Vanguard VCBA User Manual

VCBA VERSION 10.xx SOFTWARE MANUAL REV 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT ..................................................................................... 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. .. 2

1.1 System Requirements ...................................................................................................... 2

2.0 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ................................................................................................... 3

3.0 STARTING THE VCBA SOFTWARE ......................................................................................... 6

3.1 Main Menu Item Descriptions ......................................................................................... 6

3.2 Enabling the Computer Interface ..................................................................................... 8

3.3 Application Setup ........................................................................................................... 10

4.0 WORKING WITH TEST RECORDS ........................................................................................ 12

4.1 Exploring the Test Records Directory ............................................................................. 12

4.2 Retrieving Test Records From a CB Analyzer ................................................................. 12

4.2.1. Retrieve Test Records From Timer ......................................................................... 12

4.2.2. Retrieve Test Records to Directory ......................................................................... 14

4.3 Recalling Test Records From the PC Hard Drive ............................................................ 15

4.4 Saving a Test Record ...................................................................................................... 17

4.4.1. Saving a Test Record with its Original File Name.................................................... 17

4.4.2. Saving a Test Record with a Different File Name ................................................... 17

4.5 Copying a Test Record .................................................................................................... 18

4.6 Renaming a Test Record ................................................................................................. 19

4.7 Deleting a Test Record ................................................................................................... 20

4.8 Merging Test Records ..................................................................................................... 21

4.9 Exporting a Test Record in Microsoft® Excel® Format .................................................... 22

4.10 Viewing and Working with Tabulated Test Results .................................................... 24

4.10.1. Viewing the Test Plan for a Test Record ............................................................. 25

4.10.2. Printing Tabulated Test Results ........................................................................... 27

4.11 Viewing and Working with Graphic Test Results ........................................................ 30

4.11.1. Toggling the Display of the Velocity Curve ......................................................... 31

4.11.2. Customizing the Items Displayed on the Graphic Results Screen ....................... 33

4.11.3. Customizing the Graph Colors ............................................................................. 34

4.11.4. Overlaying Two Timing Shots .............................................................................. 35

4.11.5. Viewing a Graph Expansion ................................................................................. 37

4.11.6. Calculating the Average Velocity From the Graphic Test Results ....................... 40

4.11.7. Manually Overriding Contact Time/Resistor Contact Time or Contact Wipe ..... 42

4.11.8. Printing the Graphic Test Results ........................................................................ 46

4.12 Test Record Diagnostic Tools ...................................................................................... 47

4.12.1. Viewing Raw Shot Data ....................................................................................... 47

4.12.2. Toggling the Resistor Flag ................................................................................... 48

5.0 WORKING WITH TEST PLANS ............................................................................................. 49

5.1 Exploring the Test Plans Directory ................................................................................. 49

5.2 Creating a Circuit Breaker Test Plan ............................................................................... 49

5.3 Modifying an Existing Circuit Breaker Test Plan ............................................................ 60

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5.4 Retrieving a Test Plan from a CB Analyzer ..................................................................... 63

5.5 Saving a Test Plan ........................................................................................................... 65

5.6 Saving a Test Plan from a Test Record ........................................................................... 65

5.7 Transferring a Test Plan to a CB Analyzer ...................................................................... 66

5.8 Copying a Test Plan to a Different Location ................................................................... 68

5.9 Deleting a Test Plan ........................................................................................................ 69

5.10 Using a Test Plan for a Timing Test ............................................................................. 70

5.11 Printing a Test Plan ..................................................................................................... 71

6.0 TIMING A CIRCUIT BREAKER USING THE VCBA SOFTWARE............................................... 72

6.1 Performing an OPEN or CLOSE test ................................................................................ 72

6.2 Performing an OPEN-CLOSE test .................................................................................... 74

6.3 Performing a CLOSE-OPEN test ...................................................................................... 76

6.4 Performing an OPEN-CLOSE-OPEN test ......................................................................... 78

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Test Record in VCBA Software and Microsoft Excel ....................................................... 23

Figure 2 Typical CB Tabulated Test Report ................................................................................... 28

Figure 3 Typical CB Test Parameters ............................................................................................. 29

Figure 4 Graphic Test Results ........................................................................................................ 30

Figure 5 Typical Graphic Results Printout ..................................................................................... 46

VCBA VERSION 10.xx SOFTWARE MANUAL REV 2

CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT

This document uses the following conventions:

• Microsoft® Windows XP and Vista will be simply referred to as Windows in this manual

The general term “CB analyzer” used in this manual refers to any of the VCBA compatible

•

Vanguard circuit breaker analyzer models (CT-6500, CT-7000, CT-7500, DigiTMR)

•

Menu Names are referred to as Menu Name

• Menu items are referred to as Menu Item

• Dialog boxes and their elements (buttons, options, etc.) are referred to as “Dialog Box

Element”

•

PC keyboard keys are referred to as [Key]. Key combinations are shown as [Key]+[Key].

•

A key or switch on the CB analyzer is indicated as [KEY]

•

File locations, directories, and file names are shown as “C:\folder\filename” CB analyzer menu options are referenced as (MENU OPTION)

•

• A CB analyzer’s LCD screen output is shown as:

1. OPTION 1

2. OPTION 2

3. OPTION 3

4. OPTION 4

• Warning messages are indicated as:

Warning message

WARNING

• Important notes are indicated as:

Note details

NOTE

Microsoft, Windows, Windows XP, and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Vanguard Circuit Breaker Analyzer (VCBA) software is a Windows-based PC software application for use with Vanguard’s CT-6500, CT-7000, CT-7500, and DigiTMR circuit breaker analyzers. This software allows users to perform the following tasks:

• Retrieve Timing Records from a CB analyzer

• Analyze retrieved Timing Records

• View Test Results in Graphic Format

• Generate Timing Reports

• Create Breaker Test Plans

• Transfer Breaker Test Plans to a CB analyzer

• Control a CB analyzer from the PC to perform Timing Tests

1.1 System Requirements

The VCBA software has the following minimum system requirements:

• PC running Microsoft® Windows® XP or Windows® Vista

• CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

• RS-232C (serial) port

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2.0 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

Follow the steps below to install the VCBA software on your PC.

1. Insert the installation CD in the PC’s CD or DVD drive.

2. From the Windows Desktop, click on the “Start” button to bring up the Start Menu.

3. From the Start Menu, click on My Computer to open the My Computer window.

4. Double click (or single click in some Windows configurations) on your CD/DVD Drive icon

to navigate the installation CD. The contents of the CD will be listed as shown below:

5. Double click (or single click in some Windows configurations) on the “VCBA Setup Rev

10.xx.exe” file to start the installation process. The VCBA InstallShield Wizard will appear as shown below:

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6. Click on the “Next” button to continue. The following screen will be displayed showing

the location on your hard drive where the software will be installed (C:\vanguard\VCBA):

7. You may choose a different installation location by clicking on the “Change…” button

and then browsing to the location on your hard drive where you would like to install the software. If you would like to install the software in the default location, click on the “Next” button to continue. The following screen will be displayed:

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8. Click on the “Install” button. The InstallShield Wizard will copy files to your hard drive.

The following screen will be displayed once the software has been successfully installed:

9. Click on the “Finish” button to close the InstallShield Wizard and complete the

installation process.

• The installation program will create two sub-folders, “shots” and

NOTES

“setup”, in the main installation folder. By default all test records will be stored in the “shots” folder and all test plans will be stored in the “setup” folder.

• You can later change the default test record and test plan storage

locations. Please see section 3.4 for details.

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3.0 STARTING THE VCBA SOFTWARE

During the installation process, a Vanguard program group will be created under the All Programs submenu in the Windows Start menu. To launch the VCBA software:

1. Click on the Windows “Start” menu button to open the Start Menu.

2. Click on the All Programs menu item.

3. Click on the Vanguard menu item.

4. Click on the VCBA menu item.

5. Click on the Launch vcba.exe menu item. The VCBA main application window will appear

as shown below:

3.1 Main Menu Item Descriptions

The VCBA Main Menu bar features the following menus:

• File menu:

o Recall and overlay test records o Transfer test records and test plans o Configure system parameters and options o Use various file utilities

• Recall Test: Recall test records from the PC hard drive for viewing

• Time CB: Perform a breaker timing test from the PC using a connected CB analyzer

• Retrieve: Retrieve test records from a CB analyzer

• Test-Plan: Create, use, modify, save, print, copy, delete, and transfer test plans

• File-Util: Copy, rename, delete, merge, and export test records

• Sys-Config: Configure system parameters

• Help: Display information about the VCBA software

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3.2 Enabling the Computer Interface

The Computer Interface Mode allows you to retrieve test records and test plans from a CB analyzer and to transfer test plans to a CB analyzer. In this mode, tests can also be run on a CB analyzer from the PC.

To enable the Computer Interface Mode:

1. Make sure the VCBA software is running on the PC.

2. Click on the Sys-Config menu and select System Setup… to configure the RS-232C

communication port. The following window will be displayed:

Click on the “Port:” drop down list and select the PC COM: port that the CB analyzer will be connected to (COM1: to COM8: is supported). Click on the “Save” button, and then click on the “OK” button. If you do not click on the “Save” button, any settings you change will only stay active for the current session and will be reset the next time you run the software.

3. Connect the CB analyzer to the PC via the RS-232C port and turn on the power.

4. Once the CB analyzer has gone through its start-up cycle, the main menu will be

displayed as shown:

1. TIME BRKR 03/24/09

2. GET RSLT

3. SET-UP

4. DIAGNOSTICS

Press the [3] key (SET-UP).

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5. The following screen will be displayed:

1. ANALYSIS POINTS

2. MEASUREMENT UNITS

3. SAVE / RESTORE

4. NEXT PAGE

Press the [4] key (NEXT PAGE).

6. The following screen will be displayed:

1. SHOT DESCRIPTION

2. COMPUTER ITF

3. SET CLOCK

4. SET PRINT MODE

Press the

[2] key (COMPUTER ITF).

7. The following screen will be displayed:

COMPUTER ITF MODE

“STOP” TO ABORT

The CB analyzer is now ready to communicate with the VCBA software.

If you experience any problems enabling the Computer Interface Mode:

1. Turn off both the PC and the CB analyzer.

2. Connect the CB analyzer to the PC via the RS-232C port.

3. Turn on the computer and run the VCBA software.

4. Follow steps 4-7 in the above section to put the CB analyzer in computer interface

mode.

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3.3 Application Setup

You can customize the VCBA’s window colors and the font used to display data. You can also customize the colors used for the test record overlay graph (see section 4.11.4 for further information about overlaying test records). To customize the interface and overlay graph colors:

1. Click on the File menu and select Application Setup… The following window will be

displayed:

2. From the “Foreground:” drop down list in the “Window Colors” group, select the color

you would like to use for the foreground elements displayed on the screen.

3. From the “Background:” drop down list in the “Window Colors” group, select the color

you would like to use for the background elements displayed on the screen.

4. From the “Font:” drop down list in the “Window Colors” group, select the font you

would like to use for displaying information on the screen.

5. From the “Shot #1” drop down list in the “Overlay Colors” group, select the color you

would like to use for the Shot #1 trace when viewing test record overlay graphs.

6. From the “Shot #2” drop down list in the “Overlay Colors” group, select the color you

would like to use for the Shot #2 trace when viewing test record overlay graphs.

7. From the “Background” drop down list in the “Overlay Colors” group, select the

background color for the test record overlay graph.

8. Click on the “Save” button and then click on the “OK” button. If you do not click on the

“Save” button, any settings you change will only stay active for the current session and will be reset the next time you run the software.

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3.4 System Setup

To change the default system settings (such as the communication port, file location paths, etc):

1. From the File menu, click on System Config and then select System Setup…

(Alternatively, if no test records or test plans are open, you can click on the Sys-Config menu and select System Setup…). The following window will be displayed:

2. Click on the “Port:” drop down list and select the PC COM: port that the CB analyzer is

connected to.

3. Select the appropriate frequency setting from the “Cycles/Second:” drop down list.

4. If you would like to have the velocity curve plotted on the graphic results screen and on

the test record printout, check the “Plot Velocity Curve” checkbox by clicking on it. Please see section 4.11.1 for further information.

5. If you would like to print the test plan when a tabulated test record is printed, check the

“Print Test Plan” checkbox by clicking on it. Please see section 4.10.2 for further information.

6. To change the default location where test records are stored, click on the “Browse”

button to the right of the “Shot Path:” input field. Browse to the new location and click on the “OK” button.

7. To change the default location where test plans are stored, click on the “Browse” button

to the right of the “Setup Path:” input field. Browse to the new location and click on the “OK” button.

8. Click on the “Save” button and then click on the “OK” button. If you do not click on the

“Save” button, any settings you change will only stay active for the current session and will be reset the next time you run the software.

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4.0 WORKING WITH TEST RECORDS

The VCBA software can be used to retrieve test records from the CB analyzer or from the PC hard drive. Once a test record is retrieved, you can change the record header settings, print the test record, change velocity calculation points, change circuit breaker test parameters, and save the record to the hard drive.

4.1 Exploring the Test Records Directory

You can access the default test records directory (please see section 3.4 for information on how to set the default test record directory) either via Windows Explorer or from within the VCBA software. To open the test records directory:

1. From the File menu, click on System Config and then select Explore Shot Directory… The

default test record directory will be opened in Windows Explorer.

2. Use standard Windows Explorer commands to organize, rename, copy, or delete the

test record files. You can also create folders in this directory to logically organize the test records.

4.2 Retrieving Test Records From a CB Analyzer

There are two ways to retrieve test records from a CB analyzer’s Flash EEPROM. The first method is to click on the Retrieve menu and select Retrieve Test Records From Timer…

Alternatively, you can click on the File menu and select Retrieve Test Records From Timer…

NOTE

The second method is to click on the Retrieve menu and select Retrieve Test Records to a Directory…

Alternatively, you can click on the File menu and select Retrieve Test Records to a Directory…

NOTE

Both methods are described in detail below.

4.2.1. Retrieve Test Records From Timer

The Retrieve Test Records From Timer… option from the Retrieve or File menu can be used to retrieve one or more records from a CB analyzer. When a record is retrieved, it is automatically saved to the PC hard drive in the default “shots” folder.

You can change the location of the “shots” folder. Please see section 3.4 for further information.

NOTE

1. Make sure the VCBA software is running. Connect the CB analyzer to the PC via the RS-

232C port and turn on the power.

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2. Put the CB analyzer in Computer Interface Mode. Please see section 3.2 for details.

3. From the Retrieve or File menu select Retrieve Test Records From Timer…

4. A window will appear listing a directory of all the test records stored in the CB analyzer’s

memory:

5. You can select a shot to be retrieved by clicking on the shot number. The selected

record will be highlighted. You may select multiple records by holding down the [CTRL] key and clicking on the shot numbers. All selected records will be highlighted. You may de-select a selected record by holding down the [CTRL] key and clicking on the selected shot number a second time. If you would like to select all test records, click on the “Select / Deselect All” button.

6. The “File” input field allows you to enter a word that will be used as part of the file

name for the stored record on the PC hard drive. When a test record is retrieved from a CB analyzer and stored on the hard drive, the file name is in the following format:

So if you would like the file name to be “76055 -032509-TEST001.DAT”, enter the word TEST in the “File” input field.

7. Click on the “OK” button to start retrieving the selected test records.

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4.2.2. Retrieve Test Records to Directory

The Retrieve Test Records to Directory… option from the Retrieve or File menu can be used to retrieve one or more records from a CB analyzer to a specific directory on the PC hard drive.

1. Make sure the VCBA software is running. Connect the CB analyzer to the PC via the RS-

232C port and turn on the power.

2. Put the CB analyzer in Computer Interface Mode. Please see section 3.2 for details.

3. From the Retrieve or File menu select Retrieve Test Records to Directory…

4. The following window will appear allowing you to select the location where you would

like to store the retrieved test records:

Browse to the folder where you would like the retrieved records to be stored. Click on the folder name and then click on the “OK” button.

5. Continue to step 4 from section 4.2.1.

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4.3 Recalling Test Records From the PC Har d Drive

Test records stored on the PC hard drive can be recalled using the steps below:

1. Click on the Recall Test menu (or click on the File menu and select Recall Test Record…).

The following window will be displayed:

• The top left section of the window displays the name of the directory where the test

records are being retrieved from. If you wish to retrieve records from a different directory, click on the “Path” button and browse to the folder containing the test records.

• The top right section of the window displays the total number of shots stored in the

current directory.

• You can sort the records by Date, Manufacturer, or Sub Station name. To change the

sort order, click on the corresponding radio box at the bottom of the window. For example, if you would like the records to be sorted by Substation, click on the “Sub Station” radio box at the bottom of the window.

• If you would like to print the current directory listing, click on the “Print Directory”

button at the bottom of the window. Select the printer to print to and click on the “OK” button.

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• You can also search for a particular record. You can start typing in the “Search” input

field and it will actively highlight the first matching file name. For example, in the listing below, typing SAM in the “Search” field will highlight the “Sample Test 2” file name as shown below:

2. Click on the file name you would like to retrieve and click the “OK” button. The test

record will be loaded and the tabulated test results will be displayed (please see section

4.10 for details).

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4.4 Saving a Test Record

4.4.1. Saving a Test Record with its Original File Name

1. To save a test record with its original file name, click on the Save-Test menu and select

Overwrite.

2. The test record will be saved with its original file name.

4.4.2. Saving a Test Record with a Different File Name

1. To save a test record with a different file name, click on the Save-Test menu and select

Save As. The following window will be displayed:

2. Browse to the folder where you would like to save the test record.

3. Enter the file name in the “File name:” input field.

4. Click on the “Save” button.

5. The test record will be saved with the new file name.

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4.5 Copying a Test Record

To copy a test record from one location on the PC hard drive to another location:

1. From the File menu, click on File Utilities and then select Copy Test Record… The

following window will be displayed:

2. If the test record you would like to copy is not in the current directory, click on the

“Path” button at the top of the window and browse to the directory containing the file. Once you have located the test record to be copied, click on the file name. You may select additional test records by holding down the [CTRL] key and clicking on each subsequent file name. Once you have selected the test record(s) to be copied, click on the “OK” button. The following window will be displayed:

3. Browse to the folder where you would like the test record to be copied to, and then

click on the “OK” button. The test record will be copied to this folder with the same file name as the original.

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4.6 Renaming a Test Record

To rename a test record stored on the PC hard drive:

1. From the File menu, click on File Utilities and then select Rename Test Record… The

following window will be displayed:

2. If the test record you would like to rename is not in the current directory, click on the

“Path” button at the top of the window and browse to the directory containing the file. Once you have located the test record to be renamed, click on the file name and then click on the “OK” button. The following dialog box will be displayed:

3. Enter the new file name for the test record and click on the “OK” button. The test record

will be renamed with the new file name.

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4.7 Deleting a Test Record

To delete a test record from the PC hard drive:

1. From the File menu, click on File Utilities and then select Delete Test Record… The

following window will be displayed:

2. If the test record you would like to delete is not in the current directory, click on the

“Path” button at the top of the window and browse to the directory containing the file. Once you have located the test record to be deleted, click on the file name. You may select additional test records by holding down the [CTRL] key and clicking on each subsequent file name. Once you have selected the test record(s) to be deleted, click on the “OK” button. The following window will be displayed:

3. Click on the “Yes” button to confirm the deletion of the test record. If you do not want

to delete the test record, click on the “No” or “Cancel” button.

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4.8 Merging Test Records

You can merge two test records to create a single test record. For example, you can combine two 6-channel timing shots to create a 12-channel timing shot. To merge two test records:

1. From the File menu, click on File Utilities and then select Merge Test Record… The

following window will be displayed:

2. You can click on the “Path” button to browse to the directory containing the test

records to be merged. Once you have located the test records, click on the first file name to be merged and then hold down the [CTRL] key and click on the second file name. Then click on the “OK” button.

Both test records must be of the same type. For example, you cannot merge a CLOSE type test record with an OPEN type test record.

NOTE

The following dialog box will be displayed:

3. Enter the file name for the new merged test record and then click on the “OK” button.

The data from the two source test records will be merged and saved as the new file name. The two source test records will not be modified in any way.

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4.9 Exporting a Test Record in Microsoft® Excel® Format

You can export a test record in Microsoft® Excel® format. To export a test record in Excel® format:

1. From the File menu, click on File Utilities and then select Export Test Record to Excel.

The following window will be displayed:

2. If the test record you would like to export is not in the current directory, click on the

“Path” button at the top of the window and browse to the directory containing the file. Once you have located the test record to be exported, click on the file name. You may select additional test records by holding down the [CTRL] key and clicking on each subsequent file name. Once you have selected the test record(s) to be exported, click on the “OK” button. The following window will be displayed:

3. Browse to the folder where you would like the Excel

“OK” button. Figure 1 shows a test record in the VCBA software compared with the exported data in Excel®.

files to be saved and click on the

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Figure 1 Test Record in VCBA Software and Microsoft Excel

(corresponding sections highlighted in color)

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