Sugestions for a generator run time object

[alan g.]

I am trying to write an object for lookout 6 that will display the run time for a generator. I would like 2 separate time fields. The first is a total run time of the generator. This time needs to be updated as the generator is running, but will not be reset. It is the total generator run time and should reflect the same time that is on the hour meter on the generator. I will need to enter a pre-load time, and the current value needs to be saved so the same value will return on a restart of lookout.

The second object for the same generator is a re-settable time so that I can see how long the generator has been running since the last reset. This will be how long the generator has been running during a specific power failure.

My trigger is single on/off input from my RTU.

Thanks in advance from a newbie.

[Khalid]

Alan,

Take a look at the ElapsedTime object, if you haven't already.  This will work fine in both the ways you want -- you will use two of these Objects -- as long as the process isn't restarted.  For that, you will have to think of ways to save the total time to disk and pre-load it.  One option would be to write to a register in the PLC (if feasible), and then use an Expression Object to add this to the ElapsedTime to get the new total. 

-Khalid

[alan g.]

I have set it up with a counter. I am displaying the value of the counter as hours and 1/10 ths of hours. I am using a timer to pulse the counter every 6 mins (1/10 of hour).
I set up a second counter with a reset button. This way I can manually reset the daily generator run time, but the first counter (total generator run time) will not be reset.

Is there anyway to "preload" a counter to allready be at a certain value? The generator has 140 hours on it, so I want my total run time counter to be at 1400 imediatly, and then start counting up from that when the generator is running.

Thanks again in advance. Alan

[Khalid]

Counter itself cannot be pre-loaded with a count-value.  However, you can use an Expression object to sum the Counter and the initial value.  This would be your final object.

-Khalid