Steve Bailey

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Posts posted by Steve Bailey


  1. If I had to install one immediately, I would go with VFD #2. After twelve years on the shelf, the bus capacitors in VFD #1 may need reforming.

    I would also check the manufacturer's recommendation to see how long the capacitors can go without reforming and go through the process if necessary to make sure you have a viable spare.

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  2. The expanded I/O addressing is mapped to R memory as shown on the third page of the pdf. It was a way to use register (16-bit) memory for discrete instructions since the Series Six instruction set did not permit anything like R123.00 to indicate the least significant bit of word R123. In programs that use the feature, you had to be careful not to use the R addresses corresponding to the expanded I/O addresses for timers or arithmetic operations.

    For your specific example, I1+0000 through I1+1023 are mapped to R193 - R256 with I1+0193 through I1+0208 mapped into R205. Thus, I1+0193 is bit zero of R205, I1+0194 is bit 01, etc.

    When converting to Rx3i, just use discrete memory or boolean symbolic variables. Whenever I've done Series Six conversions I've always referenced the Series Six address in the description of the Rx3i variable, along the lines of "was I1+0201". It helps in proofreading and debugging. You should also check the Series Six program to see if the corresponding R addresses are used anywhere. 

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  3. I guess the question that needs to be asked is why is it necessary that both monitors display the same screen when an operator at either screen could easily navigate to any screen?


  4. I have never set up a system like this myself. The help files seem more geared toward multiple View Runtime targets on computers rather than multiple Quick Panels. However, there does seem to be a distinction made between clients and servers with the implication that one HMI needs to be a server and the other a client. On the client, it appears you need to set up a directory for the data shared over the network. The following is from Proficy version 9.5 help.

    On the Client computer, create a folder where logging, alarming, and networking files will be stored. Share the folder as 'FrameworX'. See your Operating System guide for information on how to share folders.

    Have you set up a directory on one of the Quick Panels and is it shared? 


  5. Try Googling the publication number GFK-0356. 

    Pin 1 - Shield

    Pin 2 - N/C

    Pin 3 - N/C

    Pin 4 - ATCH 

    Pin 5 - 5 VDC+

    Pin 6 - RTS -   Request to Send

    Pin 7 - Signal Ground

    Pin 8 - CTS +  Clear to Send

    Pin 9 - RT  Terminating Resistor for RD

    Pin 10 - RD-  Receive Data 

    Pin 11 - RD+  Receive Data

    Pin 12 - SD- Send Data

    Pin 13 - SD+ Send Data

    Pin 14 - RTS+  Request to Send

    Pin 15 - CTS- Clear to Send


  6. Is the utility compatible with the ETM001 module? I don't know the answer to that question without drilling down into the documentation, so I only offer it as a possibility. Also, what OS are you running Proficy under? There were compatibility issues under Windows 7.

    The typical use for the temporary IP address utility is with CPU modules that have only an ethernet port and no serial connection. In your system you can download the hardware configuration, including the IP address of the ETM001 module through the serial port on the CPU310 module.

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  7. The 90-30 does not support symbolic variables. It only supports address-based variables. You must assign an address to every variable you try to create. For a string your best choice will be %R addresses.


  8. Strings are stored in %R memory. Each %R address is sixteen bits, so there are two characters per %R address. When you look at the %R memory in a reference table you can change the display so that it interprets the bits as ASCII characters rather than as a signed integer.


  9. Here is a copy of what I posted in response to your question on another forum.

    Connect to a working PLC and upload the logic and configuration from it. Then connect to the one with no program and download. Be careful you don't mix up the direction of transfer. Proficy considers 'upload' to be a transfer from the PLC to the computer and 'download' to be a transfer from the computer to the PLC.

     

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  10. What baud rate are you trying to use? Not sure whether or no it applies to the Series Six, but I remember in the 90-30 they recommended no faster than 9600 baud when using both ports of the CMM311 module.

    Also, is the CCM2 module located in the slot in the CPU rack where it doesn't need any logic in the PLC program, or does it require a rung to open the communications window? If the latter, would it require a separate rung of logic for each port?

    All of these questions are coming from my dim recollection of serial communications with a Series Six. It has been years since I had to do it. 


  11. I posted a few questions for the OP at Phil Melore's site. An occasional blink of the LED on the Modbus slave port, suggests that the slave doesn't understand the command being sent by the master. It could be due to a mismatch of port settings. It could also be due to the master sending a command to a slave with a different Modbus ID than what you've set up the CMM002 for. 


  12. I'm afraid I don't fully understand your question.

    You might be asking if there is a way to run the program with all outputs disabled. The answer to that is, yes. You have the option to run the program with outputs enabled or disabled. You can also force individual outputs on or off. Forcing is a two-step process. First, you force the output. That action freezes it in its current state, regardless of what the program may tell it to be. After forcing you can turn it to whichever state you desire. Forcing can only be done to discrete (on/off) outputs. You can't force an analog output to a value different than what the program commands. 


  13. One other possibility: Are you running PAC Machine Edition in a virtual machine? Sometimes the COM port number assigned in the VM does not match the COM port number assigned by the host machine.

    If there are any LEDs on you USB/serial adapter, watch them while you are trying to establish communications. Any occasional blink of one of them indicates an attempt to communicate with no response. No LED activity indicates a mismatch between the port Machine Edition is using and the port used by the converter. 


  14. It is possible that the latest version of the PAC Machine Edition software from Emerson is incapable of communications with the old CPU311. That particular model has been out of production for several years. But I would not put that as the most likely possibility.

    As pturmel notes, the details of your cable connection are important. The port on the power supply is RS485, while the majority of USB/serial converters are USB/RS232. Please tell us what you are using.

    Also, in the navigator panel, right click on the "Target1" and open up the properties window. Scroll down to the "Physical Port" item and make sure the selected COM port number matches the COM port assigned to your USB/serial converter.

    Quote

    Why ( 2 ) IC693CPU311 ?

    That's just a quirk of the software. The first instance of the part number is in the field for the backplane. In your case, you have a model that includes the CPU in the backplane instead of as a separate module.


  15. In case you did not already know. Once the 4-day grace period expires, you can uninstall it and then reinstall to get another four days. No limit on the number of times you can do it while you're waiting for your license activation.

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  16. GE sold their PLC product line to Emerson several years ago. Proficy version 8.6 is a few revisions old. I believe the current version from Emerson is 9.8. They dropped the "Proficy" name. I think they call the software PAC Machine Edition. Many of the distributors who handled the product when it was GE continue to offer it now that Emerson owns it, but I don't know the situation in your area. If the links that BobLfoot provided can't help you, try contacting Emerson.

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  17. I have Quick Designer version 3.4 installed on an old Windows NT laptop. When starting a new project, it only lists "QPJ" and "QPK" for the Quick Panel Jr. series. For the larger units it will list QPI-2xxxxx and QPI-3xxxxx as options. 

    So, not really an answer to your question, only reinforcement of my assessment that you'll need some version of Quick Designer.

    Another thing, if the original programmer of the unit chose to not include the source files when he downloaded the project to the HMI, there is nothing available for you to upload. I don't what message Proficy shows when that is the case, but it is possible that's what you're faced with. Also, are you using the special download cable? The programming port on the Quick Panel is not RS232. The official download cable includes a voltage converter. Again, I'm not sure if the message you got from Proficy is related to cable incompatibility.

    Are you sure the COM port number assigned to whatever PC port you're using matches the port number that Proficy is trying to use?  


  18. You're most likely going to need Quick Designer software. If Proficy 5.6 doesn't go back that far, I doubt any earlier versions will. I have a Quick Panel manual dated 1994 which I got when GE acquired the product line. It only lists QPJ-2xxxx model numbers. My corresponding Quick Designer manual is for version 3.4. I don't think I have Quick Designer installed on any of my functional computers any more, but I will check tomorrow to make sure, or try to install it on an XP virtual machine to see what models it supports.


  19. I'm not aware of an y issues using a variable associated with an input module on a POSCON instruction. Could there be something else in logic continuously making the variable associated with the RESET instruction true? Is the rung showing weird behavior in a program block that isn't being called?

    For debugging purposes, try adding a counter in parallel with the reset coil instruction and see if it increments with each transition of the input point.

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  20. When you do an online edit in GE, VersaPro writes the edited program block to available memory in the PLC. When that is done, it resets a pointer that defines the start of the program. That's how it allows you to send an edited program without having to stop the PLC. As BobLFoot suggests, not all CPUP models support the technique.

    If you don't break up your program into subroutine blocks, and the program uses more than half of the memory, then you have to stop the PLC to download modifications. 


  21. I can't think of any reason why those part numbers would not appear among the selections. They have all been in the catalog since day 1 and they aren't obsolete.

    Are you sure you are working in a 90-30 project? Can you see other 90-30 modules in the list?

    Perhaps try uninstall/reinstall of VP.