In line with my personal quest to learn basic AB skills on PLC & HMI, I tried downloading a program to Micrologix1400 PLC. Here are the steps I followed:
(Kindly leave comments as my procedure deviates from that of the user's manual).
1.) I turned ON both the PC & PLC.
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Always a good start!
2.) I used 1585J-M8CBJM-5 cable (Ethernet) to connect PC to PLC.
√...but do note...
This particular cable is an AB Ethernet patch cable, which has a straight-through wiring configuration. These are normally used for connecting Ethernet devices to hubs or switches, which use opposite transmit and receive pins to the connected device. As your PC's network card and the ML1400's Ethernet port use the same pins for transmit and receive, you would normally have to use an Ethernet cross-over cable to make a point-to-point connection. So how does this cable work here? Because the ML1400's Ethernet port supports auto cross-over (auto MDI/MDI-X), it will communicate with other Ethernet devices while using a straight-through cable. In the AB world, not every PLC will support auto MDI/MDI-X, such as an SLC5/05. So, if your intention is to carry the above patch cable for all AB Ethernet point-to-point connections, I would advise you to also carry a cross-over cable for such occasions where your patch cord will not work.
3.) I opened BOOTP/DHCP server.
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4.) On the Relation list, I clicked new and entered the MAC, IP adress & host name.
See AB5 picture The added connection is seen at the Request History portion.
√...but note...
Did you select 'Disable BOOTP/DHCP' while assigning the IP address, so as to set the IP address static? BOOTP is enabled on the 1400 out of the box. If you power cycle the 1400, the IP address, Subnet Mask and Gateway addresses all reset. With BOOTP enabled, the 1400 will always look for the BOOTP Server to get its network settings. This is ok if you save the assigned BOOTP settings in a Relations List config file and always have the BOOTP Server running while connecting to this 1400 using Ethernet.
5.) I opened RSLogix500, clicked Go to comms then Online.
√...but do note...
You obviously had already setup an Ethernet driver in RSLinx Classic. Going online without a project open is good for testing that you can actually establish comms with the PLC. However, I would advise that once you have assigned your IP address to the PLC, you go to RSLinx Classic first and try to browse to your PLC, before attempting to do so in RSLogix 500. You may have done this already. If it's your intention to always connect to this PLC from your PC, using the comms you are now establishing, then once you can browse to your PLC in RSLinx Classic, go to RSLogix 500 and with the offline project open, go to 'Comms', 'System Comms...' and browse to your PLC. Once highlighted, select 'Apply to Project' in the bottom right-hand corner and then 'OK'. This will save the project's path back to RSLinx Classic, i.e. your PC, for the next time you want to go online to this PLC. This is not absolutely necessary, it's just good practice.
6.) I opened the program that I wished to download to the PLC & clicked download.
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Again, from step 5, you will be at this stage when you set the project path, before downloading.
7.) A pop-up message appeared
(See AB2 picture). I clicked
YES.
√ and X...depends...
Again, this is more good practice than essential, in this case. The offline project has 'MicroLogix 1400 Series A' selected as the processor type. The actual PLC is a 'MicroLogix 1400 Series B'. You should select 'No' here and return to the project to change it. Do this under 'Controller Properties', 'General' tab, then 'Processor Type:' drop down list. This is not essential in your case, but if you were using any of the Series B functionality, you would have to do this. Note: 'MicroLogix 1400 Series A' is available in the 'Processor Type' list in RSLogix 500 v8.1 and v8.2. RSLogix 500 v8.3, or above, is required to select 'MicroLogix 1400 Series B'. If you are not using v8.3, and you don't need any of the Series B functionality, then downloading a Series A project to a Series B 1400, as you have done, is ok.
8.) Whilst the program is downloading, another pop-up message appeared
(See AB1 picture). I clicked
DONT APPLY.
X...important!...
bce123 said:
basicly the popup asked if you wanted to use the 192.168.0.47 Ip address.or the Ip address in your offline program. you told it to use the 192.168.0.47,
if they are the same no sinificance.
Be careful here bce123...you are ignoring the warnings related to the serial channels 0 and 2. The Ethernet Channel 1 configuration is actually the least significant of the channels in this particular project as it is merely being used to download the project to the 1400. One of the serial channels is being used to communicate with the RS232 PanelView.
This warning indicates detected differences between the offline project's communication channels configuration settings and the settings detected in the processor.
The 1400 has three communication ports, but only the ports that it has detected differences in will be displayed in the warning. In this case all three ports have differences.
Notice the reference to 'OTHER' and 'CURRENT'. 'CURRENT' being the channel you are currently using to download the project. Also note the reference to 'WILL' and 'MAY' occur. If the detected difference is significant, such as a different protocol selected, or even baud rate for the same protocol selected, then it will state that communication loss 'WILL' occur on that channel. If there is an insignificant difference detected, such as a different timeout or handshaking setting, then the warning will state that communication loss 'MAY' occur on that channel. This is important to know as you may not be downloading your intended channel configuration for the port(s) you want to use.
(naeemmsc - this should answer your first question).
From your screenshots you appear to be using DF1 protocol to communicate from your 1400 to the RS232 PanelView. If you are using serial Channel 2 (DB-9) on the 1400, for instance, and it's set for DF1 protocol in your offline project, the warning has indicated that changing channel 2 in the processor's configuration 'WILL' result in communication loss. This means that channel 2 in the processor is currently configured significantly different than it is configured in the offline project.
By selecting 'Don't Apply' you have chosen not to overwrite the new processor's current settings with the settings you have in the old offline project. This could result in you not establishing comms with the RS232 PanelView using the DF1 protocol.
I would check the channel configurations carefully in the offline file. They should not have changed from the original unless you have changed them. If you're happy that they're set to your requirements, then select 'Apply' the next time you download.
Take note that the offline project's channel 1 IP address, etc, may be different to what you have assigned using BOOTP.
9.) I have successfully downloaded the program to the PLC.
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Well done, but don't forget to check step 8 again.
QUESTION:
What is the significance of the two pop-up messages? Is it a call for worry?
Never worry, never hurry.
