Greetings, I have been tasked with interfacing a CLX controller for data collection and control of a refrigeration system at the plant that I work for. The system is a FES and consists of three compressors and a control panel for condensing towers and liquid pumps for the low temp freezers.
We want to collect data from the FES refrigeration system using the CLX processor and visualize using FT SE. The previous system is quite old dating back to 1992 and utilized iFIX and Intellution. Now the hard drive of the main computer is down, no backup and the only control we are left is from the engine room, we would like to use AB software and hardware to achieve this. I have looked in to this before but the company was not ready for the upgrade.
Here is what the FES system consist of:
GEA Screw 160 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
GEA Screw 195 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
GEA Screw 195 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
System Panel with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
FES ComMENT Gateway Box
I have several manuals from the FES that explain somewhat the concepts of the ComMENT network and several manual that wore sent to me from users of this forum (big thanks).
The biggest issue that I’m faced with is establishing communication between the FES Gateway and the CLX processor (currently I have a CPX controller that I can use to try to establish commms).
The manual talks about setting the FES gateway for DF1 Emulation, and based on looking at the gateway it is set just to that, but I’m not sure how to interface the gateway with a PLC, I’m quite convicted that I would have to setup RsLinx as an OPC server to communicate between the two, but I’m not quite sure. I’m attaching as much information as I can for anyone that is interest in helping me out.
Thank You.
We want to collect data from the FES refrigeration system using the CLX processor and visualize using FT SE. The previous system is quite old dating back to 1992 and utilized iFIX and Intellution. Now the hard drive of the main computer is down, no backup and the only control we are left is from the engine room, we would like to use AB software and hardware to achieve this. I have looked in to this before but the company was not ready for the upgrade.
Here is what the FES system consist of:
GEA Screw 160 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
GEA Screw 195 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
GEA Screw 195 GM with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
System Panel with a Micro III Panel ComMENT Network Communication Board
FES ComMENT Gateway Box
I have several manuals from the FES that explain somewhat the concepts of the ComMENT network and several manual that wore sent to me from users of this forum (big thanks).
The biggest issue that I’m faced with is establishing communication between the FES Gateway and the CLX processor (currently I have a CPX controller that I can use to try to establish commms).
The manual talks about setting the FES gateway for DF1 Emulation, and based on looking at the gateway it is set just to that, but I’m not sure how to interface the gateway with a PLC, I’m quite convicted that I would have to setup RsLinx as an OPC server to communicate between the two, but I’m not quite sure. I’m attaching as much information as I can for anyone that is interest in helping me out.
Thank You.