How to convert FP-1000 to FP-1601 in Lookout 5.0

[bmetdave]

I'm in the process of switching over my FP-1000 serial interface modules with FP-1601 Ethernet modules on our HemoDialysis water system control with LookOut 5.0 so that we can set up redundancy.  My process in Lookout has been running without problems for the last few years.  After swapping the FP-1000 modules for FP-1601 modules, I configured my two FieldPoint banks containing FP-110 Analog Input modules, FP-422 relay modules, FP-420 relay modules, & FP-301 Discrete Input modules with FieldPoint Explorer.  I then opened up the process in Lookout & changed my existing FieldPoint objects from serial connections to ethernet, entered the correct I.P. address for each one, & imported the new IAK Configuration file.  My switch objects in the process linked to the relay channels of the 420 & 422 modules worked correctly.  However, none of my expressions for any of the Analog Inputs (which are all 4-20mA)showed up correctly.  Also I got a "Bad Quality from Network" error message in the alarms window for one of the two FP-1601's.  I'm assuming the problem is in the configuration of my Lookout process, but have not been able to find anything in the manuals to correct the problem.  Any thoughts?

[A.S.]

Hi,

Which object in Lookout are you using?  Are you using the regular FieldPoint object or the OPCFieldPoint object?  If you're using the regular FP object, please use the OPC FP object instead.  The regular FP object has had some issues with it that have not been fixed and will probably not be addressed.  This is because we have moved on to the OPC FP object, which is much more stable and easy to use. 

I suspect the issue is with the right IAK file not being matched up between whats loaded on your PC and whats loaded onto the device.  The OPC FP object automatically grabs the correct IAK file currently being used by the FP driver.  So you don't have to guess anything.  Can you try creating an empty process and see if you communicate with your FP using the OPC FP object?  If so, then I suggest switching over to this driver object.

If it doesn't work, go to MAX (or FieldPoint Explorer) and see if you can read data from your FP I/O modules.

I hope this is helpful.  Please let me know if you have any further questions.

[bmetdave]

I tried using the OPCFieldPoint object in Lookout (we're using 5.0) & could still not see any of the analog data.  I'm not sure if I have it configured correctly though.  I can see the current on the channels of the analog input modules changing in FieldPoint Explorer & in the Server Explorer 2.4.1 so I know that my *.iak configuration is correct.  As far as creating an empty process, I'll have to order another FP-AI-110 module and connect the 4-20 simulator of my multi-meter to it.  I've also put in a purchase order for a Standard Service Program for Lookout, but don't know if it's gone through yet.  I'll also be switching back to day shift in a week or so.  If I get a AI-110 module & my Service Program set up, what will be the best way to get one-on-one support?  Should I call or send another email question?  Is there anyhting else I should try in the mean time?

David Simpson

[A.S.]

Hi David,

You said: "As far as creating an empty process, I'll have to order another FP-AI-110 module and connect the 4-20 simulator of my multi-meter to it. "

Why do you have to get another set of HW?  You could just use your existing setup, can you not?  To get one-on-one support once you have purchased SSP, you can either call us or email us via www.ni.com/ask.  Also, you can get 30-days of free one-on-one (SSP) supported once using the same method.

Hope we can help you.

[bmetdave]

I can't use the current online AI-110 because I would have to replace the current FP-1000 serial module (in which everything is working correctly) with the FP-1601.  When I power down to swap interface modules, my pumps supplying water to the dialysis patients stop.  For that reason I can only try to swap & debug the current setup from serial to ethernet at night for a couple of hours when there aren't patients being treated.  However, if I purchase another AI-110 & connect it to the FP-1601 by itself, I can create a seperate process & only work with those two modules while my water system control process & modules run unaffected.  I wouldn't have any time constraints & would be able to learn how to correctly set up the FP-1601 & AI-110 using the OPC Fieldpoint driver regardless of the patients being treated.  Once I have it working correctly & know how to make the changes on the water system process, I can make the changes at night when the patients are back off.  I was able to use the OPC Fieldpoint driver to create a process using the FP-1601, a RLY-420, and a switch object in a seperate process & turn on/off a relay with the switch.  However, when I tried to do the same thing with the water system control project, I still was unable to read any data in Lookout from the AI-110 modules.  I could see the current changing in FieldPoint Explorer, but not in my Lookout expressions.

David Simpson

[A.S.]

Hi,

So the OPC FieldPoint object worked in a new process just fine.  However, your water system control project still didn't work.  And you're using the old FieldPoint driver object in the latter system.  Is that right?  So far, we have established that the FP HW is working (via FP Explorer).  We also established that LO can read that data (using the FP OPC object).  So the remaining piece is to debug your particular process to make sure all the connections are valid.  Are you getting any alarms in your alarms window?

Try replacing all the FP objects with FP OPC objects in your water system control process.  Since we know that the OPC object works, this should be the next logical step.  Please keep me updated with the results.

[bmetdave]

I was able to work with the process tonight & found my problem to be with the scaling in the Data Member Coniguration for the AI_110 channels.  With the serial connection (for what ever reason), the Raw Units were always minimum=0 & maximum=65535 and the Eng. units were appropriate for whatever monitor was being read.  With the ethernet module, the Raw Units had to be exactly what the channel on the AI-110 was configured for in FieldPoint Explorer.  For instance, a chlorine monitor with a measured range of 0-20ppm CL2 & a current output of 0-20ma required a Raw unit setting of Min=0 & Max=0.021 and a Eng. Unit setting of Min=0 & Max=21.  I tried it using the currently installed FieldPoint Driver instead of the OPC driver & it worked correctly.  Since I was able to get that far in the short window of time I had available tonight, I did not try the OPC FieldPoint driver.  Once I had the system back online, I began working on setting up the redundancy (which I can work on regardless of patient water usage).  However, now I can't get the current water system processes (I'm running a client & a server process) to load in the standby process when the primary process goes off-line.  Any thoughts?

David Simpson