Problem getting current information on Lookout screens

[rhawk]

I am using lookout to poll a PLC. The PLC is controlling a pump based on the level in a tank.

While watching the level in lookout the value does not change very often. It might show 14.0 and then might show 12.5 much later than it should.

When i edit the object and change the engineering units from 0 - 15.1 to 0 - 15.11 and select update, the level updates immediately.

While waiting for the value to change in lookout i go online with the PLC and the level value change every second or two (like it should).

Why is the analog value not updating on the Lookout screen ?

Is there anything i can check to see what the problem is?

My digital signals seem to be displayed when they happen.

[sgwater]

How Often are you polling your plc ?

[sgwater]

Well after thinking about his there a couple things i would check.

How often your PLC is polling your tank level. And how often lookout is polling your PLC. If you right click on your PLC driver and look at PollRate. if your wanting a accurate poll I'd suggets a poll rate between 1-30 seconds.

Hope this helps.

[rhawk]

how do you change the poll rate for lookout to poll the PLC?

I looked but could not find anything

[sgwater]

Well the best way to find it would be to make sure Lookout is open and then go into edit mode by holding down ctrl and pressing the spacebard. now go up to object and open the drop down menu to object explorer.

In your server process you should have a driver that is pointing to your pcl righ click on it and go down to properties there should be a poll rate there. if you want email me your process and ill change it for you and mail it back if you are using lookout 6.0. hope that helps.

-Dave

[rhawk]

Thanks for the quick response... I am going to the customer site next week and will make the changes.

One more question, when you first start lookout can you put a delay of say 2 minutes before the system starts to recognize alarms?

[sgwater]

Well I would imagine you could but i dont know off the top of my head.

You should make another top with that question sorry lol

Im just learning as well 😉

[Mike@DTSI]

If you connect timers to the alarms they should not come up.  Lookout alarms (Citadel, COM, etc.) will give alarms.  Also, i suggest monitoring the COMM FAIL alarms yourself.  Set the alarm priority of the driver to 0 and connect a timer to the .commfail point. 

Mike

[Rkdomer]

This link might help: http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=190&message.id=4716#M4716