[Slow down rate]

Thanks to someone on here I'm using the phrase "Linz" as a bit tag name.  I hope a have your blessing!

[USB Connection issues]

Just an FYI, and this is probably not the right topic to post, I found a USB issue with UniStream 15.6 connecting to Win7pro 64bit laptop was being caused by Avast Internet Security subscription service. By putting avast in "silent mode" AND disabling the Avast Firewall I was able to successfully connect to the PLC. Makes NO sense why/how AV/firewall could block a USB connection!? Maybe because it's using ports?

I have fought all kinds of issues with Windows and USB serial convertor drivers during the 10 years I was in the Land Mobile Radio field. Every once in while you'd get that one that just didn't want to play nice.

I have five V430's in the field now and two laptops (XP and Win7) to communicate with them locally. So far no issues. Have you gone back and tried older versions of the CP210x driver? Went to device manager and force unistalled any drivers Windows may be trying to 'automatically" apply?

["Array functions" help files]

Thanks Saragani. I used the copy array part to array in my unilogic program and live tested; it works just like vector copy, just different terminology. 

The array linearization UDFB is more involved than I though. I was trying to link input INT, constants, and result INT as arrays  of INT16's (built around the single linearization FB). Looks like it doesn't work that way. 

I won't lie: I'm not impressed with the "just build a UDFB" responce to features that were drag and drop, load em up and you're done in Visilogic. Unilogic is a whole new ballgame.

I'll study program examples and youtube videos on UDFB's and slowly wrap my head around it. I got spoiled on the drag em, drop em, and load em up method.

I don't even know what "iteration" is. So is your example C+ code? Or textual guidance for ladder/FB construction? 

Again thank you for the help. I want to learn how to use unilogic to it's fullest potential. I have a lot of future opportunities to use Unitronics products. The product line and pricing are outstanding. 

["Fill Array Part" Ladder function]

+1.  Unilogic help is incomplete. this is a problem

["Array functions" help files]

Dear Community,

I couldn't find anything in the UniLogic  help files about array functions. Is it just me or is the help section grossly incomplete in  UniLogic ?! Visilogic seems to be very comprehensive in help topics with examples for every FB in the software. Feel some uncertainty without help topics on select functions, especially with the differences in terminology from Visilogic. Example being: a vector copy of 30 MI's in Visilogic is equivocal to "copy array part to array"?? Failed to find help topic with example. 

 I tried to build a UDFB last night to function like Visilogic's vector linearization function and gave up. Just stacked individual linearization functions instead. I get the feeling the authors of UniLogic were not the same people who composed Visilogic. Old dog learning new tricks, I'll get there. 

[Slow down rate]

Visco,

I used the filter block on a V430 with 4-20mA pressure sensor (used to derive the feet of water in an elevated tank). Had issues with rapid fluctuations on the scaled integer. The filter block with configuration D#0, D#16, D#4  dampened the analog value enough for a numeric display that was readable by the operator.

[Frequency measurement]

Or construct a zero crossing detector (LM339 comparator) and measure the time between pulses (period) then use math to derive the reciprocal of the period which is the frequency. Just a conceptual idea, not sure if the uniHSC can measure period. If my math is correct 50Hz would 20 ms between zero crossings. If output is square wave then perhaps a PTC/NTC would capture the rise and fall of the first wave which would be 1/2 the wave period. Hope you find a simple cost effective solution.

[Frequency measurement]

I'm an RF guy; here's  two external hardware hacks. If 100 Hz is a square wave then filter out a higher harmonic, amplify, and measure. If speedo output is sine wave then feed into an RF mixer and hetrodyne the frequency up. "Two frequencies fed to a non linear mixer will produce: F1, F2,  sum, difference, and some DC component. I know you would prefer a software fix.

I too have found a lot of functions from Visilogic NOT FOUND in Unilogic. Obviously Unilogic was not developed by the same team/composers as Visilogic. Looking at it forensically, it seems impossible. Visilogic packed everything I could dream of and more (like the developer wanted to show off). Unilogic seems to carry theme: "build your own UDFB". I am not a C+ programmer. Just a ladder logic programmer. I find the notion that I should have to construct functions that were prepackaged/just enter my variables in Visilogic somewhat perplexing. 

[A rant about the cost of things....]

Preach Joe! Truth.

[EASY Advanced Modbus Reads]

Matt,

I found myself in a quandary trying to use the periodic MODBUS as a master (Unistream 15.6) polling four V430 slaves. The biggest part of the issue was the default timeout value. I am using Kenwood VHF 25 watt transceivers with integral data modems; they have incredible range but their max baud rate is 9600 and the latency can exceed 500 mS. I see you have user defined a timeout value and retries count  (features integral in Visilogic). I will follow this post and will keep hoping to see Unilogic evolve to a place where: function in progress, retries, and user definable timeout for MODBUS are made available. I get the concept of simplifying MODBUS deployment in Unilogic; HOWEVER taking away the user definable parameters found in Visilogic can cause significant problems in some applications. I'm not educated enough in Unilogic yet to reinvent the features that were prepackaged in Visilogic. I am more of a ladder programmer and not at all a program developer (like C+) and find myself in an awkward place with Unilogic. It's great that's it's more object oriented (depending on your programming knowledge genre). I'm excited to see others building structs and sharing. Thanks!!

[vector linearization]

I'm converting a Visilogic (V1210) program to Unilogic (Unistream 15.6) and see that Unilogic does not (that I can see) have the vector linearization function block. Is this something that can be done with a struct? If so how exactly? I'm still learning Unilogic! thanks -dB

[MODBUS slave lost comm detection]

Ofir,

Yes, I now understand the USB port is a serial convertor that overides COM 1 in the PLC. If Usb connection to PC and simulatneous use of local com is required an additional COM module is required.

thanks

[Unistream Modbus communication freezing problem]

it would be nice to have a user assignable field to set the MODBUS master retries and timeout parameters!!

[Unilogic help files]

I see that, hidden field descriptors. Great! Thank you for the pointer Sir.

[Toggle bit in vector]

I ended up (not yet tested) using the toggle bit coil assigned to a bit in the array. Will this work? 

[Unilogic help files]

Any idea if/when the Unilogic help database will be updated to include text/diagrams of every unilogic function?  The array's section has functions that I can NOT find specific descriptions/examples in the help files. Maybe I am missing it. I learned PLC programming on AB MicroLogix and started using Visilogic with ease. Talk about hitting the ground running (sprinting even). My first project in unilogic is proving to be very challenging. There are several features I realize are superior in Unilogic and appreciate! However I am finding several functions that were present in Visilogic that are NOT in Unilogic. I understand progress and advancement have a precedence to keep a competitive edge in the market. In my humble opinion when you roll out something new it's nice to have all the function and utility of it's predecessors (Visilogic). I miss the MODBUS R/W mixed data; while not a standard defined MODBUS function it greatly simplifies data exchange in a system that is built exclusively with Vision PLC's. No more drum sequencer. No more Function in Progress bit. Granted these functions can be logically constructed in Unilogic, I don't see how this saves me time in project development. Guess this is the feedback you get from an old school guy who is a PLC programmer and NOT a computer (C language) programmer.

 

P.S. Some kind of field descriptor on the function blocks where tag entries go would be awesome. A,B,C,D,etc... Don't mean much to me. Ezample: the linearize block, had to go to the help to see what goes where. In leiu of A,B,C,D fixed descriptirs like IN, X1, X2, Y1, Y2, OUT would be nice.  All blocks have the alpha field desrciptors and they can mean many different things. I guess as it stands until you get on top of the learning curve unilogic is not quite the time saver it is once you have intensively read and memorized the help files.

[Toggle bit in vector]

What is the equivalent function in Unilogic to Visilogic's toggle bit in vector function block? Same question on vector fill? Unilogic equivalent?

 

[Periodic MODBUS RS232 problems]

a lot of trial, error, and then failure

[UniStream--what projects are YOU building?]

Water treatment plants, did a small one last year with a V430 and working on a larger plant automation system with a Unistream 15.6 and 4- V430 RTU's. Not so sure about unilogic yet. The MODBUS implementation between visi and uni series is more daunting than I imagined. Also missing a lot of fb's native to visilogic that are not on Unilogic.  I must say the V430 is an awesome appliance for the price!

[drum configuration]

I miss the drum sequencer as well!

[Read/Write Mixed Data function]

I second this motion, the mixed R/W data function greatly simplifies Modbus i/o exchange in vision units. I'm trying to use a unistream in place of a V430 as a MODBUS master and having diffuculty in implementation (far beyond the absence of R/W mixed data)

[Periodic MODBUS RS232 problems]

update: 

12-10-16

I take that back, I failed after two weeks of trying every conceivable configuration to implement a complete working model of serial MODBUS with read holding register and write coils  exchanges to four vision slaves over RS232 radio modems. Has anyone out here successfully setup a Unistream master to a Vision slave, serial, 232 over modems (RF), read registers (more than one) and write coils; without errors? For example sequentially reading five 16 bit integers and in next line of periodic slave table  writing a 10 bit array of coils (or a single 16 bit write register)? 9600, 1, none, must do four RHR #3 and write coils (10 but array) to four slaves all in a cyclical (periodic) fashion. I can't make it work to save my life. I really need to know if anyone else has a working UniStream to Vision serial modbus system working as expected! Now IF you only do read holding registers or only write coils THEN it works fine. However when stacking different MODBUS operations into a single slave table in periodic mode one or the other function takes precendence over it's neighbor. I had the latest version of UniLogic and UniStream firmware as of December 1st 2016. Had to table the UniStream and go to a Vision 1210 to complete my project. However I desperately want to use the UniStream as an MTU/controller  in my project.

[MODBUS slave lost comm detection]

Problem #1 solved. In the MTU I side chained to the MODBUS function block (R/W mixed data in my case) a Memory Bit toggle bit (MB40 in my application). Each time the R/W function is called (periodically) the toggle MB changes states. I included this same toggle MB in my R/W mixed data exchange table (ie. Master: MB40 "RTU 4 toggle bit", Slave: MB40 "RTU 4 toggle bit", Length: 1, Direction: Write).  Now to the slave which was blind to com failure:

      MB40                            OFF Delay timer

-----[P]-------------------------(T0)------  "timer 0, TE, 90 seconds, Alias: Off Delay Timer"

                       |

    MB40     |

-----[N]----

 

      T0                                        MB42          "MB42 alias: Lost Com Flag"

----[/]--------------------------(   )------- 

 

a pulse from each MB40 transition keeps T0 from expiring thus holding T0 (XIC) inverted contact open.

If no MB40 transistion for greater than 90 seconds then T0 (XIC) inverted contact closes  and LOST COM is signaled on the SLAVE (RTU 4)

I saw the light, I saw the light.....

BEDTIME

 

[MODBUS slave lost comm detection]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I have 4- V430-J-TA24's,  serial (RS232, 9600, 1, none) MODBUS, one as a master (MTU), and the other 3 as slaves (RTU). port 1 on each unit connects to it's respective radio modem. The MTU polls the 3 RTU's successfully and the cycle repeats. Here is my problem: how do I detect a comm failure on the slaves that will set a MB to clear my outputs and registers? The master reads a register from RTU1, here it can use the status message from the RHR #3 and use a compare if MI96 (rhr#3 status) = D#5 then ----[R] (MI100, the value displayed on MTU, fetched from RTU). Now on to RTU 3 and 4, they only have a MODBUS config FB follow by a SCAN_EX. How does the RTU know if updates cease? The registers and coils will just hold their last set values. My thought is having the master toggle a MB on/off in the slave, then somehow implementing logic in the slave to detect if MB being stuck in a 0 or 1 state for greater than a defined amount of time. this would trigger a bit that would zero out the coils in the slave. Please someone tell me there is an easier way. Also what is the reason that RS232 port 1 (RJ11) seems to be disabled while connected to a PC with the USB cable? Thanks!