Super Systems PAPERLESS VIDEO RECORDER Operations Manual

PAPERLESS VIDEO RECORDER

OPERATIONS MANUAL

Super Systems Inc.

7205 Edington Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45249

513-772-0060

Fax: [phone]

www.supersystems.com

Super Systems Inc. Page 1 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Super Systems Inc.

USA Office

Corporate Headquarters:

7205 Edington Drive

Shipping Address:

7245 Edington Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45249

Phone: [phone]

http://www.supersystems.com

Super Systems Europe

Unit E, Tyburn Trading Estate,

Ashold Farm Road, Birmingham

B24 9QG

UNITED KINGDOM

Phone: [phone]

http://www.supersystemseurope.com

Super Systems México

Sistemas Superiores Integrales S de RL de CV

Acceso IV No. 31 Int. H Parque Industrial

Benito Juarez

C.P. 76120 Queretaro, Qro.

Phone: [phone]

http://www.supersystems.com.mx

Super Systems China

No. 369 XianXia Road

Room 703

Shanghai, CHINA

200336

Phone: [phone]

http://www.supersystems.cn

Super Systems India Pvt. Ltd.

A-26 Mezzanine Floor, FIEE Complex,

Okhla Indl. Area, Phase – 2

New Delhi, India 110 020

Phone: [phone]

http://www.supersystemsindia.com

Super Systems Inc. Page 2 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Table of Contents

Product Overview _____________________________________________________________________________ 4

Product Description ________________________________________________________________________ 4

Product Specifications _____________________________________________________________________ 4
Environmental Specifications _______________________________________________________________ 4
Software Installation ______________________________________________________________________ 5
Calibration ______________________________________________________________________________ 5
Components ____________________________________________________________________________ 6

Analog Inputs _____________________________________________________________________________ 7

Adding a Jumper to an Input ________________________________________________________________ 7
Thermocouple connections _________________________________________________________________ 7
Voltage connections ______________________________________________________________________ 7
4 – 20 mA. Current Loop connections ________________________________________________________ 8

Setting the DIP switches to Assign Board Numbers ______________________________________________ 9
Getting Started ____________________________________________________________________________ 9
Physical Installation ________________________________________________________________________ 9
Mounting the Touchscreen Interface __________________________________________________________ 9
Connecting the Brick to the Touch Screen ____________________________________________________ 10
Change the IP Address of the Brick __________________________________________________________ 11
Change the IP Address of the Touch Screen ___________________________________________________ 11

Touch Screen Interface _______________________________________________________________________ 12
Configuration Menu _________________________________________________________________________ 21

Status _________________________________________________________________________________ 21
Template Edit __________________________________________________________________________ 21
Communications ________________________________________________________________________ 23
Calibration _____________________________________________________________________________ 24
Target VR IP Address ____________________________________________________________________ 24
Video Recorder IP ________________________________ _______________________________________ 24
Analog Input Type Setup _________________________________________________________________ 24
Analog Input Offsets _____________________________________________________________________ 25
Synchronize Clocks ______________________________________________________________________ 25
Exit the program ________________________________________________________________________ 25
Full Disk Options ________________________________ _______________________________________ 25
Manage Curves _________________________________________________________________________ 26
Totalizers ______________________________________________________________________________ 27
Averagers _____________________________________________________________________________ 27
Function Based Timers ___________________________________________________________________ 28
Alarm Text ________________________________________________________________ ____________ 28
Alarm Setup ___________________________________________________________________________ 29
Purge Data _____________________________________________________________________________ 29
Client Instrument Setup___________________________________________________________________ 32
Notes Search ___________________________________________________________________________ 33
Loads _________________________________________________________________________________ 34
Date Time Settings ______________________________________________________________________ 35
User Fields ____________________________________________________________________________ 35
Passcodes _____________________________________________________________________________ 36
Menu Configuration _____________________________________________________________________ 36
Input Calibration – Screen Version 1.47 and Below _____________________________________________ 37
Input Calibration – Screen Version 1.49 and Above _____________________________________________ 39

Changing the Date/Time of the Touch Screen display ___________________________________________ 42

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Remote Trend Web Page___________________________________________________________________ 43
Video Recorder Web Page _________________________________________________________________ 48

VR Manager Software ________________________________________________________________________ 49

Installing the VR Manager Software _________________________________________________________ 49
VR Manager Minimum System Requirements _________________________________________________ 52
VR Manager Overview ____________________________________________________________________ 52
VR Manager Screen _______________________________________________________________________ 53
Operating the VR Manage Screen ___________________________________________________________ 54
VR Manager Menu Options ________________________________________________________________ 55

File  New / New Button_________________________________________________________________ 55
File  Open / Open Button _______________________________________________________________ 55
File  Save / File  Save As / Save Button __________________________________________________ 56
File  Print  Chart ____________________________________________________________________ 56
File  Print  Notes ____________________________________________________________________ 56
Print Button ____________________________________________________________________________ 56
File  Print Preview  Chart _____________________________________________________________ 56
File  Print Preview  Notes _____________________________________________________________ 57
File  Exit ____________________________________________________________________________ 57
Tools  Customize  Chart Interval________________________________________________________ 57
Tools  Communications  Setup _________________________________________________________ 57
Tools  Communications  Advanced Download & Maintenance ________________________________ 59
Tools  Export _________________________________________________________________________ 61
Tools  Export  Notes to SDRecorder _____________________________________________________ 61
Tools  Data Backup ____________________________________________________________________ 62
Tools  Alarms Report __________________________________________________________________ 62
Help  Check for Updates ________________________________________________________________ 63
Help  About __________________________________________________________________________ 63
Totalizers and Function Based Timers Logs ___________________________________________________ 64

Edit Custom Curves _______________________________________________________________________ 64
Tabular Data ____________________________________________________________________________ 66
Editing a Chart in VR Manager _____________________________________________________________ 66
VR Manager Batch Mode (Version 1.0.1.11 & up) ______________________________________________ 67

Adding The VR Manager Location to the System Path __________________________________________ 67
Running the VR Manager Software in batch mode______________________________________________ 68
Error logging ___________________________________________________________________________ 69
List of Batch Mode Parameters _____________________________________________________________ 69

Satellite Boxes ______________________________________________________________________________ 70
Running Applications Over A Network ________________________________ __________________________ 71

Purpose _________________________________________________________________________________ 72

Cutout Dimensions for Touch Screens ___________________________________________________________ 73
Appendix A: Wiring Diagrams _________________________________________________________________ 76
Parts List __________________________________________________________________________________ 79
Warranty __________________________________________________________________________________ 80
Revision History _____________________________________________________________________________ 81

Super Systems Inc. Page 4 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Product Overview

Product Description

You’ll find all the necessary information related to how to use the product in this manual. The product is
broken up into two parts; the software, and the hardware components. This user guide is also written in
this manner.

The video recorder provides the hardware and software needed to meet industry standard digital chart
recording.

It is easy to use and addresses the many industrial applications where data logging, trending, and
reporting is required. The product is available with three different screen sizes and up to 48 inputs with
user-defined inputs for each channel.

The easy-to-use VR Manager provides users with all the necessary tools to generate trend chards from a
remote computer. Data is stored on a flash card on the touch screen display where data can be extracted
through a network connection OR by removing the flash card and extracting the files to the computer
using the VR Manager software. All data can be printed or stored electronically in an un-modifiable
format.

Product Specifications

 User defined logging intervals as frequently as one second
 Optically Isolated inputs
 DC Power Supply: +24 VDC, 9 watts max, fused at ¾ A
 Password protected menu options
 Easy calibration
 Web-page enabled real-time view
 ETHERNET, RS485 and RS232 serial communications
 16-Bit A/D converter
 Redundant data storage

Environmental Specifications

 Storage Temperature → -4° F to 158° F (-20° C to 70° C)

 Ambient operating temperature → 32° F to 131° F (0° C to 55° C)
 Ambient humidity → 5% to 95% relative humidity (non-condensing)

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Degrees F.

TC Type

Min

Max B 32

3308 C 32

4208

E

-328

1832

J

-346

2192

K

-328

2502

N

-328

2372

NNM

0

1409

R

-58

3214

S

-58

3214

T

-328

752

Thermocouple range listed by thermocouple

Software Installation

You will find the VR Manager software CD that ships with the unit includes all the reporting and data
management utilities. Insert the CD into the CD ROM device on your computer and click the setup.exe
file. You will be given step-by-step instructions for completing the installation process. See the section

Installing the VR Manager Software

for more details.

Calibration

The Video Recorder is calibrated prior to shipment, although the calibration process is also available
through the touch screen. Instructions for calibration are included in this manual. Super Systems
calibrates the Video Recorder using NIST traceable instruments that are listed on the calibration
certificate included with the device. The default calibration is performed using a zero and span routine
for the millivolt ranges of: 0-20mV, 0-40mV, 0 – 80mV, 0-160mV, 0-1000mV.. Each range that is being
used should be calibrated. For a list of suggested mV ranges by thermocouple types, please refer to the

Input Calibration

section of this manual.

Super Systems Inc. Page 6 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Components

The Video Recorder consists of the Touch Screen Interface, Data Logging Device (“Brick”), and VR
Manager Software.

The Brick is made up of three user-defined analog inputs per boards. Each input is configurable using
the Touch Screen Interface and allows for different math functions to be performed on the input. Each
input is fully isolated.

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Analog Inputs

The Super Systems, Inc. Part Number 31611 Analog Board contains a group of three channels isolated
from the main DC power source. Each input is fully isolated. The board can be connected to
thermocouples, voltage sources from 20mV full scale to 1.28 Volts full scale, voltage sources from 0 V full
scale to 10 V DC full scale, or 4 – 20 mA current loops.

Adding a Jumper to an
Input

When measuring a 4-20mA
current signal or a voltage
signal, such as a
thermocouple, a jumper must
be placed on the
corresponding two or three­position header. For example,
Input 1 would need to have a
jumper placed between the

pins labeled “I1” before

connecting a 4-20mA signal.
Failure to add the jumper will
result in damage to the circuit
board. The jumper may
already be present at each of
the three headers, but unless

it is attached across both pins (not just one) it will not be connected.

Thermocouple connections

Thermocouple wires can be connected directly to the terminal blocks. The thermocouple junctions should
not be grounded. If they do touch a ground reference, all thermocouples on a board must have a common
ground reference. If multiple thermocouples are connected to different ground reference points, the
accuracy of all thermocouples on the board cannot be guaranteed to be accurate. When setting up a
voltage input signal, such as a thermocouple input or any voltage input signal up to 1.28 volts, the jumper
must be placed on the pins in the 1:1 setup (left diagram).

Voltage connections

Voltages from 0 mV to 10 Volts DC can be directly connected to the terminal blocks. When measuring
ground-referenced voltages, all references must share a common ground reference. If the voltage

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sources are connected to different ground reference points, the accuracy of all the voltage sources
connected to the board need to be checked for accuracy. Since higher voltages can damage the input
board, any voltage input signals, such as a vacuum gauge, must have the jumpers placed on the pins in
the 10:1 setup (middle diagram). This will insure that any signal going into the board will be scaled down
so it will not damage the input board.

4 – 20 mA. Current Loop connections

Before connecting the current loop, insert the shorting jumper on the board for each channel used to
measure current loops. This jumper inserts the 62-ohm shunt resistor across the input of the A/D. If
multiple current loops are connected to one board, all must share the same power supply and ground
reference points or the accuracy of all the current loops need to be checked for accuracy. When setting
up a current input signal, such as a 4 – 20 mA signal, the jumper must be placed on the pins in the
current setup (right diagram). Notice that there is also a jumper set up in the 10:1 setup only when
inputting a current signal. This is because current signals also have a corresponding voltage signal.

Warning: Connecting a mA input without the Input Jumper will damage the
input.

1. To add a jumper to an input:

2. Power down the unit.

3. Remove the thermocouple connector and the Ethernet cable from the video recorder.

4. Remove the top plate of the video recorder by unscrewing the six (6) screws around the top of the

video recorder.

5. Grasping both sides of the input board, carefully pull the input board out of the video recorder and set

the jumper for the appropriate set of pins, i.e. “V1” for input 1, “V2” for input 2, etc. A jumper will need
to be set – placed on both pins – to be considered “on”. Slide the input board back into the video
recorder slot.

6. Replace the top plate

of the video recorder
by screwing in the six
(6) screws around the
top of the video
recorder.

7. Re-connect the

Ethernet cable and
thermocouple
connector.

Super Systems Inc. Page 9 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Setting the DIP switches to Assign Board Numbers

Each input board, whether
directly connected in the
Video Recorder or
connected through a
satellite box, must have a
unique address assigned
by the DIP switches on
each input board. A
unique address will
ensure that the Video
Recorder will correctly
read all of the boards set
up. If two or more boards

have the same address,
multiple errors could occur such as: VR reading data from one board one second, then reading data from
another board the next second, no data being read from the VR, etc.

It is important that each board has a

unique address

. Each DIP switch has four switches on it labeled: 1, 2, 3, and 4. These numbers follow a
binary numbering system – i.e. 1 = 1, 2 = 2, 3 = 4, and 4 = 8. There is an ON and an OFF position for each
switch. OFF = 0 and ON = 1. Each board number can be assigned by setting the appropriate switches to

ON. For example, to set a board number to 1, set the “1” switch to ON and the “2”, “3”, and “4” switches
to OFF ((1*1) + (2*0) + (4*0) + (8*0) = 1). To set the board number to 10, set the “1” and “3” switches to
OFF and the “2” and “4” switches to ON ((1*0) + (2*1) + (4*0) + (8*1) = 10).

The exception to the rule is

setting a board number to 16 – all switches are off

.

Getting Started

The data logging device and the touch screen have a unique IP address. The communications between
the screen and the data logger is performed through the Ethernet ports. Both the screen and data logger
require separate and unique fixed IP addresses.

Physical Installation

Mechanical Mounting
The din rail (Allen-Bradley P/N 1492-N22) is mounted to the enclosure panel. Snap the video recorder
enclosure onto the DIN-rail.

Mounting the Touchscreen Interface

1. There is an adhesive waterproof gasket on the front bezel. Ensure that the waterproof gasket is in
place before installing the TPC system in the panel opening.

2. Install the TPC in the panel opening.

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3. Retrieve the clamps and long screws from the accessory pack. Hook the clamps the holes located on
the four sides of the bezel. Insert screws into every clamp and tighten them to fasten the clamp in place.
These screws will push against the mounting panel and secure the unit.

4. The suggested mounting panel thickness is less than 6 mm (0.236 in).

5. The suggested mounting screw torque is 2 KGF-cm (kilogram-force centimeter) or 0.14 ft*lb (foot
pound) (

Finger tight + ¼ turn + removable Loctite)

Wiring
Connect power with 18 or 20 AWG wire and inline fuse holder as shown in Appendix A: Wiring Diagrams.
Connect earth ground to the panel connector as shown in Appendix A: Wiring Diagrams.

Connecting the Brick to the Touch Screen

Every Video Recorder shipped includes a red Ethernet crossover cable that
will connect the Brick to the screen. The screen and the Brick
communicate either through the crossover cable OR using an existing
network.

If you are connecting the video recorder to your network, you will need a
straight-through Ethernet cable (the cable provided is a crossover cable
for direct connections to a PC or Touchscreen) to be connected from the
Brick to an Ethernet hub and the Touch Screen to an Ethernet hub. The cable is plugged
into the Brick’s Ethernet plug and then other end should be plugged into a network hub.
The IP address of the Brick will be provided with shipment.

If you are not putting the data logger on the network, you should use the red Ethernet crossover cable
that has been provided with the device. Ethernet crossover cables are most often used when connecting
two Ethernet computers without a hub. An Ethernet crossover cable has its send and receive wires
crossed. When using a hub or switch, this is automatically done for you.

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With a crossover cable, you are forming a network between the computer that you are directly plugged
into and the touch screen. See Appendix A: Wiring Diagrams.

Each screen and Video Logging device is configured and setup with a fixed IP address. The screen is
configured to communicate with a specific device. This is done through the

Configuration



Target VR IP

Address

Menu Option.

Change the IP Address of the Brick

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If changing the IP address of both the Touch Screen and the Brick, the Brick must
be changed first.

Go to the main menu and log in as “2.” Scroll down the options, select “Video Recorder IP” and tap

“View” to display the current IP address. From here, you can change the IP address to the desired

settings.

Change the IP Address of the Touch Screen

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If changing the IP address of both the Touch Screen and the Brick, the Brick must
be changed first. See section above for instructions on this procedure. After changing the IP address of

the Brick, use the touch screen to select “Target VR IP Address” under the “Configuration” menu and set

it to the new address of the Brick.

It is important to obtain an available IP address and correct Net Mask and Default Gateway from an
administrator or IT associate before changing any of the IP settings. In order to change the IP address of
the touch screen, the program must be shut down. To do this, scroll down the menu options and select
“Exit Program.” Then, click on Start Menu  Settings  Network and Dial-up Connections. This will
display the Network settings screen. Double-Click on the existing connection to display the properties.

To specify an IP address, select the “Specify an IP address” option and fill in the sections for the IP

Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway using the on-screen keyboard, which can be started by

clicking on the Pen/Paper icon in the lower right corner and then clicking on “Keyboard” from the menu

option. Move the keyboard to a position where you will still be able to see the IP address section and the
keyboard at the same time. Highlight the first section of the IP address and enter the IP address.

Note –

The cursor will move to the next section once three digits have been entered

. To enter a two or one-digit
section of the address, begin the section with zeroes, i.e., 001 instead of 1. Repeat for the Subnet Mask
and Default Gateway.

To have the IP address assigned by the network, select the “Obtain an IP address via DHCP” option. This

option will disable the text boxes for entering the IP address, since the IP address will be given by the
network. Click on the OK or X button on the top of the screen to close the screen.

Note – If the IP
address of the touch screen is changed, then the corresponding profile in the VR Manager will have to be
updated as well

.

If you are not comfortable with this procedure, contact SSi at 513-772-0060 for assistance.

Super Systems Inc. Page 12 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Touch Screen Interface

The VR Series recorder is equipped with a touch screen operator interface, which is used to view the
different variables that are being recorded. When the screen is powered up with the 24 VDC supply and
connected to the VR series analog input base module, the Main screen appears.

The three options available are Display,
Configuration, and Template. Clicking on
the Display option will load the chart.

On the Chart screen, there are several variables displayed.

1. Template – the chart view with the chosen process variable.

2. Date/Time – the current date and time in real time or historical mode.

3. Decimal Values – actual value of trend variable.

4. Greeen arrows – Move the displayed information either forward or backward in time.

5. Chart Menu – More choices for displayed features.

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The inputs that appear on the chart
can be toggled between being
displayed or being left off simply by
tapping on the name of the input
along the bottom of the chart. The
box with the input number will turn
gray.

In this example, TC2 and TC4 are
left off of the chart display and are
in gray boxes.

Selecting the Chart Menu provides more options for the display.

Super Systems Inc. Page 14 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Realtime – Choosing this option sets the displayed values to the present date and time.

Zoom – This selection allows you to move your stylus or finger on the screen to a specific point creating a
box. The zoom box will also display decimal values for the low and high variables inside the box. It will

display the start and end time for
the zoom box itself. The zoom
feature can be used as often as
desired allowing the user to drill
down on the variable to show a
specific value displayed on the
screen.

Note – the Note feature
available on VR series
recorders allows the operator
to add notes in the chart
display. Notes can be added
using either a stylus or the
keyboard displayed on the
screen. Choose the Add Note
option from the Chart Menu
then select keyboard or stylus
to add a note.

Note on

keyboard functionality –

pressing the “caps” button or
the “shift” button will display

more keys for data entry. Also,

the “del” key works more like
the “Backspace” key on a

regular keyboard – i.e. it will
delete the character to the left
of the cursor

.

If a note requires editing select clear to retype or scribe the note or cancel to go back to the chart display.

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The note is displayed on the chart menu with a small icon. If the icon is touched it will expand to show the
information either scribed or typed onto the recorder.

Jump – This option allows the user to input the date and time to be displayed. The chart will jump to this
time.

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Statistics – The statistics option is
also available on the chart menu.
Choosing this option allows the
operator to view statistics on any
variable displayed on the operator
interface. The statistics are based
on the screen image displayed
whether looking at seven days of
data or zoomed in on a few
minutes.

The statistics parameters include
the trend name, the number of data
points available for calculating
statistics, the Minimum value, the
Maximum value, the Average value,
and the standard deviation.

Sample – Pre selected time
frame formats change the
displayed values on the screen
to this duration.

Note: When the sample rate is

“15 minutes @ 1 sec”, the

averagers will not be displayed
on the trend chart (Touch
screen Versions 3.00 and
above).

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Template Roatation – This option
enables the display to cycle
through the different templates
that have been saved.

Selecting Rotation Settings
brings up a list of available
options for the display settings.
Checking the Use Main Template
box will keep the display on one
template. Select Main Template
allows the user to decide which
template to display permanently
if Use Main Template is chosen.
Checking the Use Rotation
Settings box will enable the
templates to cycle. The
templates to be displayed can be
customized by checking or
unchecking the box next to each
name under Select Rotation
Templates. The amount of time
each template is displayed can be
adjusted using the Rotation
Settings button.

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Along the bottom of the Display screen, there are other options for the way the template information is
presented.

The Loads button helps keep track of Active and Historical load data.

Pressing New will bring up the screen
for a New Load.

To input information about the new load, highlight any field, Name, Company, or Notes, and press Edit
Record. A keypad will display. Press enter on the keypad to save information, delete to backspace a
letter, and esc to leave the keypad without saving changes. Choose the corresponding template from the

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drop down menu along the top of the screen. When the load begins, press the Start Load button. When
the load finishes, choose End Load on the same screen.

By pressing the Historical button on the loads screen, the historical load data will be displayed.

The Details button will display the information that has been stored about each load. The Search key
allows all historical load data to be searched through according to either the Name, Company, or within
the Notes. Only notes that have been entered with the keypad can be searched. Notes written the stylus
will not be included in searches.

To search historical loads, press the Search key.

Highlight the appropriate field
and press Edit Key. A keypad will
display. Press enter on the
keypad to save information,
delete to backspace a letter, and
esc to leave the keypad without
saving changes. Once the search
key(s) have been entered, press
the Search button, and a list of
matching results will be
displayed.

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Returning to the main display screen, the data can also be displayed in a panel or bar format.

To select the panel view, view touch the Panel button on the bottom of the screen. In this mode,e decimal
values chosen for this template are displayed. Only realtime data can be displayed in the panel view.
Starting with version 3.12 of the screen software, it will be possible to send a setpoint down to a Client
instrument. The Client instrument’s setpoint must be included as a trend line. From the panel view
screen, touch the Client instrument’s setpoint panel and a menu will pop up that will allow the user to
send the setpoint down to the instrument. Select this option and enter the new setpoint.

A third choice for viewing variables on the VR operator interface is the Bars view. To select this view touch
the Bars button on the bottom of the screen. In this mode, the decimal values chosen for this template

are displayed as well as a vertical bar
chart for each variable with the
appropriate scaling for each. Only
realtime data can be displayed in the
Bars view.

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Configuration Menu

The VR recorder is configured through the
operator screen. The user must first select
the configuration button from the main
menu. Then choose the login button located
on the lower left of the next screen.

Login – Allows the operator to enter
a password to enter the
configuration of variables. The
password for logging in is “2”.

View – Allows the operator to view a
configuration parameter that has
been highlighted.

Return – pressing this button returns the operator interface to the previous viewing screen.

Press Login, type the password and press enter for configuration.

Status

Status – Includes the VR firmware revision, touch screen software revision, communication status,
remaining disk space, and estimated storage space remaining, which is displayed in number of days.

The communication status shows the status of communications from the VR base unit to the operator
touch screen. This will show either OK or BAD if communications have failed between the base and the
operator screen.

Template Edit

Template Edit allows the operator to edit an
existing template, or create a new template.
A template is the number of variables
displayed on one screen. For example this
could be a control, overtemp, or load
thermocouple on a batch furnace. Or it could
be one thermocouple from eight temper
furnaces. There is not a maximum for
template selections, but the number of
variables displayed on one screen must be a
consideration in this process.

To create a template the Add key is pressed
which allows the operator to configure the
following parameters.

 Name – the name of the input, for example “Control T/C” which should be changed to the least

amount of understood characters “Ctl T/C”

Super Systems Inc. Page 22 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

 Input - the analog input that is being configured, for example on a VR5 this could be a channel from

one through five. The list of options is: TC 1 – TC 40, Averager Group 1 – Averager Group 3, Totalizer
1 – Totalizer 10, and Function Based Timer 1 – Function Based Timer 5. Plus, with version 3.11+ of
the screen software, Client 1 Process Variable, Client 1 Setpoint, Client 1 % Output – Client 10
Process Variable, Client 10 Setpoint, Client 10 % Output are available for versions 2.01+ on the VR
Brick.

 Min – the minimum displayed scale value on a chart

 Max – the maximum displayed scale value on a chart

 Expression – every input requires an expression to

be calculated and displayed correctly. For example
an expression for thermocouple inputs would be x
*.1. Use the onscreen keyboard to enter an
expression.

 Expression Wizard – This feature will allow the

operator to build an expression using either a
custom curve or a regular expression. See the

“Note About Expression Wizard” below for more

information about this feature.

 Line Format – the value displayed on the chart display of the operator interface. A short custom

description can be added here. For example, to display one (1) decimal point, enter a value of “#0.0”.
For carbon values, enter a value of “#0.00” for 2 decimals. This would display a value like “0.81”.
Entering “#.00” would display a value of “.81”.

 Units – The type of units used for the trend.

 Line Width – a numeric value for the thickness of the trend line. A 1 is a thin line; A higher value =

thicker line width.

 Sample – a number is entered here to test the expression.

 Test – Press the test button to calculate the expression with the value entered in the sample

parameter. For example with and expression of x*.1 and a value of 250 entered in the sample
parameter will display a 25.0

Note About Expression Wizard

This option will allow the user to select either a

common expression, such as “x*.01”, a custom

curve created with the

Manage Curves

menu

option, or to create an expression.

Super Systems Inc. Page 23 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

To use a common expression, select the “Common Expressions” menu option and select the desired

expression from the drop-down list. Clicking on the
OK button will set the expression to the trend, but
clicking on the Cancel button will not set the
expression to the trend.

To use a custom curve, select the “Apply Custom
Curve” menu option and select the desired curve from

the drop-down list. Clicking on the OK button will set
the curve to the trend, but clicking on the Cancel
button will not set the curve to the trend. If a custom

curve is used, the “Expression” line will read “curve:
<Custom Curve>” where <Custom Curve> is the name

of the curve used.

To create an expression, select the “Create
Expression” menu option. Select the input range for

the trend from the drop-down list, and then select the
scale minimum and maximum. Clicking the OK button
will set the expression for the trend, but clicking on
the Cancel button will not set the expression for the

trend. The “Expression” line will contain the new

expression, if an expression was created using the
wizard.

Note – Expressions can still be entered in the

text box manually, as described above

.

The “Open”, “Delete”, “Save As”, and “Save” buttons along the top of the screen will allow the user to
work with different templates, while the “Add”, “Edit”, and “Delete” buttons in the middle of the screen

allow the user to work with specific trend lines in a template.

Communications

Communications allows the operator to change the baud rate, or mode of these parameters:

RS232 Modbus Host
Baud Rate

RS232 Modbus
Client Baud Rate

RS485 Host
Mode

RS485 Host
Baud Rate

RS485 Client

Mode

RS485 Client Baud
Rate

Serial Address

The IP Address, IP Netmask, and the IP Gateway are also displayed on this screen, but they cannot be
configured from this screen. Starting with Version 3.12, this screen also contains the communications
status for any Client instruments that have been configured.

Super Systems Inc. Page 24 Video Recorder Manual Version 2 Rev. F

Calibration

This menu option allows the operator to calibrate each input on the VR recorder. This will be covered in
detail in the

Input Calibration

section.

Target VR IP Address

Target VR IP address is the address of the VR Brick attached directly to the VR screen. This address has
to match the IP Address setup on the data logging device to display and store data. Changing the IP
address on this screen will point the screen to a different brick.

Video Recorder IP

This feature will display the IP address of the instrument that the VR is currently talking to and allow this
IP address to be changed. Changing this IP address will change the IP address of the instrument that the
VR is currently talking to. The VR will continue talking to the same instrument, however the IP address
for that instrument will have changed.

Analog Input Type Setup

For information about ensuring that the jumper is set up properly on a 4-20mA input, please
see the Analog Inputs section starting on page 6.

Analog Input Type – allows the operator to choose from the following parameters for each input of the VR
recorder:

Thermocouple Input Types

B C E J K N

NNM

R S T

Voltage Input Types

0 – 2.56

0 – 1.28

160 mV

80 mV

40 mV

20 mV

Current Input Types

4-20mA 124 ohms *Future Use

4-20mA 62 ohms

Note – The 4-20 mA 124 ohms option is currently reserved for future use. Currently, when using a 4-20
mA input, be sure to select the 4-20 mA 62 ohms option

. For information about ensuring that the