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RSLogix 5000 – v20.03: What you need to know before using

By
Shawn Tierney
-
RSLogix 5000 v20.03 Download Notice Featured Image


RSLogix 5000 V20.03 Download Notice

Update! Version 20.04 solves many of the problems introduced with 20.03 – find out more in our article about 20.04 HERE.

Before you plan to install and use version RSLogix 20.03 you really should understand how it’s different, very different, from all previous minor revisions of RSLogix 5000.

In the past, it didn’t matter if everyone in your facility had a different minor revision of RSLogix 5000. For instance, if you had version 19.00 installed, and someone else had 19.01, the two of you could exchange and open each other’s files, as well as upload from, or go online with, any version 19 Logix processor.

However, with version 20.03 this is no longer the case. For instance, if you open a version 20.01 file with 20.03 it will be converted to the v20.03 format and no previous version of 20 will be able to open it. Additionally, if you were to download that 20.03 version of your program to any Logix PAC (with any v20 firmware) no version of RSLogix5000 other than v20.03 would be able to go online or upload from that processor.

Note: You can listen to our companion podcast about RSLogix 5000 v20.03 HERE.

Think about it – if just one person in your facility upgrades to 20.03, and then makes a needed change to a program, no one else will be able to open that file or go online with the system without first upgrading to v20.03. This could be hugely inconvenient if discovered while troubleshooting a down line.

RSLogix 5000 Splash ScreenWhy did Rockwell make this change? From what I’ve read, version 20.03 is a resiliency release which I’ve interpreted as meaning they’ve beefed up the security and robustness of the .ACD file. In an odd way it does make sense that once the file is converted to a more secure format it couldn’t be opened in the older less secure software. And as version 20 is the last version for many older controllers (including the 1756-L6x, L23, L3xE, & L4x) it also seems inevitable that some new v20 minor revs would be released without backward compatibility.

So, what should you do? I suggest reviewing the impact in time and productivity that migrating to version 20.03 will cause. If your production lines are running non-stop and you don’t have time to upgrade all your RSLogix 5000 PC’s, as well as take your Logix PAC’s down in order to download the version 20.03 program files, you may wish to wait until you can comfortably schedule doing so into your production schedule… if you feel a need to migrate at all.

For more detailed information on RSLogix 5000 version 20.03, see the below three links to public knowledgebase documents from Rockwell Automation detailing this release:

I hope the above information on version 20.03 was helpful.  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below using the “post a comment or question” form at the bottom of this page.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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What is the Product Selection Toolbox from Rockwell Automation?

By
Shawn Tierney
-
AB.com Product Selection Toolbox Featured Image 2


AB.com Product Selection ToolboxOn a daily basis clients ask for assistance selecting system components for their control system designs. And of all the tools that I use to assist me with this process, the utilities in the Product Selection Toolbox (PST) get the most use.

What is the Product Selection Toolbox?

It’s a single download of several different utilities from Rockwell Automation, often referred to as RAISE or PST. Of the many utilizes it includes, the three below see the most use in my office:

  • Integrated Architecture Builder

This is by far the tool I use most frequently as it allows me to quickly put together a control system bill of materials. It checks the components selected to insure no limits have been exceeded, and also adds required accessories (like terminal blocks for 1756 I/O modules.)

  • Proposal Works

This package is similar to the product selection tool on http://www.AB.com. It allows easy and quick lookup of products, associated information, and pricing.

  • Motion Analyzer

Used by those who need to size servos for their motion control applications, I’m told it’s indispensable for developing those BOMs.

How do I get a copy of the Product Selection Toolbox?

AB.com Product Selection Toolbox 2You can get a DVD containing the Product Selection Toolbox (PST) from your local Rockwell Automation or Authorized Distributor representative. While most should know exactly what you’re referring to, if by chance they don’t just ask them to order the “PST-SG001J-EN-V” DVD from the Rockwell literature ordering system.

You can also download a copy of PST from http://www.AB.com’s Product Configuration and Selection page, or from this direct link: http://raiseinstall.rockwellautomation.com/pst-lite.html

I hope the above information is helpful, and wish you all a happy and safe weekend!

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Is my Allen-Bradley PLC, HMI, or VFD obsolete?

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Silver Series Featured Image


Article Updated November 2017:

Is my Allen-Bradley PLC, HMI, or VFD obsolete? This is a common question when clients are planning for the future or looking to upgrade a system.

Fortunately Rockwell provides a dedicated webpage for just these queries, and in today’s article we’ll walk you through using it:

Step 1: Start by pointing your browser at Rockwell’s new Product Lifestyle Page (previous page shown below:)

Step 2: The bottom of this page is where we initiate our product status queries. We do so by entering the entire or partial catalog number in the “Catalog Number” field, and then clicking on the “Search” button:

Silver Series Step 4b

Step 3: First, lets look up a series of products by entering the first four digits of a catalog number in the “Catalog Number” field, and then clicking the “Search” button:Silver Series Step 5

Step 4: Below we can see the list returned when search on the catalog number “1747.” With some products a “replacement information” link is shown which leads to information about possible replacement products:

Step 5: You can also enter the exact catalog number into the search field. From the above screen click on “New Search,” enter in “1747-L40A,” then click the “Search” button:

Silver Series Step 7

Step 6: As you can see below, this product is so old it’s not even in the system:

Silver Series Step 8

Step 7: Let’s run another search, but this time on a product that is in the system. Click on the “New Search” button and then type in “1746-HSRV” and click the “Search” button:

Silver Series Step 9

Step 8: When the “Search Results” returns the listing for the 1746-HSRV, it shows the HSRV’s last date of manufacture was in the past, 03/31/2012, and therefore the product is listed as “Discontinued:”

I hope the above article on how to lookup the obsolescence of a Rockwell Allen-Bradley product was helpful.

If you have a comment or question, please feel free to share it with us by clicking on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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1747-PIC – Why it always had trouble working in Microsoft Windows

By
Shawn Tierney
-
1747-PIC vs Windows Featured Image

1747-PICOver the years I’ve heard more than my fair share of complaints about Allen-Bradley’s 1747-PIC’s lack of Microsoft Windows support. In fact, every time I now hear someone complain I can’t help but say,

“It’s a DOS product! From 1990! What other ‘90 products do you have that support Windows (insert latest version) ?”

Ok, not the best way to make friends but sometimes you just have to say it the way it is…

Below is the story I compiled over the years from several sources on why the 1747-PIC always had such a difficult time being supported in Microsoft Windows:

The 1747-PIC was designed in the late 80’s and released with the SLC-500 family in 1990. Now if you’re as old as I am you may recall that in the 80’s memory was expensive, and (as the story goes) to keep the price of the 1747-PIC down it was given a small communications buffer.

1747-PICFor everything to work, the small communication buffer had to be compensated for by having smaller packets transmitted at a high frequency. And to keep everything synchronized, a heart-beat of 9-10ms was used. Since the Operating System the PIC was designed for was Microsoft DOS, a high speed connection to the Computer’s communications (comm) port was available and well suited for this design.

However, when Windows 3.x began to grow in popularity, users of the 1747-PIC found it wouldn’t work in this OS. Windows it turns out was designed to service the communications port at a considerably slower rate, much to slow for what the PIC required.

1747-PIC Two SidesIn an attempt to work around this Windows limit, ICOM (makers of the Windows 3.x Allen-Bradley communications software package, “WinLinx”) took it upon themselves to rewrite Window’s communications port driver, “comm.drv.” They produced a new ICOM Windows comm driver named “icomcomm.drv.” When this was used in place of the Windows default, WinLinx was able to use the 1747-PIC in Windows 3.x.

When Windows 3.x was replaced by Windows 95, to get the PIC to work again the Win95 comm. port driver had to be re-written. ICOM, since merged into Rockwell Software, rewrote the Windows 95 comm.drv, however it took many months and was not available until many complaints had flowed in.

USB Cable for DH-485 - 1747-UICWindows 95 brought in the era of a “DOS-less” Windows, as well as two new issues for the PIC. First, programs like power management software would occasionally poll the comm. ports to determine if they were being used. This would interrupt the PIC’s high speed handshake resulting in random disconnects. Second, programs like Window’s Serial Mouse driver and the Palm Pilot PDA driver would “boot up” with Windows and remain in the “System Tray,” essentially locking the comm. port for their own exclusive use.

The with the release of Windows NT, a new issue developed around it’s “HAL.” Previous Windows and DOS programs that controlled hardware directly didn’t work in NT. They had to be rewritten to interface with Windows NT’s Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) instead. And since the “HAL” loaded on boot, even when Rockwell finally re-wrote the NT comm port driver, the only time the RSLinx PIC driver could be switched in (or back out) was when the machine booted. Then Windows 2000 was released with an updated HAL that again required the comm driver be rewritten for the PIC.

1747-UIC BlackFinally when XP rolled around we caught a break. As it was extensible just an update from Windows 2000, many were able to get the existing RSLinx and it’s PIC driver to work out of the box. However, it wasn’t without issues as to stop the 1747-PIC from locking on to your comm. port you needed to open up Device Manager to delete it when you needed your comm. port for something else (until the updated XP version of RSLinx was released.)

In the end, the 1747-PIC was a device designed for DOS. While Rockwell did eventually support all later Microsoft Operating systems, the time it took to re-write Microsoft’s comm.drv each new Windows release left most Rockwell customers frustrated and disappointed. Fortunately in 2003 those who still needed to connect to DH-485 devices and were interested in getting off the “comm.drv-merry-go-round” finally had their opportunity with Rockwell’s new 1747-UIC. This “USB to DH-485” was warmly welcomed by all customers who exclusively used 19.2K baud. Because of this “baud rate” restriction I now recommend the below third party device (black 1747-UIC pictured on right) which many of my clients have told me works well and supports all DH-485 baud rates.

Update: While third party 1747-UIC’s represent a great price savings versus the Rockwell version, and in my own tests they work extremely well, further investigation has not been able to confirm support of multiple baud rates. In the mean time, Rockwell has released a firmware utility for it’s 1747-UIC which allows switching between 9,600 and 19.2, but does require running the utility every time you wish to change the baud rate.

I hope the above “tale of the PIC” was interesting. If you have anything thoughts or comments to add please feel free to leave them by filling out the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Which Allen-Bradley MicroLogix PLC models support Modbus

By
Shawn Tierney
-
MicroLogix Family Featured Image


It’s a common question that clients ask, “Which MicroLogix’s support Modbus?” In this article I’ll detail the answer.

MIcroLogix 1000 Crossed OutMicroLogix 1000

Today’s MicroLogix 1000 still has just one Mini-Din RS-232 “Channel 0” communication port limited to DF1 and DH-485. So for applications requiring Modbus you’ll need to look elsewhere, as the MicroLogix 1000 does not support Modbus.

MicroLogix 1200

MIcroLogix 1200 FrontSeries C versions of the MicroLogix 1200’s Mini-Din RS-232 “Channel 0” communications port supports DF1, DH-485, ASCII, MODBUS RTU SLAVE and MODBUS RTU MASTER. However, the series A and B models only support MODBUS RTU SLAVE.

Since “Channel 0” is limited to RS-232, to put the ML1200 on RS-485 I recommend the 1761-NET-AIC which is an isolated RS-232 to RS-485 interface converter. You’ll also want the 1761-CBL-HM02 cable to connect and power the AIC.

MicroLogix 1500

MicroLogix 1500Series C versions of the MicroLogix 1500’s Mini-Din RS-232 “Channel 0” communications port supports DF1, DH-485, ASCII , and MODBUS RTU SLAVE and MODBUS RTU MASTER. The LRP models also support DF1, DH-485, ASCII , MODBUS RTU SLAVE and MODBUS RTU MASTER on its DB9 RS-232 communications port labeled “Channel 1.” While series A versions of the LSP model has no MODBUS support, series B versions of the LSP and LRP do support MODBUS RTU SLAVE.

1761-NET-AIC Front ViewSince “Channel 0” (and “Channel 1” on LRP models) is limited to RS-232, to put the ML1500 on RS-485 I recommend the 1761-NET-AIC. For “Channel 0″’s Mini-Din connection you’ll also want the 1761-CBL-HM02 cable to connect and power the AIC. For “Channel 1″’s DB9 connection you’ll need either a 1761-CBL-AC00 (17.7”) or 1747-CP3 (9.8′) (you’ll also need to provide 24vdc power to the AIC.)

MicroLogix 1100

MIcroLogix 1100All series of the MicroLogix 1100’s Mini-Din RS-232 “Channel 0” communications port support DF1, DH-485, ASCII, MODBUS RTU SLAVE and MODBUS RTU MASTER.

On the ML1100, Rockwell re-designed “Channel 0” removing the Mini-Din pins that previously provided 24vdc to accessories (like the AIC) and replaced them with RS-485 connections. So, to put the ML1100 on RS-485 you can use the Mini-Din to Terminal Block cable, the 1763-NC01.

MicroLogix 1400

MicroLogix 1400All series of the MicroLogix 1400’s Mini-Din RS-232 “Channel 0” and DB9 “Channel 2” communications port support DF1, DH-485, ASCII, MODBUS RTU SLAVE and MODBUS RTU MASTER.

Like the ML1100, the ML1400’s “Channel 0” port has RS-485 connections in place of the 24vdc power pins, so to put the ML1400’s “Channel 0” on RS-485 you would use the Mini-Din to Terminal Block cable, the 1763-NC01.

To connect the ML1400 DB9 RS-232 “Channel 2″ communications port to RS-485 I recommend the 1761-NET-AIC with a 1761-CBL-AC00 (17.7”) or 1747-CP3 (9.8′) (and don’t forget you’ll also need to provide 24vdc power to the AIC.)

1763-NC01
1763-NC01

Unique to the series B versions of the MicroLogix 1400 is the added support for MODBUS TCP on the “Channel 1” Ethernet port. The port is the standard RJ-45 style and supports 10 MBPS Half Duplex through 100 MBPS Full Duplex.

I hope the above information on which models of MicroLogix support Modbus was helpful. Later in the week I’ll cover which CompactLogix and ControlLogix models support Modbus. Until then, if you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them by filling out the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Coming soon…

By
Shawn Tierney
-

Coming soon from Insights In Automation:

The Automation Podcast: Information about using automation.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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We’ve Moved!

By
Shawn Tierney
-
The Automation Blog has moved

TAB-has-movedThis weekend our “The Automation Blog” website moved here to it’s very own domain, http://www.TheAutomationBlog.com.
This move was done to correspond with two upcoming sister sites, “The Automation Podcast” and “The Automation Minute.”
While all new blog posts will now be posted here, past posts will also be available on our parent site, http://www.InsightsInAutomation.com, for the foreseeable future.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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The original “Turbo Encabulator”

By
Shawn Tierney
-


It’s mid-week and we’re taking a walk on the lighter side with a look at what appears to be the “original” Turbo Encabulator (turboencabulator,) a not-so-serious promotional video.

This version has nothing to do with Rockwell or Allen-Bradley, but does have some interesting YouTube comments about the featured actor.


While interesting for it’s originallity, my favorite version is still the newer Retro Encabulator we posted here two weeks ago. What do you think? Share your thoughts with our readers by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Estimating your Allen-Bradley (A-B) Logix controller’s Ethernet/IP bandwidth using Rockwell’s free Ethernet/IP capacity tool

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool Featured Image


When designing or upgrading a system which relies on a network, bandwidth is always a concern.

But for Rockwell’s CompactLogix and ControlLogix on an Ethernet/IP network there is a free, easy to use utility to help you size your system.

Rockwell’s Ethernet/IP Capacity Tool:

UPDATE 05/16/2023: The old Ethernet/IP tool is no longer available, and has been replaced with the new tool inside of IAB which I cover in another article here.

UPDATE 06/01/2018: Looks like anther page on Rockwell’s website is dead, and it looks like they are promoting the new tool in IAB here.

Rockwell’s Ethernet/IP Capacity Tool, which can be freely downloaded here or here, allows the user to select a platform, add different types of I/O and network devices, and then calculates how many CIP and TCP connections are consumed along with the packets per second (PPS) needed to service the network.

Below I’ll walk you step by step through using this tool to calculate the connections and PPS requirements of a sample system:

Step 1: Using this link, download and install the Ethernet/IP Capacity Tool. Once installed, launch it from the Windows Start Menu as shown below:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 1Step 2: When the tool opens, you’ll see nine drop-down lists and boxes (as seen below:)

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 2Step 3: To start sizing our sample system we’ll need to choose a Programmable Controller from the top center dropdown. In this example we’ll choose a CompactLogix L24ER:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 3Step 4: Now in the top left drop-down (above the “Node Group 1” box) we’ll select “Point I/O Rack” as shown below:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 4Step 5: Change the “No. Racks” for the Point I/O to 4:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 5Step 6: Next. check the “Analog / Specialty Modules” box and change the first “No. of Analog Modules” to 2 as shown:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 6Step 7: With the four Point I/O racks added, press the “Compute” button found half way down on the left side of the program. This returns the number of connections and  PPS used, as well as how many are remaining. Since we are still within our limits all the results are green:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 7Step 8: Let’s add some VFD’s to our system. Select the dropdown above “Node Group 2” and choose “PowerFlex 525 Drive” from the list:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 8Step 9: Now, look under the picture of the drive you have just added – you have a field to enter the number of drives (on the left) and the update rate (on the right.) In the left hand box under the drive’s picture change the number of drives to 4 as shown. Note: Sometimes the text doesn’t display in the correct location, as is the case below. Hey, it’s free right?

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 9Step 10: Press the “Compute” button. The software reports back that we have exceeded the limit of 8 Ethernet/IP I/O drops for the L24. However, we only have 8?

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 10Step 11: To resolve the above issue, uncheck the “Switch IGMP Snooping with Querier.” Read the popup and then press “OK:”

Note: This does not mean you can’t have an IGMP switch in this system, it only means that if the switch was added to the RSLogix5000 I/O Tree it would consume one of the L24’s eight Ethernet I/O racks. In our example, we won’t be adding the switch to the I/O Tree (in order to allow our L24 to have 4 racks of Point I/O and 4 PF525 drives.)

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 11Step 12: Press the “Compute” button again and you should now see yellow which indicates we have reached (but not exceeded) one of the system limits:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 12Step 13: Next we’ll add some HMI’s. In the “Node Group 3” section,n select the PanelView Plus from the dropdown, read the popup and press “OK:”

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 13Step 14: Change the number of HMI’s to 10 and press “Compute”

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 14Step 15: As you can see below, event though our L24 has no more room for Ethernet/IP I/O, it still has plenty of bandwidth for HMI’s. In fact, this is a key feature of the entire line of 5370 CompactLogix controllers.

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 15Step 16: To see how the older line of CompactLogix controllers were much more limited when it came to the number of HMI’s that could be connected, lets change the L24 to an L35E (as shown below:)

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 16Step 17: Now press “Compute.” You’ll see red as we have greatly exceeded the connection limit of this older model:

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 17Step 18:To find a working number of HMI’s for this system, reduce the number of PanelView Plus units down until you can press “Compute” and not have a red result for CIP connections. In my test below I maxed out at three PVPlus units.

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 18Step 19: Now that our design is complete we can save our work as either a native file, as a picture, or in Excel format.

Using the EthernetIP Capacity Tool 19I hope the above step by step walk-through of using the Ethernet/IP Capacity Tool is helpful. If you have any comments or questions on this tool please feel free to leave using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Getting Allen-Bradley (A-B) Programmable Controller data into Excel using RSLinx Classic

By
Shawn Tierney
-
RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel Featured Image


RSLinx SplashIf you would like to display data from your Allen-Bradley PLC or PAC in Microsoft Excel, and have a licensed copy RSLinx Classic (aka RSLinx,) it can be accomplished using a few simple steps we’ll cover in this article.

But first, lets identify which copies of RSLinx (aka RSLinx Classic) are licensed by reviewing all the versions below:

  • RSLinx Lite (free download, will not work:) This is the free unlicensed version of RSLinx which comes packaged with RSLogix and PanelBuilder. It is used as a software driver to connect your PC to your Allen-Bradley devices. NOTE: This version is not an OPC or DDE server and can not be used to connect to Microsoft Excel.
  • RSLinx Single Node ($541:) This version is a local OPC and DDE server for one “device” (one PLC or PAC,) and also has all the features of the Lite package
  • RSLinx OEM ($1090:) This version is a local OPC and DDE server for unlimited “devices” (PLC, PAC,) and also has all the features of the Lite package
  • RSLinx Professional ($n/a:) This version was a local OPC and DDE server like OEM, but also included the RSLadder 5 and 500 ActiveX’s. This package is no longer available.
  • RSLinx Gateway ($2,290:) This version is a Local and Network OPC and DDE server, but also includes the ability to use a PC as a network bridge. In the past it was common to have a single PC on both Ethernet (office network) and DH+ (PLC network) and use RSLinx Gateway as a bridge between the two.
  • RSLinx SDK ($n/a:) This version of RSLinx was for the development community and included documentation and examples of connecting to RSLinx from development environments like Microsoft’s VisualStudio. It also included a license for RSLinx OEM so users could test the code they wrote.

With the above in mind, you’ll need a version of RSLinx (Classic) other than the free “Lite” version for the following steps to work:

Getting A-B PLC data into Excel using RSLinx

Step 1: Connect your PC to your PLC and setup RSLinx to communicate to it. In the below picture you can see my setup where I’ve connected my laptop to an Ethernet network which also has a MicroLogix 1100 on it.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 1

Step 2: In the right pane of the RSWho window right click on your PLC and select “Configure New DDE/OPC Topic.”

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 2

Step 3: In the DDE/OPC Topic Configuration popup window find your topic on the left side highlighted in blue.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 3

Step 4: Type in a new unique name for your new topic. Here I’ve typed in “MyTopic” as the name of my new topic.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 4

Step 5: Now click on the “Data Collection” tab. Note – If you’re asked if you would like to update your topic, select “Yes.”

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 5

Step 6: Change the “Polled Message (mSec)” rate to the rate you would like data from the PLC to update at. Here I’ve chosen 100 milliseconds.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 6

Step 7: Press “Apply,” and then select “Yes” on the confirmation popup.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 7

Step 8: Click “Done” to close the DDE/OPC Topic Configuration popup window.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 8

Step 9: Still inside of RSLinx, select “Edit” from the top menu and then select “Copy DDE/OPC Link…”

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 9

Step 10: Browse to a PLC address or tag by expanding your new topic, then the online folder, then select a tag or element and press OK. In the below picture I’ve selected T4:0.ACC.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 10

Step 11: Open a new workbook in Microsoft Excel. Right click on a cell and select “Paste Special.”

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 11

Step 12: From the “Paste Special” menu choose “Paste Link”

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel

At this point in the process you should see live data from your PLC (or PAC) in your Excel workbook.

RSLinx Classic Topic for Excel 13

If you would like to explore additional ways to connect RSLinx and Excel, including button macros to upload and download multiple cells at once, search RSLinx’s help system for “EXCEL.”

I hope the above information on getting data from your A-B Programmable Controller into Microsoft Excel was helpful. If you have any comments or questions on the above please feel free to leave them by filling out the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley (A-B) Online Product Catalog with pricing

By
Shawn Tierney
-
AB.com Product Catalog homepage search result featured image


It’s Friday and in this TGIF edition of “The Automation Blog” we’re going to share a simple tip on how to find budgetary prices and AutoCAD drawing for Rockwell Allen-Bradley products.

The Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley (A-B) Online Product Catalog is a simple website dedicated to providing an easy way to lookup prices on A-B products, as well as linking to product DWG and DXF drawings.

1) To get there, you start at http://www.ab.com

AB.com Homepage

2) Then on the left hand side, under quick links,  you select “Product Configuration and Selection”

Update: Rockwell changed their website removing the below link. Now to get to the screen shown in step (3) you need to select “Product Resources” from the “Quick Links” menu, and then select “Product Selection Tools” from the menu on the left.

AB.com Homepage Quicklinks Product Selection

3) On the next page you click on the “Launch” link in the “Product Selection and Configuration Directory” section:

Update: Rockwell moved the “Product Selection and Configuration Directory” to the bottom of this page.

AB.com Product Selection Homepage

4) This will bring you to the “Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley (A-B) Online Product Catalog.”

AB.com Product Catalog homepage

5) There are a couple different ways to navigate this page, but I’ll typically type in a part number and press “search”AB.com Product Catalog homepage search

6) When you bring up a part number (or your search results in an exact match) you’ll see the price of the product under US Price (US$.) Under “Supplementary Documents” you’ll see links for quick access to product drawings and other information available for that product.

AB.com Product Catalog homepage search result

I hope this tip on how to quickly get Rockwell Allen-Bradley prices and product drawings is helpful. If you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to leave them by filling in the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Moving (aka rehosting) a Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Activation

By
Shawn Tierney
-
FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Featured Image


Clients often call me very concerned about the hoops they’ll have to jump through to move a Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Activation from one PC to another.

Truth of the matter is, if you have internet access it’s a very easy task, and I’ll run through the steps below:

On the PC you would like to remove the activation from:

Step 1: Connect your PC (with the activation file you would like to move, aka rehost, to another PC) to the internet

Note: While there are many ways to re-host an activation, doing so via the internet is the easiest. However, if your PC doesn’t have internet access I recommend calling Rockwell at 440-646-3434 for free activation telephone support.

Step 2: Open the FactoryTalk Activation Manager

FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Step 1

Step 3: Click on “Manage Activations”

FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Step 2

Step 4: Click on “Rehost Activations”

FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Step 3

Step 5: Select, “I have internet access from this Computer,” and then click on the “Select Activations” button on the bottom right of the program.

FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Step 4

Step 6: Select the activation you would like to rehost and click on the “Complete Rehosting” button on the bottom right of the program.

FactoryTalk Activation Moving aka Rehosting Step 5

Once the rehosting has completed you’ll receive a confirmation message. At that point the activation will again be available on Rockwell’s servers, and you’re ready to “Get Activations” in the FactoryTalk Activation Manager on the PC you wanted to move the activation to.

However, if you get a negative response after pressing the “Complete Rehosting” button, something has obviously gone wrong and I suggest getting free activation telephone support from Rockwell at 440-646-3434.

Additional Resource: If you would like to watch a Rockwell video of the rehosting procedure, click here.

I hope you’ve found this article on moving / rehosting your FactoryTalk activation helpful. If you have any questions or comments you can leave them by filling in the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Rockwell’s “Turbo Encabulator”

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Turbo Encabulator


It’s mid-week and we’re taking a walk on the lighter side with a look at an old Rockwell International not-so-serious promotional video, the Turbo Encabulator (turboencabulator)

This version features two take’s, and also includes the old Rockwell logo that was so well known in days past.

 

While interesting, I’m not sure these stand up to the newer Retro Encabulator we posted here last week. What do you think? Share your thoughts by using the “post a comment or question” link below,

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Automation Fair 101

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Automation Fair-2011 Featured Image

Automation-Fair-2011-01Rockwell’s Automation Fair: What is it, when and where is it, and what should I expect?

What is Automation Fair?

Rockwell describes it’s Automation Fair as follows:

“The premier automation industry event. Attend industry forums, hands-on labs, tech sessions & demonstrations to expand your knowledge & use the latest control, power & information technologies”

Automation-Fair-2011-02In my words, Rockwell’s Automation Fair is a large, free, Rockwell sponsored trade show coupled with a hundred hands-on sessions and presentations. The show typically draws in over 10,000 attendees, most of which are electrical or controls engineers.

Yes, I said the show is completely free. Registration is required before you can enter the show, but on-site registration is available. Security is also present to insure no unregistered guests enter the show or educational sessions.

Lunch is included free both days as well. It’s setup in a large curtained off section of show floor with dozens of buffet stations and hundreds of dining tables. While you might think it would be challenging to feed 10,000 attendees, every year I’ve attended lunch has always gone smoothly.

Automation-Fair-2011-03When and where is Automation Fair held?

Automation Fair is held in November and spaced appropriately from the Thanksgiving holiday.

Each year it moves to a new region of the country, flowing roughly from East to West. Below I’ve listed the last ten cities it’s been held in:

  • 2004 Orlando, FL (#13)
  • 2005 St. Louis, MI (#14)
  • 2006 Baltimore, MD (#15)
  • 2007 Chicago, IL (#16)
  • 2008 Nashville, TN (#17)
  • 2009 Anaheim, CA (#18)
  • 2010 Orlando, FL (#19)
  • 2011 Chicago, IL (#20)
  • 2012 Philadelphia, PA (#21)
  • 2013 Huston, TX* (#22)
  • 2014 Anaheim, CA (#23)
  • 2015 Chicago, IL (#24)
  • 2016 Atlanta, GA (#25)
  • 2017 Huston, TX (#26)
  • 2018 Philadelphia, PA (#27)
  • 2019 Chicago IL (#28)

*This year Rockwell is holding it’s 22nd Automation Fair on November 13th and 14th in Houston, Texas. For more details on this years event, click here.

If you would like to travel with peers from your area, check in with your local Rockwell Authorized Distributor as they typically offer very reasonable priced “all expenses included” travel packages to the show.

The trade show part of Automation Fair is substantial, including booths from all the major Rockwell product lines as well as dozens of third party vendors like Spectrum Controls and Prosoft Technology.

If you stopped by every vendor to learn about their product or service it would likely take you the entire two days to make the rounds, and even then you may not get to every booth.

Note: For a complete list of this year’s Automation Fair trade show exhibitors, click here.

The training at Automation Fair is also substantial. This year it consists of 19 hands-on labs, 83 technical sessions, and several industry forums.

I highly recommend making the training the focus of your trip as there is no other venue where you can get such diverse hands-on experience with Rockwell Allen-Bradley products.

Since the Fair typically brings in over 10,000 attendees, it’s crucially important for those who want a seat in hands-on or technical sessions pre-register for those seats online.

As registration for the 2013 sessions is now open, if you plan on attending this year you should register for your sessions ASAP.

If you do, a few weeks prior to the show you’ll need to confirm you still plan on attending the sessions you’ve selected. This confirmation must be done in order to keep your spot in the sessions you’ve chosen.

If you don’t pre-register for any sessions, you may get to Texas and find no open seats in any hands-on classes, although many of the technical sessions are held in large meeting spaces with room for last minute walk-ins.

  • For a listing of this year’s Automation Fair hands-on labs click here.
  • To register for this year’s Automation Fair, click here.

Final thoughts

Rockwell’s Automation Fair is a definitely a worthwhile event for clients who use Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley products.

While walking the trade show floor is appealing, I highly recommend putting the hands-on sessions and other presentations first on your list, and then filling in the time between your classes with targeted visits to the trade show booths of the products most applicable to your current needs.

I hope this Automation Fair 101 was helpful. If you have any questions or comments your can leave them here by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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CompactLogix – 5370 L1: Are the 1769-L1xER inputs high speed? (Q&A)

By
Shawn Tierney
-
1769-L1 Featured Image


1769-L1xERLast week a colleague asked me if the inputs on the Allen-Bradley (A-B) 1769-L1xER were high speed inputs, like found on some MicroLogix.

I honestly had no idea, but I was on my way back to my home office so I told him I would look it up and get back to him.

What I found in my research was, when compared to typical the DC input modules like the 1769-IQ16, the 1769-L1’s built-in I/O was indeed faster. To illustrate this comparison I have pasted the specs of both below:

1769-IQ16 Input Speed Specs:

1769-IQ16 Input Speed Specs from 1769-IN0071769-L1xER Embedded Input Speed Specs:

1769 L1 Embedded Input Speed Specs from 1769-TD005As you can see above, while the 1769-IQ16 has an on / off delay time of 8ms (what I would consider typical,) the 1769-L1 embedded I/O has a much faster 0.5ms on / off delay time – the same as 1734 point I/O modules like the 1734-IB4.

However, this isn’t the whole story. While I/O delay time is important, with the CompactLogix and ControlLogix we must also consider if the I/O supports event based tasks, as well as the maximum supported RPI setting.

Dropping the 1769-L1 into RSLogix5000 v20 it quickly became apparent the embedded I/O can not trigger an event based task, as seen in the below screen shot:

1769-L1 Event TaskThe final consideration was to find the fastest RPI supported by the L1’s embedded I/O. While RSLogix5000 v20 does support a setting of 1ms RPI for the embedded I/O, the below excerpt from the L1 Tech Data sheet reveals that the true limitation is based on the number of modules (including embedded) in a system:

1769-L1 RPI Limits from 1769-TD005In summary, the 1769-L1 family of CompactLogix processor’s embedded I/O contains the same .5ms on / off delay times as many 1734 Point I/O modules of the same type. And while this is considerably faster than standard I/O modules, like the 1769-IQ16 with it’s 8ms on / off delay, the speed advantage is quickly lost as you add more I/O modules to the 1769-L1 base system (with a full 8 module system limited to a maximum RPI of 8ms.)

Note: For more details on the 1769-L1 see the Allen-Bradley 1769-TD005 Technical Data Sheet here.

I hope this review of the speed of the embedded DC inputs on the 1769-L1 has been helpful. If you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to leave them by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Using Batch Files to change your PC’s IP address

By
Shawn Tierney
-
IP BAT Files Featured Image


IP BAT Files Featured ImageIt’s Friday and in this TGIF edition of “The Automation Blog” I want to share a little trick I learned from Darrell Clark while visiting his site last week.

Most of us in the industrial automation world connect to our company (or home) network using DHCP. But we also need to connect to our automation device networks via static IP address, resulting in many trips to the control panel to change our IP address settings.

But when you have multiple systems it becomes challenging to remember what IP address settings you need for each system.

To address this Darrell created several batch files that, when “double clicked,” change his Windows XP system’s IP address settings to match the system he needs to connect to. This not only saves him the time required to manually change these settings in the control panel, it also helps his colleagues (who connect less often) quickly chose the right IP address settings for the many systems they need to connect to.

Below I’ll paste in the contents of two of Darrell’s batch files which he was kind enough to share with our readers. The first is used for connecting in his office network via DHCP, and the second is used to connect to one of his automation systems (I’ve edited the text of the second file to remove the actual system’s IP address settings.)

Setup DHCP in WindowsXPOffice Network (DHCP) Batch File contents:

Text File name:

Office LAN Network Settings.bat

Text File Contents:

@ECHO OFF

ECHO This file is brought to you by DARRELL CLARK!

ECHO Resetting IP Address and Subnet Mask For DHCP netsh int ip set address name = “Local Area Connection” source = dhcp

ECHO Here are the new settings for %computername%: netsh int ip show config

pause

Windows XP Static IPAutomation System Batch File contents:

Text File name:

Automation System 1 Network Settings.bat

Text File Contents:

@ECHO OFF

ECHO This file is brought to you by DARRELL CLARK!

ECHO Resetting IP Address and Subnet Mask For ********* automation system

netsh interface ip set address name=”Local Area Connection” source=static addr=192.168.100.2 mask=255.255.255.0

ECHO Here are the new settings for %computername%: netsh int ip show config

pause

To use the above text in a batch file on Windows XP, simply copy the text and paste it into Notepad. Then change the settings to match your requirements and save the file with a name which represents your system and ends with the .BAT file extension.

I hope Darrell’s batch files can be of some help for you. Admittedly, they are written for a Windows XP system so if you’ve created similar batch files for Windows 7 we’ve love to hear from you! You can leave your comments to this article by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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How to backup your RSLinx Classic configuration

By
Shawn Tierney
-
RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility Featured Image


Over the years many people have related a story to me which goes something like, “I spent hours getting RSLinx setup just right, and then someone on another shift messed up my settings.” Or, “I haven’t had to connect to that machine in months, but every time I do it seems to take hours to figure out how to setup RSLinx to communicate to it.”

Whenever I hear stories like these, I immediately open up the “RSLinx Backup and Restore” utility and show the client how to use it. This little known but easy to use utility can save literal hours (and many recurring headaches) by allowing the users to backup known working RSLinx configuration(s.)

Backup your RSLinx Classic configuration

First, click your Windows “Start” button, and navigate to “All Programs – Rockwell Software – RSLinx”

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility in Windows Start Menu

Next, click on “RSLinx Classic Backup and Restore Utility”

When the utility launches, click on “Backup”

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility

This will prompt you for a location and file name to backup (aka save) your current RSLinx configuration to. Once you’re done selecting a destination and typing a file name, click on “Save.”

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility Save

After a moment you’ll receive a pop-up stating “the operation completed successfully” which confirms your RSLinx configuration has been saved.

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility Operation Complete

It should be noted that you can save as many different RSLinx configuration files as you like, helpful when you only have one serial port but two different configurations for two different PLC’s. When saving multiple configurations you may wish to consider naming the configuration files after the machine or line the configuration works on to make it obvious to the user which configuration needs to be restored.

Restoring your RSLinx Classic configuration

Saving your configurations wouldn’t be as helpful if you didn’t have a way to restore them. With that in mind lets walk through the steps to restore an RSLinx Configuration.

First, if the “RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility” is not still open, open it by clicking on your Windows “Start” button. Navigate to “All Programs – Rockwell Software – RSLinx” and click on “RSLinx Classic Backup and Restore Utility” to launch the utility.

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility in Windows Start Menu

When the utility opens, click on “Restore”

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility

This prompts you for the file and location of your RSLinx configuration backup file.

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility Restore

Select the RSLinx configuration you would like to restore, and click “Open”

NOTE: Some versions of this utility required RSLinx Classic to be shut down prior to performing a restore.

After a moment you’ll receive a pop-up stating “the operation completed successfully” which confirms your RSLinx configuration has been restored.

RSLinx Backup and Restore Utility Operation Complete

Well I hope this article about saving and restoring your RSLinx Classic configuration(s) has been helpful. If you’ve used this utility and would like to comment on it, or if you have a question about it, please click on the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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Retro Encabulator (retroencabulator)

By
Shawn Tierney
-
Rockwell Automation's Retro Encabulator


It’s mid-week and we’re taking a walk on the lighter side with a not-so-serious promotional video for Rockwell Automation’s Retro Encabulator (retroencabulator)

I came across this video back in the nineties and became an instant fan. Since then I’ve used it as an “ice breaker” to open many of my classes and seminar’s.

Over the years it has become a beloved classic amongst those in the industrial automation world, and is now even being shown to new engineering students at the college my brother is attending.

So without further adieu, here’s the “Rockwell Automation’s Retro Encabulator” promotional video:

The first time I watched this video I was struck by how much the “pitch man” looks like the “professor” from Gilligan’s Island… although I’ve never heard anyone else make this comparison.

I’ll post both their pictures side by side at the bottom of this article and I’ld love to hear your thoughts on that, and on how you first came to see the “Retro Encabulator” (even if today was the first time.) Just click on the “post a comment or question” link below to share your thoughts:

Gilligan's Island ProfessorRetro Encabulator Pitchman

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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PanelView Plus 6 Compact requires ME Transfer Utility version 7.0

By
Shawn Tierney
-


PanelView Plus 6 600 Compact RearA client recently called me about issues he was having downloading to his new PanelView Plus 6 Compact.

He was using FactoryTalk ViewStudio version 6.1 which was the same version as the firmware on the unit. But, when he browsed for the panel in RSLinx Enterprise, at best he received a yellow question mark and the ME Transfer Utility wouldn’t perform the download.

He also tried moving the .MER runtime file using a USB Flash Drive (as we’ve previously discussed here) but also found the .MER file wouldn’t run when compiled for v6.1, and he resorted to compiling it as version 5.1 to get it to work.

PanelView Plus 6 600 ME VersionI was quite perplexed by his struggles, and visited the site myself to see what was going on. Indeed, even using my own laptop I couldn’t get version 6.1 of the ME Transfer Utility to recognized his PVPlus 6 Compact. Only when I fired up my VMware image with version 7.0 of the ME Transfer Utility (installed by default with ViewStudio version 7.0) was I able to transfer the file.

When I contacted the factory, they confirmed this was a known problem. Apparently, the PVPlus 6 Compact hardware came out long after version 6.1 of the software was replaced by version 7.0. This makes me wonder why the hardware wasn’t released as version 7.0? In any case, the only work around is in fact to use the ME Transfer Utility version 7.0.

The factory also stated that clients who didn’t want to upgrade their ViewStudio to v7.0 should be able to install just version 7.0 of the ME Transfer Utility from the ViewStudio v7.0 installation files. To do so requires searching through all the ViewStudio installation files for the Transfer Utility installer, and running it.

Because this also requires the installation of the updated FTSP and RSLinx Enterprise, I’m not sure I would recommend this path before actually testing it myself. I’m concerned that doing this might break ViewStudio version 6.1, and just haven’t had the opportunity to test it.

PanelView Plus 6 600 Compact Rear LabelI did put in a request with Rockwell to have the v7.0 ME Transfer Utility posted to their free downloads page, and was told it would be added soon.

UPDATE: Kudos to Rockwell – it’s been just a few days and the updated version 7.0 of the ME Transfer Utility is already available to download.

See this post for step by step instructions on how to download it, but (again) be forewarned that I have not personally tested this update with any version of ViewStudio other than v7.0, so I highly recommend if you’re going to install this update alongside an older version of ViewStudio that you use VMware and take a snapshot prior to installing it.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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View Studio – Migrating a PanelView 550 to a PanelView Plus

By
Shawn Tierney
-


PanelView 550 TouchRecently, a client called asking if it would be possible to replace a PanelView 550 with a new PanelView Plus. The answer is yes, but the ease of doing so will depend greatly on the model.

Note: In this article we’ll focus on the physical replacement, leaving the software migration to a future article.

Cutout compatibility

PanelView 550 KeypadThe first question that comes to my mind when replacing a legacy HMI is cutout compatibility. To address this we first, need to know what display types and sizes the PanelView 550 came in, and I’ll list those below:

  • Touchscreen: 125mm (h) x 158mm (w) x 64mm (d)
  • Keypad, or Keypad and Touchscreen: 144mm (h) x 243mm (w) x 86mm (d) , plus mounting holes for studs.

Now let’s look at the PanelView Plus 600 dimensions:

  • Touchscreen: 123mm (h) x 156mm (w) x 98mm (d)
  • Keypad, or Keypad and Touchscreen: 142mm (h) x 241mm (w) x 98mm (d)

PanelView Plus 600 FrontComparing the two models we can see the PanelView Plus 600 is just a couple of millimeters smaller than the PanelView 550, which on the surface should make it a nice drop in replacement (assuming you have the increased depth of 98mm.)

This is the case with the touchscreen terminal, but the mounting holes for the PanelView 550 Keypad and Keypad/Touch studs prevent the PanelView Plus 600  Keypad and Keypad/Touch gasket from completely sealing.

PanelView Plus 400 KeypadTo get around this, Rockwell makes an “adapter plate,” the 2711P-RAK4, which completely seals the old cutout and allows the installation of either a (1) Keypad PanelView Plus 400, or (2) Touchscreen PanelView Plus 600. Unfortunately, there is no cutout adapter plate to mount a PanelView Plus 6 Keypad or Keypad/Touch model in the PanelView 550 Keypad and Keypad/Touch cutout.

For more details about PanelView dimensions and adapter plates please reference the below manuals:

PanelView Plus 6 600 BottomCommunications compatibility

The second feature we need to check compatibility for is the communications type.

For PanelView 550 models which communicated via Ethernet (2711-x5A20,) Serial DF1 (2711-x5A16,) or Serial DH-485 (2711-x5A5,) direct equivalents exist in the PanelView Plus 6 family.

If the PanelView 550 part number contained an “A2” (DH-485) you could either use a PanelView Plus 6 with 1761-NET-AIC as described in our earlier article here, or use the equivalent legacy PanelView Plus model (limited time availability.)

UPDATE: I’ve added a three part video series HERE showing how to setup a PanelView Plus on DH-485 using it’s serial port.

For all other networks, including Remote I/O, Data Highway Plus, Devicenet, and ControlNet, to directly replace the PanelView 550 with a new device on the same network your only option is going to be to use the equivalent legacy PanelView Plus model (limited time availability.)

For more information about the legacy PanelView Plus models, please reference the following manual:

I hope this review of the size and network considerations to replace a PanelView 550 with a PanelView Plus 600 was helpful. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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