CAL Controls CALCOMMS 9300, CALCOMMS 3300 User Manual

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CALCOMMS

Manual

CAL Controls

Temperature Controllers

CAL 3300 and 9300

Autotune Temperature

Controllers

INDEX

KEY TO PROGRAM ICONS

OVERVIEW (inside front cover) INSTALLATION/CABLING

RS232 1 RS485 2 Termination resistors 3 Bias resistors 4 RS232/RS485 features 5

INSTRUMENT COMMS SETTINGS 6 CONFIGURING INSTRUMENT COMMS SETTINGS 7-8 INSTALLING CALCOMMS

SOFTWARE 9-10

GETTING STARTED 11 CALCOMMS

INSTRUMENT SCREENS 12

PC COM PORT SETTINGS 13-14 INSTRUMENT PARAMETER CONFIGURATION SOFTWARE ALARMS 15 SETPOINT ADJUSTMENT 16 INSTRUMENT CLONING 17 SAVING SETTINGS TO FILE 18 SECURITY LOCKOUTS 19-20 LOGGING AND CHARTING 21-24 LOG ON CHANGE 25-26 EXPORTING LOG FILES 27 TROUBLE SHOOTING 28 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 29-30 CAL CONTACT INFORMATION 32

Index

Key to Program Icons

Change comms settings & start monitoring

Toggle Modbus comms de-bug window

Add new instrument 3300

Add new instrument 9300

Arrange instruments in grid

Make instruments larger

Make instruments smaller

Set security locks

Add new chart recorder

Close program

Create new file

Print chart recorder

Scroll chart up 100%

Scroll chart up 10%

Find chart zero

Scroll chart down 10%

Scroll chart down 100%

Expand verticle scaling range

Decrease verticle scaling range

Increase time/division

Decrease time/division

Open existing file

Export file in text format

Select units to record

Toggle grid density

Select background colour

Select primary grid colour

Select grid colour

Make chart bigger

Make chart smaller

OVERVIEWKey to Program Icons

Overview

CALCOMMSTMis a graphic WINDOWSTMbased software

package designed for PC supervision of CAL Model 3300 and Model 9300 controllers. It offers the capability of remote adjustment, instrument configuration, cloning, saving and retrieving instrument settings to files together with logging and charting in real time.

Communication uses the MODBUS

protocol via either a fully isolated RS232 or RS485 link depending on the number of instruments and the transmission distances involved in the application.

PC Requirements

To gain the full benefit of CALCOMMS software, it is recommend that the PC is fitted with a Pentium processor and is running WINDOWS 95 or Windows NT programs. A minimum of 16 Mb RAM is recommended to run the program, together with enough free hard disc space to meet logging requirements.

This manual assumes that a mouse or other pointing device will be employed, but alternatively or in an emergency the standard WINDOWS key convention can be used to operate or close the program.

Because the controllers are “stand alone” they do not need PC supervision for their normal function, and will continue to control the process unaffected by failure of any part of the communications loop.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

3300/9300

rear terminal

PC Com 1

DB-9 Pin

Tx Rx Gnd

COM port

CAL 9300

Installation/Cabling

RS-232 Is the standard most widely used for interfacing

peripherals to PC's and is designed for serial communications with single instrument up to a distances of 15 metres, in a low electrical noise environment. Connection is via a screened two core cable where the voltage signal on each line is referenced to the screen which is grounded. Most PC's have one or two RS-232 compatible ports fitted as standard.

RS232 Connections

Port

Installation/Cabling

Tx Rx (+)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

additional

units

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

3300/9300

unit 2

Tx Rx (-)

3300/9300

unit 1

Gnd

Tx Rx (+) Tx Rx (-) Gnd

Daisy chained connections

Connections if PC 485 card used

To RS 485 Interface

Either plug in board or

separate converter

Note: Where separate RS 485 interface is used, refer to manufacturers instructions for connection details

RS 485

interface

CAL 3300

COM port

RS485 Connections

RS-485 Is a half duplex serial communications link and is the

standard most commonly used for industrial applications due to it's high noise immunity and multi-drop capability. It enables a PC to communicate with up to 32 instruments over distances up to 1200 metres, and requires the addition of an RS-485 interface card, or a separate RS-232/485 converter.

Installation/Cabling

Termination resistors

–

120Ω

–

120Ω

Instrument 1 Instrument 2 Instrument ‘N’

Each RS485 interface has specific connection and termination biasing requirements which will be detailed in their installation instructions. The general principles are as follows.

Terminations Because each wire is a transmission line, it must be properly terminated to prevent reflections. Where multiple instruments are daisy-chained together, a 120 ohm terminating resistor should be fitted at the connection to the PC and to the last instrument in the chain.

Installation/Cabling

Bias resistors

–

Instrument 1 Instrument 2 Instrument ‘N’

+5V

620Ω

-5V

620Ω

Bias resistors When transmission lines are not transmitting, they remain in an indeterminate state which can allow receivers to receive invalid data bits due to electrical noise on the cable. To prevent this, the the lines should be forced

into a known state by fitting two 620 ohm bias resistors to one point (node).

If an RS-485 interface card is being fitted to the PC, separate bias resistors may not be needed because they may already be fitted to the card. Check the manufacturers specification.

Installation/Cabling

For a continually updated list of recommended RS-485 interface cards, contact CAL.

Feature

Type of transmission lines Unbalanced

132

321

15M

19.2Kb/sec 19.2Kb/sec +/- 25V + 12 to - 7V

1200M

Differential Maximum number of drivers Maximum number of receivers Maximum cable length Maximum data rate Maximum CMV

RS232 RS485

Table lists the features of both RS-232 and RS-485 standards. Cable To ensure data integrity over long transmission distances, it is recommended that good quality RS-485 cable is used.

Recommended: RS485: Belden 9841, RS232: Belden 9501 available from most leading distributors, and stocked by CAL.

Instrument Comms Settings

Immediately after power-up, both instrument, and PC comms settings need to be made compatible before communication between them is possible. Instrument defaults are shown below together with the available options.

ADDR (Address) This is a unique

identification number that must be allocated to each instrument connected to the network.

Default =0. Options;

1 to 247

BAUD (Baud rate) The setting determines

the serial communication data transmission rate in bits/sec, and must match the PC settings

Default =

9600

Options;

1200;2400;4800;9600 and 19200

DATA (Data) Sets the transmission format, and

must match the PC settings.

Data Format Table

Settings Start bits

1 1 1

Data bits 8 8 8

Parity n (none) e (even) o (odd)

Stop bits 1 1 1

Default Option 1 Option 2

DBUG (Debug). Commissioning and

troubleshooting aid. Display shows when the instrument is transmitting or receiving data by rapidly flashing the three horizontal segments of the first and last digit of the display.

First digit = Tx; last digit = Rx Default = Off. Options

off; on

Only use dbuG during commissioning or trouble-shooting because it shares display segments and therefore corrupts the normal display.

Instrument Comms Address

Configuring Instrument Comms Settings

This should also be done immediately after power-up, and is only possible from the instrument front panel.

On power-up the controller will display the self test sequence followed by Alternating INPT and

nonE

INPT

CAL 3300

INPT

CAL 3300

INPT

CAL 3300

NONE

CAL 3300

NONE

CAL 3300

NONE

CAL 3300

INPT

CAL 3300

NONE

CAL 3300

Note: During the following procedure the display will revert to alternating INPT and

nonE

after 60 seconds of keying inactivity, but will retain any settings already completed. Should this occur, or in the event of becoming "lost" in the program, please start again from the alternating

INPT and

nonE

display

To select Level C (communications settings) Press ▼ once display alternates LEVL and

Press and hold ✱ and press ▼ five times to reach level C

display alternates LEVL and

Note: Level C is only visible when the comms interface board is fitted to the unit

To set up Instrument comms address Press ▲ once display alternates ADDR and

Press and hold ✱ and press ▲ to index to chosen address

number

(1 to 247)

Note: In the absence of any conflicting information the

following comms settings should be left as the default values. (see details on page 6).

To read or adjust comms settings Baud rate Press ▲ once display alternates BAUD and

9600

(Default setting) Press and hold ✱ and use ▲ or ▼ keys to select preferred

value

Data format Press ▲ once display alternates DATA and

18n1

(Default setting)

Press and hold ✱ and use ▲ or ▼ keys to select preferred

setting (see table page 6)

Debug setting Press ▲ once display alternates DBUG and

oFF

(Default setting)

Press and hold ✱ and use ▲ key to select

Instrument Comms Settings

Configuring Instrument Comms Settings

To enter settings into memory Press and hold ▲ and ▼ for 3 seconds display alternates

INPT and

nonE

To check settings; repeat the above procedure

The unit is now ready to be configured from the PC.

Note: Where more than one instrument is connected to the

system, it is useful at this point to list them by location, title and comms address. The list can then be used as a reference to ensure that the the instruments are given the same identity when configuring the comms link from the PC.

Installing Comms Software

Installing CALCOMMSTMSoftware

1. From the Windows screen, click the Start button and point to Settings.

2. Click the Control Panel icon then double click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.

3. Click on the Install button and follow the screen

prompts.

When installation is complete, CALCOMMS should appear in the Windows program menu.

To Uninstall CALCOMMS, repeat the above procedure.

To create a shortcut and put the CALCOMMS icon on your

desktop

Right click anywhere on the desktop. Point to New then Click Shortcut Type in Command line panel using syntax

exactly as shown:

"c:\Program Files\Cal Controls\ Cal Comms\Calcomms.exe"

Click Next

In Select name for shortcut panel the text will appear; Calcomms.exe

Click Finish, and this will place the title and

the CALCOMMS icon on the desktop. Alternatively;

Overtype your preferred title in the Command line

panel then

Click Finish. Check that the CALCOMMS logo appears

correctly titled.

An alternative method of defining the file path in the Create

shortcut window is to use the Browse function to find Calcomms.exe Click Browse Double Click Program Files folder. Double click Cal Comms folder Double click Calcomms.exe logo, then Click Next, then Click Finish, and check the CALCOMMS icon

and title.

Installing Comms Software

Installing Comms Software (continued)

To delete a shortcut, Click on the desktop icon then press the delete key

Getting Started

Start the program running from either; a. Windows Start menu b. Shortcut icon (if created during CALCOMMS installation) This will open the CALCOMMS window. The screen can be sized using standard Windows

controls. Note; As CALCOMMS is a supervisory program it is not designed to be minimised

ADDING INSTRUMENTS

Click the appropriate Add New Instrument icon to

call up the type and number of instruments that are to be shown on the screen. Each click produces a new instrument which can also be deleted by using the Close button in the instrument title bar immediately above the instrument screen. Mixed instrument types can be displayed on the same screen.

Click the Arrange Instruments in a grid icon and use the screen prompt to arrange them in the preferred layout.

Click the Make Instruments Larger icon or;

Click the Make Instruments Smaller icon to size them as required.

See screen illustrations overleaf.

CALCOMMS Instrument Screens

Getting Started

automatically configure the com port settings. Where an RS485 PC card is being used, refer to the manufacturers installation instructions. To open communication with the instruments in preparation for

Instrument configuration. Click Change comms settings and start

monitoring icon, then select the comms port that the instruments are connected to.(eg comm 1 or comm 2) then Select Baud rate to match the instrument settings,

(eg 9600) then Select Data Frame to match the instrument settings, (eg 18n1)

Click Open Comms button

Comms Settings (on PC)

PC Com Port Settings

When the instruments are positioned on the screen, they are automatically numbered in sequence Inst.1, Inst.2 etc. Each one can be individually named in it's own title bar, and must be given the same unique comms address (1 to 247) given manually to the instrument during the Instrument Set-Up procedure.

(CHECK your list!)

Right click in the display window of Inst.1 to open

the Internal Parameters for Inst1 screen. If not already in User Level;

Click User Level tab to open page, then; Point to instrument/name and if required,

change inst1 by typing in a preferred instrument title.

Check Modbus address and if necessary

correct it to the given comms address (1 to 247) by using the spin buttons or by swipe and type.

(CHECK your list!)

Click on Update button and then Yes button

in Confirm / Update Instruments with new parameters panel.

Instrument 1 should now have the correct comms

settings. The above procedure

must

be repeated for all instruments on the screen before starting Instrument

Parameter Configuration.

Note; If using an RS232 or RS485 converter plugged into comm port 1 or comm port 2, the CALCOMMS software will

Comms Settings (on PC)

PC Com Port Settings (continued)

Wait!! For update to be fully completed by

observing the Uploading bar turning from red to green in the CALCOMMS

Instrument screen. This may take several seconds.

Check Virtual instrument display readings

against real instrument readings.

If the check is satisfactory, proceed with

Instrument Parameter Configuration

Parameter Configuration

Instrument Parameter Configuration

The instrument(s) will not be operational until configured with the following basic settings. * Sensor type * Units of measurement * Allocation of output devices to the main output SP1 and

second output SP2

To configure the basic settings to Instrument 1

Right Click in the display window of Inst.1 (or new

given name) to open the Internal Parameter screen

Click Level 2 tab to open page, then Click Input sensor box, and select required

sensor from the drop down menu (eg

)

Click Process unit box, and select required

unit from the drop down menu (eg

C) Click Level 3 tab to open page, then Click SP1 output device box, and select

choice of output device from drop down menu (eg

rLy

)

Note: That SP2 output device box registers the

alternative output device (eg

SSd

) and if OK, Click the Yes button to confirm selection.

Click User Level tab to open page, and enter

a setpoint value in Set Point 1/SP1 Value box using spin buttons or swipe and type.

Check The Enable Display Mimics box if you

want the virtual instrument to mimic all actual instrument displays as well as reading setpoint and process values.

NB This may slow down communications

and should only be used if it serves a useful purpose.

SOFTWARE ALARMS

This feature provides a screen alarm indication if the measured value falls below the low alarm and/or rises above the high alarm settings. The alarm appears as a red band across the lower fascia of the instrument.

Parameter Configuration

Instrument Parameter Configuration (continued) To set Software Alarms (in User Level)

Adjust Spin buttons in Low Alarm/ High Alarm

boxes to set the required high/low level

Check The Enabled boxes.

TO ENTER THE ABOVE INSTRUMENT PARAMETER SETTINGS

Click on Update button and then Yes button

in Confirm/Update Instruments with new parameter panel.

Wait For update to be fully completed as

indicated by the Uploading bar turning from red to green after it temporarily appears in the CALCOMMS Instrument screen. This may take several seconds. After a few seconds more the Heat-On LED in the top left hand corner of the Inst.1 screen will light indicating that the power is applied to the output.

Instrument 1 will control with factory PID settings and pre-set proportional cycle times. For optimum performance

the instrument may require Tuning to match the characteristics of the application. For full instruction in setting the controller functions, please consult

the main manual.Autotune routines can be found on page 7.

SETPOINT ADJUSTMENT

During normal use, instrument setpoints can be adjusted from the CALCOMMS instrument screen, by using the three buttons shown on the virtual instrument lower fascia.

✱ button highlighted with red circle in program

Click The ✱ button, and while the red circle

shows around it, click either the ▲ or ▼ button to increase or decrease the setpoint value. This setting will be implemented when the red circle disappears after a few seconds.

Note: When more than one instrument is being configured, the outputs of the other instruments can be temporarily turned off using the

ParK

option of the TUNE function in

level 1.

Instrument Cloning

When a satisfactory instrument configuration has been achieved, either from the initial configuration with the basic parameter settings, following Autotune or other further adjustments, these settings can be cloned to other instruments on the network or saved in a file for later use. Suites of settings of all the instruments in an application can similarly be saved to a file making it possible to re-configure all of the instruments on a machine or process in a matter of seconds, to optimise them to different task.

Cloning Settings to another instrument on the bus.

Right Click in the display window of the instrument

that settings are to be cloned from.

Click the clone button in any of the pages of

the Internal Parameters for instrument (n) screen to call up the Clone data

page. The Instruments on line panel will list all of the instruments on line by it's Modbus address and either the default instrument number or name/location given during Instrument Comms Setting procedure. To transfer an instrument or group of instruments to the Instruments to Clone panel;

Click anywhere on instrument title, to

highlight, or

Click/hold a group of instrument titles, then Click the button to transfer the highlighted

instruments to the Instruments to clone panel, then

Click the OK button to clone them with the

settings from the original instrument.

Saving/Retrieving Instrument/Application Settings

Saving Settings to File

Saving the settings of a single instrument Click Save in the menu bar of the Internal

Parameters for Inst.n screen Type Your filename in the File name box Click the Save box

This will save the instrument settings to an instrument file with the extension .ins

Opening an existing instrument file Click Load in the menu bar of the Internal

Parameters for Inst.n screen Click the Yes button in the Confirm panel to

Load inst.n from file?

This will load instrument n settings to the new instrument.

Saving an Application File In the CALCOMMS Instruments screen Click File in the menu bar, then Save

Application from the menu. Type Your new filename in the File name box. Click Save

This will save the settings of all the instruments on the screen to an application file with the extension .app. Check that the file is correctly named Yourtitle.app.

Opening an Existing Application File Click File in the menu bar, then Open

Application from menu

Click File name to select application from the

list then click Open This will automatically configure the instruments to the settings saved in the selected file

Starting a New Application File Click File in the menu bar and select New

Application from menu Click Yes to confirm Start a new application

Note: When instrument settings are loaded from an application file, remember to re-start comms

Security Lockouts

When the instrument parameters have been established you may wish to password protect the settings against accidental or unauthorised adjustment. It is possible to make individual protection for each instrument function at each level, and for each instrument on the network

Please study the lock hierarchy diagram below before implementing your security strategy. When correcting errors, start again from supervisor level, lock none, and clear the locked settings in the correct hierarchical sequence

Supervisor

All of the controller functions are available to the supervisor who can deny adjustment of any number of them to lower levels in the hierarchy. These settings will be protected by the supervisor’s password.

Operator

The operator can adjust all controller functions not locked by the supervisor, and can in turn lock any of these to deny adjustment to a user, and then protect them with the operator’s password.

User

Any remaining functions are available for adjustment by the end user. These functions can be locked and unlocked without the use of a password.

All Controller Functions

Supervisor

Controller Functions Available to Operator

Operator

Controller Functions Available

for User Adjustment

Lock Hierarchy

parameters you want to lock, or the All

box or the None box.

Click OK then Click the tab for the next level, and repeat the

procedure until all levels of Inst.1 have

been protected.

Repeat for all of the remaining

instruments on the network, then return

to CALCOMMS instrument screen. Click double lock icon in the menu bar to

bring up the Password panel, then

Click the arrow in the User type box and

select Locked from the drop down

menu. Type your password in the Password box and

click OK. The selected levels of the

selected instruments are now locked

and protected by your password which

can be changed at any time using the

Change feature. NB: Once communication has been established and routine function adjustments under PC control, it is highly recommended that the instrument controls are manually locked to prevent unauthorised local adjustment. When

locked, it will still be possible to make adjustments from the PC.

If you forget your password, please contact CAL

Security Lockouts

Lock Hierarchy

Right click in the display window of Inst.1 to open

the Internal Parameters for

Click the tab for a level that contains any

settings that you wish to protect, and

Click the Lock button, and in the Lock User

Level Parameter window,

Check either the individual boxes of all the

To implement your security lockout strategy, begin from the CALCOMMS instrument screen, supervisor mode.

Logging and Charting

The CALCOMMS software is capable of logging readings from up to 32 instruments which it stores in data files. The data can be exported into text files which will enable the data to be displayed in c.s.v. format, as columns of readings against dates and times, for each of the 32 instruments. In addition, the readings of up to 12 of the instruments can be presented graphically and in colour, by the chart recorder facility.

As in other sections of the manual, it is assumed that a mouse or pointing device is being used. Where only a keyboard is available, the standard

Windows

key

conventions can be used to operate the program.

GETTING STARTED

From the CALCOMMS instrument screen. Click the add new chart recorder icon in the

menu bar, and in the Chart recorder screen;

Click the create new file icon, and in the File

name box of the Select File to Create

panel;

Type your chosen file name, then Click the

Save button. In the Select Units to Chart screen;

Click to highlight all of the units that are to be

logged from, in the Available instruments list.

Logging and Charting

using the Add to Custom Colour feature.

Click the OK box in the colour screen.

In the Sample Frequency panel,

Click the spin buttons to set the log reading

frequency.

Click the OK button to open the Chart

Recorder screen.

In the Chart Recorder screen, check that the Active File panel shows the correct file name, then make the following chart recorder settings to suit your application, starting with the Scaling panel;

Logging and Charting (continued)

Click the transfer button to list them in the

Instruments to record table. For each instrument to be charted from, double click in the Plot? column to change the No to Yes.

Double click in each instrument colour panel, and

from the standard Windows

colour chart, select contrasting colours that will effectively display all of the instruments listed. Additional shades can be added

Logging and Charting

Click the buttons in the deg C/F box to set up

a suitable temperature scale in the chart Y axis.

Click the buttons in the time/div box to set

chart speed in the time interval per minor division of the X axis.

Click the Start button to commence logging

and run the chart recorder with default

chart settings. Note: Chart scale settings are determined by the settings chosen for the first instrument (or instrument 1)

Traces can be vertically positioned on the chart by using the chart scroll buttons.

Click the buttons to move the chart up or

down by 10%

Click the buttons to move the chart up or

down by 100%

Click the button to zero the chart

The appearance and colours of the chart can be changed as follows; Click select background colour icon, and

chose another colour from the colour chart.

Click the toggle grid intensity icon to add

minor divisions to the Y axis.

Click the select primary grid colour icon to

change the colour of the grid major divisions.

Click the select grid colour icon to change

the colour of the grid minor divisions.

Note: Because the chart is re-drawn after each plot, a setting of less than 5 minutes/div is recommended, to avoid extravagant use of system resources while logging. Longer settings can be used to review the full chart history in view plot mode.

Logging and Charting

Click the make chart bigger or make chart

smaller icons to adjust the size of the

chart on your screen.

Click in the chart recorder blue title band, and

drag to adjust the position of the chart

recorder on your screen. Repeat this for the CALCOMMS instrument screen,

and trim both adjustments so that both are visible. If you prefer using full screens for both chart and instruments, toggle between screens using the instruments menu bar

option in the chart screen and the chart option in the instruments screen.

Click the pause button to stop logging and

stop the chart recorder.

Click the Resume button to re-start logging

and charting.Note that a grey vertical band appears on the right of the chart to signify the break in readings.

Click the auto plot button to pause the chart

and allow the chart history to be viewed using the horizontal scroll bar controls.

(normal logging continues meanwhile)

Click the view plot button to return to

automatic chart update state and normal

charting is resumed. During charting, the current value is displayed to the right of the chart, in the trace colour. When in view plot mode

Point and Click to any point on the trace. A

dashed vertical line will appear and cut the trace at this point, and the value will appear to the right of the chart in place of the current value. If used in auto plot mode the reading will be set to current value at the next plot.

Log on Change

LOG-ON-CHANGE (ONLY LOG/CHART OUT OF LIMITS READINGS)

This feature reduces the size of log and chart files by ignoring readings that are within adjustable specified limits. To specify the limits;

Double click in the inst.1 Min column and enter the

value

below

which readings are to be

logged. Repeat in the

Max

column, and enter the value above which readings are to be logged.

Check the radio button record when out of

tolerance, and Click the OK button.

The chart will now only register

out of

limits

readings which will be separated by grey vertical bands signifying periods of

in limit

readings. It will still be necessary to set the Sample Frequency buttons.

Check the radio button record all readings to

return to normal logging/charting.

Factor and Offset adjustments A factor adjustment can be made to enable readings of

differing orders of magnitude to be charted on the same scale. For example, a X10 factor applied to ambient temperature readings would enable them to be charted alongside process temperatures of 200

/400oC -

400

/1470oF. Factor adjustments can be greater or less than one. Offset adjustments can be applied to any trace to adjust its position with respect to the scale. For example, the readings from a particular instrument may be known to be 4

low due to poor siting of the sensor. An adjustment of +4 in the Offset column will remove this error.

Sizing and positioning your chart Click to make the chart smaller or larger.

If required, it is possible to super-impose a small chart screen on top of or beside the CALCOMMS screen so that both are visible.

Other Logging and Charting Options

Log on Change

Saving Charts

To stop recording Click Either the close button or from the

menubar chose File then Exit. The file will automatically be saved with the

name given earlier as Givenname.cht Files can be recalled to view, or to add additional data using the Append feature. Click the Open existing file icon, and select

the name of the file to be opened from

the list in the file box.

Click Open button.

The chart recorder screen will open with the chart settings returned to default. If preferred, reset the chart to your original settings, then;

Click Append button to add the new readings

to the chart. The new readings will be separated by a vertical grey bar.

Multiple Charts

It is possible to open a number of charts simultaneously. The menu will register the number of charts open under the chart heading. These can be arranged on the screen, in or out of view, and moved or sized as required.

Exporting Log Files

Exporting Log Files as Text Files

Log files can be exported as "Comma Separated Variable" (csv) text files, which appears as column of logged instrument readings, set against its time, date and line number. In this form the data can be exported into other applications such as spreadsheets or data bases for use in the preparation of reports or other management documents.

To export data to a text file, in the Chart Recorder screen,

Click the export file in text format icon, and

in the Export Text File screen, type your file name in the File name box.

Click the Save button to save your file as a

Filename.txt file

To check that your file has been correctly saved, open

Windows Explorer

And from the C:\ directory click Program Files then CAL Controls then CAL Comms

From the list contained under the filepath

C:\Program Files\CALControls\CAL Comms\

Double click Select Filename.txt

Depending on the size of the file, it will be opened in either

Notepad or WordPad

Printing Charts

Charts can be printed in full colour, depending on the specification of the printer. From the Chart recorder screen use either the print icon or the print chart command from Options in the menu bar. This will open the Windows

print screen. Click the properties button to select landscape setting. If changes in appearance are required, review the logging and charting section.

Trouble Shooting

Error Message Fault Suggested remedy

ASK Comms error Check that the comms

address setting of the

real

and the

virtual

instruments are the same.

_ _ _ _ Comms inactive Make sure that comms is

open.

Click Change comms

settings and start monitoring icon.

Glossary of Terms

The following definitions apply to terms as they are use in this manual, and have been worded for ease of understanding. They may differ in detail to definitions found elsewhere.

Address The unique number given to each

instrument on the network that enables the PC to transmit individual instructions, and receive individual data from it.

Application In this manual it defines the application of

an instrument or group of instruments to control temperatures or other variables on a machine or process.

Application file The stored settings of all of the

instruments on a machine or process.

Baud Serial communication consists of a stream

of on/off signals called bits. Baud rate is a measure of the speed of communications in bits/second.

Bus The electrical connection linking together

the instruments and the PC.

Charting Placing logged readings on a graph

format to form a continuous trace of readings where the vertical or Y axis measures the magnitude of the reading and the horizontal or X axis measures elapsed time.

Cloning Copying settings or groups of settings

from one instrument to another.

Comms Abbreviation of serial communications. Daisy chain The method of connecting instruments

together.

Data format Defines the structure of the message. Functions The main features available in the

controller.

Icon Small picture on a PC screen that

describes a CALCOMMS function that can be clicked on to open or close the function.

Level The instruments' functions are grouped

on five levels of adjustments for ease of use and protection.

Logging Datalogging; Recording readings against

time and or date, into a file.

Modbus Generic name given to the format

(protocol) that defines the structure of the coherent groups of signals in serial communications.

Multi drop When several instruments are connected

together on a network using RS 485 standard.

Options The choice of settings for the Functions. Password protect The arrangement that enables the user

to lock the system settings against unauthorised adjustment with the use of a word or code.

Continued over the page

Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms (continued)

P.C. Personal computer, desktop or laptop. Protocol See Modbus. Radio button A PC "screen" switch shaped like a push

button that can be clicked on and off

RS232/RS485 Sometimes EIA232/EIA485 defines the

two standards for serial communication. More detail can be found under Installation/Cabling.

Serial Link Another name for the wiring between

two communicating devices.

Virtual Instrument Image of the instrument on the PC

screen.

Not to be reproduced without prior written permission from CAL Controls Ltd. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the specifications contained in this manual, due to our policy of continuous development, CAL Control Ltd. reserves the right to make changes without prior notice.

CAL Controls

Temperature Controllers

CAL Controls

Temperature Controllers

CAL Controls Ltd

Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1RT. UK

Tel: + 44 (0)1462-436161 Fax: + 44 (0)1462-451801

email: support@cal-controls.co.uk

http://www.cal-controls.com

CAL Controls Inc

1580 S.Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048. USA

Tel: (847) 680-7080 Fax: (847) 816-6852

33011/1/1297

CAL Controls CALCOMMS 9300, CALCOMMS 3300 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual