRs. Any one had this issue where an application begs for SFC but has to be done in RLL due to cost? Any chances of the other languages being incorporated in lower priced controllers from RA in the future? Any other PLCs that can tackle this cost effectively? Responses here would be extremely appreciated. Thanks in advance.

You seem to have put the whole situation in a concise form. What you have explained in a detailed format is the way to go for programming in RLL. But the problem is that for a small I/O system this approach requires extensive programming. Whereas the same program would be much smaller in size, more intuitive, easier to program, and much easier to monitor and debug, also the "operator confusion" states you mentioned are much easier to take care of using SFC. My dilemma is that for a large I/O system SFC would be available. For a small I/O app (<125) the end user always would want to pay as less as possible, and the programming time using RLL in Micrologix is much more than I would take to program a higher I/O count app in ST,SFC,FBD etc. using Flex etc. Still the suggestions you gave will be helpful. Thanks a ton mate.

FlexLogix will be about 30-40% higher. Basically unless the system goes over 200 digital I/Os flex or compact is really not cost-effective at all. My apps are using max of 100-120 I/Os. So for cost of INR 125k - 150k on Micrologix, user will have to pay about INR 200k for shifting to compact or flex. No one pays that much extra if the development cost is fixed and not negotiable.

The examples are very helpful, but the problem is that the process logic of my application is quite complex. Lot of steps / lot of batches / lot of transitions & conditions. It is like a very large flowchart. I need some methodology / alternative to SFC in compact logix that can replace it without losing programming quality.

Helps somewhat but not completely. Need to convert SFC flowchart into RLL. Any ideas on that?

Thanks. Helped.

Sorry read the product as PV+ not PVe. My mistake.

Any idea why I have this warn 0% message in my profile when others do not have it?

Dont know why the same key has been assigned in the first place. As far as Option 2 goes, should be possible in my view. Try practically and see what comes about. I have worked on only 4-5 projects with PV+, and since ME Studio has very limited functionality, it is a good idea to re-check one's work on the actual terminal itself, spending some extra time at design time, rather than get into any issues later, as it is a pain to edit / multiple edit, and download / multiple download runtime file to PV+. I am sure you would be aware that RSViewMEStudio does have a test mode, so that these type of issues can be debugged in design mode itself. It took me also a few projects to realise this. Now I completely test my app in design mode on my laptop before venturing to the actual PV+.

Seems to be a good VBA programming example. Keep up the good work guys.

Have used 1100 on 4 projects. Very small size applications. What you have listed is accurate. I liked the product overall. Another downside I discovered is that you can not get any HMI tags in RSViewME screens on PV+ or otherwise. So you cannot get historical trends in PV+ or ME Stations. RA claims it will resolve issue with next FW release. Overall a good product , and very good for the price.

Only 25 more posts to go then.... yippeee.... btw praveen you are in chennai, i am in delhi, know any good sites / consultants for jobs in this field? looking to explore options....

The problems have nothing to do with Firewall. I install these packages and they work fine. Basically this problem is with Windows System or Registry corruption. Registry cleaning or system formatting solves these type of problems usually.

Is it 30 or 50? I am upto 25 posts only? How many more till I get the option?

You are right, my sample was just showing an approach, I did not extend it to the address descriptions. I export directly using Excel to RSLogix500 for descriptions. I like what you have done with the macro, just offering my two bits here. I am not getting any custom member title in my profile

It is included. But for CPR6 after product installation, WFCU had to be run. It was recommended for all CPR6 products and essential for products using RAD Server / Client etc. But from CPR7 WFCU does not have to be run according to what RA claims. A user can still run it for custom settings. But the changes to the registry etc. for firewall in WINXP SP2 are done automatically by the installer package. These had to be done manually thru WFCU in CPR6.

The abbreviation is CPR, and it stands for Coordinated Product Release as far as I remember. It is used for making sure that bugs fixes, issues and compatibility is maintained across entire platform of products in one release. Like we were told that CPR7 would eliminate the need for Firewall Configuration Utility for WINXP SP2. So this was done for all the products released in CPR7.

Try GSV instruction, read the help and try to get the appropriate syntax for the Module information. I have tried this on Flex Modules on CNet, should work on Local Modules also. I got the module 1794-ACNR15 module status. Was working on an Flex redundant processor application. I am not sure if the channel information would be available too. Try it out and let me know, as I do a lot of work on Flex I/Os.

This sample file does the same work that Bob's file does, without VBA. PS: Can anyone tell me how to get rid of and change the sparky thing in my profile?? Sample.xls

Good to know there are a lot of people like me who want to avoid donkey work as much as possible. Lots of responses here. Basically how I figure it out is to export first rung of repetitive logic to .slc library file, open it with notepad, paste into excel, do what bob longfoot is doing in vba, by making aprropriate cells, copying into Word, converting table to text, copying to notepad, and importing this file into ladder, this and editing descriptions in excel eliminates donkey work totally. Thanks for all the help though guys, set me on the right track.

Tried and it worked. Thanks.

With RSLogix5k, I use ST when I find repetitive rungs so no problem there with text conversion. I need a text conversion method for RSLogix500 ladder. Thanks anyway. Maybe someone else might have a need to save time spent on repetitive rungs. Still waiting for any suggestions. Will try the way you suggested praveen.