Flex727

Leave it to Ausman to see what should be blindingly obvious to the rest of us, but we missed.

I moved this post because Remote Access is actually a software program that allows you to view the PLC remotely. You use VisiLogic to download programs, whether locally or remotely. Yes, you can connect to your PLC remotely if you have set up an internet connection to the PLC (i.e. have port forwarding or VPN, etc) and have an Ethernet module installed in your V570.

You use the Real Time Clock on the HMI for both display and to enter the date & time.

Everyone encounters this type of problem from time to time. Rest assured that the PLC is executing the code properly. You can troubleshoot by placing an Increment function with an unused MI at strategic places on the suspect rungs. Here is how I would go about it: First, perform a search to make sure MB 12 & MB 33 are not being used elsewhere by mistake. Second, confirm the subroutine is being called by the Main Routine. Third, place an increment function just after your MB 33 Set coil. Fourth, place another increment function (different MI) at the end of your logic thread with the MODBUS FB. Then download and go online and watch what happens. I have one more question. You addressed how MB 33 was being Reset. How about MB 12?

If the Reset for MB 33 is just to the right of the screen capture you posted, you won't see MB 33 turn on when you're online, but it will still activate your MODBUS FB. I notice there are many sessions and acknowledements - is there some reason you think the code isn't working?

The two most likely reasons are: 1) MB 33 has a coil elsewhere in the program which is overriding the Set coil activated by MB 12. 2) These ladder rungs are in a subroutine which is not being called by the Main Routine.

VisiLogic or UniLogic?

@Cara Bereck Levy, is there something wrong with the Help file associated with the new version 9.8.80, or is it just me? I can't seem to get to the left pane tree list or the tabs to search, etc.

The RTC is stored in SI 30 - SI 33. System Integer (SI) addressing starts at 9000h and are standard 16-bit signed integers. If you have difficulty writing directly to SIs, then write to MIs and trigger a bit in your PLC program to Store Direct the MIs to SIs when you want to set your RTC.

Please don't duplicate post. This forum is staffed by volunteers, not Unitronics employees for the most part and is moderated. It can sometimes take a few hours for someone to approve the post as we also have real lives and jobs away from this forum. You, appropriately created a new topic and have a couple of responses there already - let's keep the responses there.

We need to see your program in order to offer any help. At the very least we'll need to see a screen capture of the relevant ladder rung with the Ethernet Card Initialization FB and with it opened up to see the details. FYI - the project settings in VisiLogic have no effect on the PLC.

I usually let VisiLogic tell me when a firmware update is necessary and ignore it otherwise, especially since it is a very time-consuming procedure that has risks. I never update software or firmware version on an installed PLC that is otherwise functioning.

Thank you! I'll give that a try.

What is this parameter under Ethernet in INFO Mode? It can be changed but does not stick through a power cycle. Can it be set through ladder?

The type of download will depend on the circumstance and preference. Download All & Burn is a great option if the PLC will not be easily available to you when it is in service. This is part of the program and is a separate issue. This thread is about what to do with a completed program and new PLC hardware. This seems to solve a number of glitch-type problems that can develop with Unitronics PLCs. It looks to me like (but this is just supposition) that downloading a blank program does something more than just a regular program download. It seems to clean up problems with the image storage memory and other issues. I would certainly like to hear from someone knowledgeable from Unitronics if this is actually the case. Regardless, it's always a good cleanup to perform before the PLC is placed into service.

Call me crazy, but here is my procedure for starting up a brand new Vision PLC: 1) Install Ethernet card (if applicable) 2) Install battery 3) Power up PLC & calibrate touchscreen 4) Connect with USB 5) Set RTC 6) Download a blank program 7) Initialize & Reset 8 ) Download program 9) Install SD card (if applicable) 10) Go online with PLC and check Ethernet, battery, & SD (SB 141, SB 8, SB 217) This procedure is especially important if you are shipping the PLC with the program pre-installed or are not the person doing the physical PLC installation. Overkill? Am I forgetting anything?

Did you try Vector Fill function?

Regarding the HMI, in VisiLogic I can hover the mouse over HMI elements and get a lot of information (though not always enough). In UniLogic, in order to see anything you must click on the element and then the properties window is so cluttered that it takes quite awhile to discern what I need to know.

My biggest problem is the window with the ladder. As you can see above, you can fit at least 3x the number of rungs in the same vertical space in VisiLogic. This necessitates much scrolling, but if you try to scroll with the mouse wheel, it scrolls so slowly it feels like the mouse wheel either isn't working or is only registering at random intervals.

Moved to correct forum.

Sadly, all too common experience.

You use the Socket Initialization Function Block to set protocol, master or slave, and port # for any of the 4 available sockets.

Thanks guys!

Understood. Just hoping there might be some other setting to bring that in in Farenheit, not unlike regular thermocouple inputs.

Anyone know a way to get the readout from SI 14 in F instead of C?