Alaskan
Member
Folks,
A SLC503 used to be connected to the Internet via a Digi One IAP. During program download to the PLC the Internet connection was severed such that the download didn't complete.
I am not the guy who used the Digi One, and I don't know a whole lot about controls, but I am the only guy on site who can do anything about the issue at this point. The plant is at a remote field camp, and I only have another 30 hours to fix this before I need to head out.
The only tool I have to fix it is an old Windows 2000 laptop that was located at the plant. It runs RSLinx Lite 2.31.00 build 10, RSLogix 500 5.20.00. The DTL32.DLL is ver 2.31.10.0, WDRV32.LIB is 2.20.118.01.
I do know that this laptop was able to connect to the PLC at some point in the past as there are previous versions of the program saved on it.
The PLC fault LED is blinking rapidly, the DH485 LED is blinking in a 3 sec interval.
The DH485 connection from the PLC leads to a DH485 Link Coupler, from there it goes to a 1761-NET-AIC module (externally powered).
I believe this was originally set up so that the PanelView 550 and a laptop can be connected to the plant simultaniously.
I can not establish communication with the PLC using the AIC driver through the NET AIC module. I have removed all drivers from RSLinx, rebooted the machine. Added the AIC driver, connected a serial cable (no name cable, one of two I found here at the plant) to the NET AIC and the PC, rebooted the PC (RSLinx is not running as a service), no error messages in the event log, no indication of problems, RSWho shows the laptop as node 0, no PLCs are present.
I switched to the other serial cable, reboot, same result.
I tried a CAT 5e cable which has DB9 converters on both ends (they are labeled 'DTE'), same result, no comms with the PLC.
I did try to powercycle the PLC, toggle the key switch any which way and back, nothing.
Now to the DF1 part. I removed all drivers from RSLinx, rebooted, added a DF1 driver with the following settings:
COM1
SLC-CH0/Micro/Panelview
19200 baud
no parity
Stop Bits 1
Station Number 00
Error Checking CRC
Full Duplex
The driver installed fine, no error messages after reboot in the event log (this is all without any cables connected to COM1). There is nothing taking a hold of COM1. I used Process Explorer ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx ) to verify that the only thing grabbing COM1 is RSLinx.
I found a no-name null modem cable here, as well as a null modem adapter (RadioShack). I connected the null modem cable to the RS232 on the PLC, and then as soon as I connect it to the laptop, the laptop controls freeze. After a few seconds the cooling fan of the laptop revs up. The laptop does not recover from this state even after more than 30 minutes. However, as soon as the cable is unplugged from the laptop, everything is back to normal, laptop controls work, laptop did not crash, cooling fan turns off shortly thereafter. The same happens when using the serial cable and the null modem adapter. This is also true if turing the laptop off, connecting the cable, and then turning the laptop on. It will then be stuck in the Windows 2000 loading progress bar screen, but will continue loading as soon as the cable is unplugged.
Any idea as to what I can do to restablish communication with the PLC under these circumstances?
I don't have a different computer that has a serial port. I don't have a UIC cable. I know that I would be best served with brand cables made specifically for this system, still, what I have is all I have (including what appears to be a functional Digi One IAP if that can help me somehow?). What else can I try to make this work?
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration, sorry this got somewhat long, but I felt I may as well write down all I know about the issue rather than fill in the blanks later.
A SLC503 used to be connected to the Internet via a Digi One IAP. During program download to the PLC the Internet connection was severed such that the download didn't complete.
I am not the guy who used the Digi One, and I don't know a whole lot about controls, but I am the only guy on site who can do anything about the issue at this point. The plant is at a remote field camp, and I only have another 30 hours to fix this before I need to head out.
The only tool I have to fix it is an old Windows 2000 laptop that was located at the plant. It runs RSLinx Lite 2.31.00 build 10, RSLogix 500 5.20.00. The DTL32.DLL is ver 2.31.10.0, WDRV32.LIB is 2.20.118.01.
I do know that this laptop was able to connect to the PLC at some point in the past as there are previous versions of the program saved on it.
The PLC fault LED is blinking rapidly, the DH485 LED is blinking in a 3 sec interval.
The DH485 connection from the PLC leads to a DH485 Link Coupler, from there it goes to a 1761-NET-AIC module (externally powered).
I believe this was originally set up so that the PanelView 550 and a laptop can be connected to the plant simultaniously.
I can not establish communication with the PLC using the AIC driver through the NET AIC module. I have removed all drivers from RSLinx, rebooted the machine. Added the AIC driver, connected a serial cable (no name cable, one of two I found here at the plant) to the NET AIC and the PC, rebooted the PC (RSLinx is not running as a service), no error messages in the event log, no indication of problems, RSWho shows the laptop as node 0, no PLCs are present.
I switched to the other serial cable, reboot, same result.
I tried a CAT 5e cable which has DB9 converters on both ends (they are labeled 'DTE'), same result, no comms with the PLC.
I did try to powercycle the PLC, toggle the key switch any which way and back, nothing.
Now to the DF1 part. I removed all drivers from RSLinx, rebooted, added a DF1 driver with the following settings:
COM1
SLC-CH0/Micro/Panelview
19200 baud
no parity
Stop Bits 1
Station Number 00
Error Checking CRC
Full Duplex
The driver installed fine, no error messages after reboot in the event log (this is all without any cables connected to COM1). There is nothing taking a hold of COM1. I used Process Explorer ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx ) to verify that the only thing grabbing COM1 is RSLinx.
I found a no-name null modem cable here, as well as a null modem adapter (RadioShack). I connected the null modem cable to the RS232 on the PLC, and then as soon as I connect it to the laptop, the laptop controls freeze. After a few seconds the cooling fan of the laptop revs up. The laptop does not recover from this state even after more than 30 minutes. However, as soon as the cable is unplugged from the laptop, everything is back to normal, laptop controls work, laptop did not crash, cooling fan turns off shortly thereafter. The same happens when using the serial cable and the null modem adapter. This is also true if turing the laptop off, connecting the cable, and then turning the laptop on. It will then be stuck in the Windows 2000 loading progress bar screen, but will continue loading as soon as the cable is unplugged.
Any idea as to what I can do to restablish communication with the PLC under these circumstances?
I don't have a different computer that has a serial port. I don't have a UIC cable. I know that I would be best served with brand cables made specifically for this system, still, what I have is all I have (including what appears to be a functional Digi One IAP if that can help me somehow?). What else can I try to make this work?
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration, sorry this got somewhat long, but I felt I may as well write down all I know about the issue rather than fill in the blanks later.