Networking Remote Gas Detectors with Ethernet I/O and a ControlLogix PLC

Defining the Problem:

In a wastewater treatment plant, remotely mounted gas detectors monitoring Methane CH4 (ceiling), Oxygen O2 (6 ft high) and Hydrogen Sulphide H2S (floor) have analogue outputs. The gas levels need to be saved to chart recorders located in a control room a long distance away in the plant. To save on the cost of running copper twisted pair wires, we would like to network the analogue outputs for transmission over the Ethernet infrastructure.

 

System Requirements:

A ControlLogix PLC in the control room can communicate using Ethernet/IP protocol. The Ethernet remote I/O will accept 4 – 20mA inputs from the gas detectors and convert to Ethernet/IP. The PLC will output 4 – 20mA to the chart recorders nearby. Also, the hazardous area requires Class 1 Div 2 instruments.

 

 

 

Implementing the Solution:	Featured Products:
1. In the USB configured XT software, set the IP address, network parameters and input scaling.	• XT1212-000
2. Configure the PLC with Acromag’s ControlLogix application note. This document includes instructions for RSLogix 5000 and RSLinx.
3. With the XT1212-000 software and inputs wired, poll the module and check the measurements using the test page.   4. Validate the Ethernet/IP communications with an Ethernet connection between the XT and the PLC.   Why Acromag:  The XT series of Remote I/O has Class 1 Div 2 ratings for hazardous locations where the Gas Detectors are installed. With simple software configuration and an application note detailing the PLC configuration, installation and testing are easily accomplished.   This application note was produced by our supplier Acromag.    To find our more information on the products used in this application in Australia, please contact Metromatics on 07 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au   For outside this area, please contact Acromag on +1 877-295-7035

EME introduces the PicoPetite - a compact, self contained, full featured Data Acquisition System

The EME PicoPetite is the most compact, self contained, full featured Data Acquisition System (DAS) ever designed and manufactured. This DAS measures only 2.00 inches (length) by 2.33 inches (width) by 1.1 inches (height) and weighs less than 5 ounces for 32 channels. Additional channels can be added or removed in 8 channel increments adding or subtracting only 0.218 inches per 8 Channels to the height dimension.

Up to 64 channels can be installed in a single unit and units can be daisy chained together for extremely high channel counts. EME has sacrificed no features to achieve this small size. The PicoPetite uses many of the deign features of the highly successful EME PicoDAS.

Features:

• Configurations of 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, and 64 analogue channels available
• Airborne (tm) Miniature DSub Connectors
• Synchronous triggering and simultaneous sampling between daisy chained units
• Simultaneous Sampling of 1 Hz to 250 kHz
• Individual 16-bit A/D converters for each channel
• Gain range of 1 to 10000
• Analogue Input of +/- 5 volts
• ICP Module allows any Analogue Input to accept ICP Sensors (28 Volt @ 3.6 ma with Adjustable High Pass Filter (Optional))
• Offsetting available for the full scale at the Input or at the Output
• .1% calibrated accuracy
• Internal shunt calibration
• Internal 1/2 pseudo bridge completion resistors for all channels (user selectable)
• Simultaneous sampling of channels
• Individual fold-back current limited excitation sources of 0, 2.5v, 5.0v, and 10.0v for each analogue input. Current limit can be customer set or delivered as 100ma standard.
• 6 pole Digital filtering with variable cut-off frequencies
• 5 pole Fixed Butterworth filter @ 25kHz (Other frequencies available)
• Meets SAE J211 specifications
• Sensor identification using DALLAS ID's (Optional with 51-pin Connectors)
• Automatic calibration of analogue channels
• Multi-stage sampling offering the sample rate to change up to 3 times at a set time or on the fly with an event line
• Start/Stop Data Recording using an event line
• Segmented Data Collection Mode offers the ability to collect multiple acquisitions under one arming.
• Gain Measurement and Excitation Measurement while sensors are connected
• Battery input measurement and current monitor recording during acquisition
• 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB of non-volatile memory
• 4 digital output channels
• 8 digital event input channels (Plus 4 Events per 8-channel Analogue Module)
• PCM Irig-B Input as well as PCM 106-01 Telemetry Output (Optional)
• Internal GPS Module (Optional)
• 10-16.5 volt power input range
• Internal Digital NiCAD/NiMH Peak Charger with automatic switching (Optional)
• Low power consumption .250 amps for 32 channels at 12 volts in full analogue mode
• Serial communication using Ethernet 100baseT
• Durability of Shock:

  +/-250g, 12 msec 1/2 sine wave pulse
  +/-70g, 500 msec 1/2 sine wave,
  +/-35g, 2 sec 1/2 sine wave,
  +/-60g 100 msec duration, on all axis

• Windows XP/Vista/7/8 32-bit or 64-bit (tm) Control/Processing Software
• EMI/RFI Shielding
• 1 year warranty
• The latest in technology

For further information on the EME Pico Petite in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Metromatics on +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this area, please contact EME Corp +1 410 544 8563 or info@emecorp.com

Metromatics are now the exclusive Australasian Distributors for the X-ES Product Range

 

Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) and Ruggedised Embedded Computing Boards and Systems Market Leader, Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES ), announces the appointment of Metromatics as their exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor for their product range.  With a twenty five-year history of providing embedded computing and system solutions sales, distribution and support, and offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland, Metromatics is the perfect partner to distribute X-ES’s Embedded Board and Systems range across Australasia.

 

Metromatics has an extensive industry-specific history, currently representing companies who specialise in manufacturing Rugged Peripherals, UPS Power Systems, Data Acquisition Systems and Automatic Test Equipment.  The addition of X-ES’s Embedded Computing Solutions will provide Metromatics’ customers and the Australasian Commercial, Industrial, Communications and Defence Market as a whole, access and support to a comprehensive range of commercial grade to fully ruggedised boards and systems utilising the latest processor technology.  X-ES also excel in providing custom products, from modified COTS to full scale custom designs and will be able to provide Australasian Customers embedded technological solutions quicker.

 

Metromatics’ appointment creates the opportunity to couple excellent service with locality, offering real-time response to customer demand.  X-ES will continue to provide infrastructure support to Metromatics in terms of sales and technical assistance from X-ES’s experienced sales, technical and engineering team.

For further information or pricing on X-ES's excellent products in Australia & New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au
For outside the above mentioned area, please contact X-ES directly on +1 608 833 1155 or sales@xes-inc.com
 

Quality Standards | Jim on Engineering, Episode 20

If you want to know what and how the products from Crystal Rugged are made. Check out Jim Shaw's, Executive Vice President of Engineering Video Blog. He explains in detail topics related to operational, deployable, and high reliability computing applications.

In this video blog Jim Shaw, discusses the importance of quality standards when choosing a rugged computer manufacturer.

If your interested in more information in video blog form by Jim shaw check it out here https://www.crystalrugged.com/video-blog/

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products in Australia and New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

for outside that area please contact Crystal Rugged on ++1 319-378-1636

DEWESoft X2 SP3 released

DEWESoft X2 SP3 is the latest innovation in data acquisition software from DEWESoft. Available as a free upgrade for all DEWESoft X. The new version features many exciting improvements which perfectly uses all available hardware resources and therefore can ONLY be used with DEWESoft hardware.

The new enhancements include:

GRANDview

Enhanced freeze mode (GRANDview) allows user to review stored data from start of measurement without interrupting data acquisition and storing process. User is able to zoom into any region of data already stored on disk during the measurement and review any type of signal including video, which makes (long term) measurements easier to manage.

CAN offline decoding Acquire raw CAN traffic and do everything else later in analyse. Load dbc in analyse mode or update it with merge option if new version is available. Scan bus for all stored messages or add new messages manually. Add new signals, change scaling...

Campbell diagram Visualisation of 3 dimensional values on a single plane, mostly used in Order tracking. Range of values is segmented in defined number of levels and each level is represented by a circle, whose radius and colour depends on level's index; bigger values are represented with larger circles and colours higher on the colour map. For better analysis of data, cutoff of lower levels can be applied.

and many more improvements such as Visual, Math, Hardware, Sequencer, 

minor improvements and bugfixes. 

For further information on the Dewesoft X in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this region please contact our supplier Dewesoft directly on +43 31 32 2252  or sales@dewesoft.com

COM Express Product Platform Video

If you need some help understanding and choosing the right COM Express platform of products by acromag this recent webcast is for you. 

This was a recent webcast held by our supplier Acromag, discusses how you can go from lab development to production quickly with Acromag's new innovative COM Express platform of products. Russ Nieves also discusses the CPU processor board, carriers, the engineering design kit and more.

If your interested in more information in video Form check out their Youtube channel
www.youtube.com/channel/UCFs8vt3VB0QQtonyvw2gX1g 

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Acromag .

For further information on Acromag products in Australia please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

Next Generation Motherboards Now Available for 27 Crystal Group Rugged and Industrial Server Models

Crystal Group Inc a trusted manufacturer of rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) custom-developed computers, displays, switches, and storage devices, recently announced the immediate availability of Supermicro®’s new generation X10 Serverboards for its expansive line of Rugged and Industrial Servers.

This new offering comes as part of Crystal Group's continued commitment to its customers, by providing people, process and technology to help them solve tough computer challenges. Incorporating the latest motherboard technology it allows customers the opportunity to collect, store and process more data than ever before, even those who operate in the harshest of conditions, such as oil & gas or military settings.

“Our purpose built server lines use leading edge architecture which follows the embedded Intel® platform roadmap of silicon driven technology for use in industrial and military applications,” said Jim Shaw, Crystal Group’s Executive Vice President of Engineering. “This technology brings the latest in performance, efficiency, security and scalability to the rugged industry.”

Crystal Group’s integration of Supermicro’s new generation X10 Haswell DP and UP Serverboards offer up to 1 TB 2133MHz DDR4 memory in 16 DIMMs, 7 PCI-E slots, SATA 3.0/NVMe, hot-swap HDD/SSD support, USB 3.0, 10GBase-T networking options, SATA Disk-on-Module (DOM), and IPMI 2.0 plus KVM with dedicated LAN. The Supermicro New Generation X10 Haswell DP and UP Serverboards support the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 v3 product family. Serverboards are offered in proprietary form factors for custom developed chassis, as well as standard form factors such as ATX and Extended ATX.

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products in Australia or New Zealand please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au