SLC503-DH485 Access

Hi Chaps,

We have a SLC5/03 on one of our sites, that communicates with 2x ML1500's via radio comms. This all works fine (now, you may recall previous thread about bad comms code....)

Anyways, the current config is:
1. From the DH485 port of the CPU, there is connection to a DH485 Link-coupler. The plug 'devicenet' style connections on this go to a 1761-NET AIC, then to a DH485-Communication Interface unit.
2. The DB9 on the 1761-AIC goes to an old PC, that is running the 1747-UIC DH485 driver, to the old RSView32 application.
3. The DH485 Link-Coupler was used to connect to the original Telemetry system, which is now defunct as part of this project.

What I am struggling with, is getting the 1761-AIC driver setup on a new PC.
At the moment, I have a 1747-UIC out of the USB port on the new PC, and this all works fine. The problem is, that now the only means I have of getting online to the PLC, is to disconnect the USB from the new Scada PC.

So, questions:
1. Why can I not get the comms working to the 1761-UIC by replicating the old PC config? (I get the fatal initilisation error)
2. What are the hardware options available, that will allow me to access the PLC & have the Scada working at the same time?
3. I could install RSLogix500 onto this PC, assuming that there will be no issues with 2x applications using the RSLinx interface?
4. Is there something else that I can get, that will alleviate this?

Bearing in mind, that this system is likely to be in place for a good few years yet...


Thanks
Lost

I am having a little trouble following your description. ( but thats probably just me) Sometimes a picture helps, at least for me it would.

There are a couple of things that don't look right though.
The old PC using a "1747-UIC DH485 driver" ,a UIC ( USB to DH485 converter) uses the DF1 driver or the DH485 UIC devices. Depending on the ver of RSLinx. Is the Driver on the old PC a 1747-PIC/AIC+ driver? If so it needs a real serial port, that might be why you are getting that error (I get the fatal initialization error)

Hi Mickey,

Sometimes a picture helps, at least for me it would.

Click to expand...

I'm a pictures person too, I only had a sketch in the book at time of posting. Have just scribbled one up, this is pretty much how it is.

There are a couple of things that don't look right though.
Depending on the ver of RSLinx. Is the Driver on the old PC a 1747-PIC/AIC+ driver? If so it needs a real serial port, that might be why you are getting that error

Click to expand...

Yes, and is a real serial port too. Both of the other PC's also have real Serial ports as well.
I did read a technote about this, and did follow it, but it did not solve anything.

Ok nice picture. So to be sure, you want to replace the old PC with another new PC and run RSLogix500 on it? Using its real serial port and using the 1747-PIC/AIC+ driver.
What operating system and service pack is on the new PC. There are issues with XP SP3.

Mickey said:

Ok nice picture.

Click to expand...

Thanks.

So to be sure, you want to replace the old PC with another new PC and run RSLogix500 on it? Using its real serial port and using the 1747-PIC/AIC+ driver.

Click to expand...

Yes & no. Having RSLogix500 is a plus, but I want to take my USB 1747-UIC adaptor back, and replicate the previous config.

What operating system and service pack is on the new PC. There are issues with XP SP3.

Click to expand...

New PC is XPPro-SP3, as are all the others I have tried it on...
Old PC is XPPro-SP2!!

I do recall reading something about SP3, this must be the issue!!

See links below for SP3 solutions.

http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=43347

http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=51959&highlight=xp+sp3

http://forums.mrplc.com/lofiversion/index.php/t15972.html

http://forums.rockwellautomation.com/t5/forums/forumtopicpage/board-id/Activations/message-id/114

"

One of our specialists discovered the following problem with XP SP 3 a couple of months back:



I just ran into a case where the new XP SP3 causes problems for the 1747-PIC driver. The customer was using RSLinx v 2.53.

When you try to install/configure the PIC driver a Fatal Error Initializing the PIC Driver is displayed.

From rockwell forum

Working with the customer we discovered the SERENUM.SYS has been updated.

The SP2 version is 5.1.2600.2180 the new SP3 version is 5.1.2600.5512.

To correct the problem we renamed the newer file to create a back-up and copied the SP2 version to the OS.

Re-booted the PC and the PIC drive Initialized fine. Rockwell does not have any Knowledge base documents to support this yet.
"

Click to expand...

And make sure nothing else is trying to use the com port. Also RSLinx cannot be running as a service.

Thanks Mickey,

I will be back on site next week, so will give the file replacement from XP-SP2, but it does sound like this will work.

One other question, and I don't have the details of the connections, but the DB9 serial port that handles the radio comms, also has a 'floating' DB9 female connected, via some terminals. This is the same at each remote site with the ML1500's also.
As the protocol is DF1 Half Duplex, does this allow for PLC access?
I thought I heard somewhere that cetain ports have 2x connection options, or was I mistaken?
What else would be the purpose of the flying serial leads? at the remotes, if I unplug the radio lead, then this would allow me access to the ML1500's, but at the master, I would ahve to disable comms, somehow...
And thoughts?

lostcontrol said:

One other question, and I don't have the details of the connections, but the DB9 serial port that handles the radio comms, also has a 'floating' DB9 female connected, via some terminals. This is the same at each remote site with the ML1500's also.
As the protocol is DF1 Half Duplex, does this allow for PLC access?
I thought I heard somewhere that cetain ports have 2x connection options, or was I mistaken?
What else would be the purpose of the flying serial leads? at the remotes, if I unplug the radio lead, then this would allow me access to the ML1500's, but at the master, I would ahve to disable comms, somehow...
And thoughts?

Click to expand...

I just tried to connect to a ML1500 with its port configured for DF1 Master and could not connect. So not sure about a SLC5/03. Hopefully someone else has an answer for that.

See link below for some Knowledgebase articles on the subject. You need a tech connect view. I don't have one.
Maybe there is an answer there.

http://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/kw/connecting to DF1 half duplex master