Ne'FRN'ding confusion?!?...
Mickey,
Steve is referring to firmware revisions 11 - 21, not RSLogix 500 software versions, which we are viewing in your screenshot. For the software, v11 is the latest and greatest - there is no RSLogix 500 v21, of course.
Steve,
I can't quite make those out but it looks like for the hardware levels they are both at OS Series B & Processor Series B?
I also can't quite read the OS FRN but there seems to be three digits for each, suggesting at least FRN "10.x" or higher? Maybe a "15.x" for one of them? My eyesight is only so good, as are your screenshots.
The Processor FRN looks to be "3.0" for each, yes? I think this is what you have been relaying back to me?
Can you improve on the screenshots or just type in all the details here please?
Either way, if the hardware is indeed Series B, then you are correct on the FRN available to flash these controllers...
MicroLogix Series B: FRN 11.000 - 21.003
But...
I feel you were a little mixed up in which "FRN" I, or more, the technote was referring to? The
Processor FRN 3.0 is fixed. It is the
OS FRN that is updated with the different revisions of controller firmware and it is this FRN which I/technote was referring to as possibly being at FRN 3. Because I thought you were quoting "FRN 3.0" as
OS FRN 3, that is why I assumed you had Series A hardware...
Series A: OS FRN 3 - 7
Series B: OS FRN 11 - 21
Series C: OS FRN 21
The
Processor FRN 3 does not change and has thrown you/me off here. But you wouldn't be the first to be confused with these numbers...
For earlier MicroLogix 1400 Series A controllers, they would have been initially released with both OS FRN 3 and Processor FRN 3 at the one time. As updated OS FRN were released, i.e. controller firmware updates, the OS FRN has gradually incremented over the years, while the Processor FRN remains at 3. This OS FRN incrementing also carries through the different Series hardware releases, with Series A hardware only supporting OS FRN 3 - 7. The introduction of Series B hardware then jumped and started at OS FRN 11 all the way up to the latest OS FRN 21. Series C hardware, introduced last Summer, only supports the very latest OS FRN 21 and cannot be flashed with any OS FRN lower than that.
So, you might ask - what is with the OS (Operating System) FRN really meaning the processor firmware, as we normally refer to it, and the Processor FRN, well meaning what? The Operating System refers to the firmware that the processor uses to run programs. The "Processor FRN" refers to the "BOOT FRN", somewhat like the BIOS in a computer system. It is what the controller uses to BOOT each time is it powered on, and before loading the OS FRN. When you are flashing the OS FRN, it is used to handle the flash and the transitional period in between firmware revisions. It would have made more sense to just call this "BOOT FRN", or not even expose its existence to users at all.
Here are screenshots of before and after an ML1400 OS FRN flash...
As you can see, the OS FRN has been upgraded from 15.2 to 21.3, but the Processor FRN, or BOOT FRN, still remains at 3.0. Incidentally, the Processor hardware will remain fixed at Series B as well.
Whatever your current OS FRN for these controllers is, it could never have been OS FRN 3, if the hardware is Series B. They could only have been sold with OS FRN 11 minimum. If Series B, and so at a higher OS FRN, then the possibility of the FRN 3 issue in the technote is irrelevant now.
As a by the way, OS FRN 4 specifically addressed this issue and states as such in the firmware release notes...
ML1400 Release Notes said:
Corrected Anomalies for FRN 4 (Series A only)
Anomaly Description: 71h fault with I/O expansion modules
Under the following conditions, a 71h fault may occur within a few minutes:
1762-OF4 (Series A, Revision B/C) or 1762-IF2OF2 (Series A, Revision D/E) expansion module is used, and scantime hits less than approximately 390 ms (usually when user ladder program is empty).
If your controllers are at the likes of OS FRN 15.x or above, then this potential cause has, according to Rockwell, long since been flashed out of existence.
Geospark said:
...I would also like to rule this in or out...
It looks like your screenshots may have helped rule this cause "out", but do please confirm those details?
If ruled out, you are then back to the good installation practices you are being advised on and have started to follow.
All said and done, it never hurts to flash upgrade these controllers to the latest in an effort to remove certain anomalies...
Steve Jackson said:
I downloaded Version 11 earlier through Rockwell. I am fine with using Version 12 or whichever one will work. My RSLogix 500 is Version 9, so that would need to be considered.
My best advice - If your MicroLogix 1400 controllers are Series B, then download OS FRN 21.3 and flash them to the latest available. That is the "one" that should "work" the best.
Your RSLogix 500 software version is not directly tied, or "lock stepped", as it's known, to the controller firmware revision you are currently using. Although, there can be certain features, which are introduced in certain FRN releases, which will require a minimum version of the software to use those features. The new password features added in RSLogix 500 v11 / OS FRN 21 would be one example. However, a previous version of the software should still work with a controller flashed to the newer FRN - except the newer features, available in the controller FRN, will not be exposed to the software.
Regards,
George