Data Delivery Devices VHF, UHF & ISM Wireless RTU RFScada 8ADI-9DO 4ADI-5DO User Manual

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 41 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
  
We have now almost completed the system configuration. We have set up output signal 
routing for the master unit (0) plus output signal routing for units 1 and 2. By checking the ‘Unit 
Enabled’ box when units 1 and 2 routing was displayed the configuration program was informed that 
the master needs to communicate with units 1 & 2; this RFScada network will consist of three units, 
the master plus units 1 and 2.  
All that remains is to verify that the master will not try to communicate with other units, and 
finally we can store all of these configuration settings in the master. Click on the slider again to view 
the routing for unit 3 (even though we do not wish to use unit 3). Since we do not want to try to 
communicate with unit 3 the ‘Unit Enabled’ check box should not be checked.  This means the master 
will not attempt to communicate with it. The master will report a good network status, both via the 
Configuration Screen showing Unit 2 Relay 
and Analog Output Signal Sourcing  
Relay 2 on Unit 2 driven 
by input 3 on unit 0 Relay 1 on Unit 2 will  
be driven by digital input 
2 on unit 0 
This indicates outputs 
being configured are 
for Slave Unit 2. 
Relays 5 to 8 on the Unit 2 will all be driven 
by digital input 7 on unit 0, i.e. unused 
Analog output configuration does 
not matter for channels 3 to 8  
Relay 3 on Unit 2 driven 
by input 1 on unit 1 
Relay 4 on Unit 2 driven 
by input 2 on unit 1 
Analog output 1 on Unit 2 will  be 
driven by analog input 1 on unit 0 
Analog output 2 on Unit 2 will  be 
driven b
y analog input 1 on unit 1 
Checked indicates master 
will communicate with unit 
Unchecked  
indicates unit 
2 outputs will 
be sourced 
from discrete 
inputs   
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 42 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
status LED & relay plus to all other units, when it successfully communicates with all enabled units. 
So we must ensure that this box is not checked for unit 3 and it is not checked for the remaining 28 
other possible units (ID’s of 4 to 31). When the ‘Unit Enabled’ box is not checked the relay and analog 
output routing sections are disabled since they do not serve any purpose on unused units.  
 
By adjusting the slider all remaining possible configurations for slave ID’s will quickly scroll by, 
and within a couple of seconds the user can verify that no other slave units are enabled. If they are 
enabled the corresponding ‘Unit Enabled’ check box may be un-checked.  
  Finally we can write these settings to the master unit. To save the system configuration click 
on the ‘Write to RFScada’s EEPROM’ button to store these settings in the RFScada master units non-
volatile memory. If the previously configured slave units are operating nearby several clicks may be 
heard as all of the units will start to communicate using the new configuration settings. All the analog 
and digital signals should now be routed to match the example of the tank and two pumps. The whole 
process took just minutes and all settings are permanently stored in the RFScada units. The settings 
may also be stored on the local PC in a text file (actually as a list of Modbus registers, see the 
Example Configuration Screen for an 
Unused Unit Routin
g (ID of 3 shown) 
This indicates configuration 
for slave Unit 3 
Analog output routing is disabled 
since this unit is not enabled  
Un-checked indicates master will NOT 
tr
y to communicate with unit 3 
Relay output routing is disabled 
since this unit is not enabled    
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 43 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
Modbus section for further details) so they can be easily be copied into another system in the future. 
To save the configuration select the ‘File - Save‘ menu, a prompt appears for a file name and location 
to save the settings as. A saved configuration may also be loaded in a similar manner using the ‘File - 
Load’ menu.  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 44 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 45 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
Monitoring and Overriding Real Time Inputs. 
 
  Once the system is configured all units should communicate correctly with each other. By 
selecting ‘Display Registers’ from the configuration program another screen is displayed, with graphs 
showing analog levels and 8 indicators for digital inputs. If the Modbus connected unit is a slave, all of 
the connected units analog 
and digital inputs may be 
monitored at once. If the 
Modbus connected unit is 
the master then every 
unit’s analog and digital 
inputs may be monitored at 
once. Use the slider to 
select the unit to display. 
This is a very quick and 
easy way to monitor every 
input – even those miles 
away!. The DC Voltage 
measured at every unit is 
also displayed on the right 
hand side, very useful to 
see and monitor on remote 
solar powered systems. 
The two larger indicators 
below the digital input 
indicators show the real time ‘Modbus State’ between the PC and connected unit, the ‘Network State’ 
shows the real time condition of the RFScada network, in a similar mode to the ‘Network state’ LED 
on each unit. Additionally the actual Modbus data transmitted and received from the connected unit 
may be displayed at the bottom of the screen if required.  
  When displaying information from 4ADI-5DO units analog channel six displays the ambient 
temperature on the printed circuit board. The temperature is approximately (reading * 0.4902) - 60 in 
°Celsius, or 32 + (((reading * 0.4902) – 60) * 9) / 5 in °Fahrenheit. When using the ISM high power 
option analog 
channel 5 
corresponds to the 
received signal 
strength at that unit, 
so it is possible to 
read the signal 
strength at remote 
sites. The scale is 
from 0 (no signal) to 
approximately 290 
(full signal). Note 
that it is normal for 
the reading to 
fluctuate.   
 
 Furthermore, 
every input, both 
analog and digital, 
may be ‘overridden’ 
using this display.  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 46 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
Click on the ‘override’ button, which will start to flash. Now each input state display button may be 
clicked and will toggle between Active and Inactive, this will have the same effect as physically 
activating that particular digital input, which is being overridden for the selected unit. Similarly, the 
sliders next to each analog input display may be adjusted, and this will have the effect of overriding 
each analog input on the selected unit. This makes it very easy to test configurations and different 
setups, without requiring the actual final connected hardware. From the master units location (or via a 
serial port, phone/modem etc. connection to the master unit) complete setups can be tested, every 
remote input may be overridden and monitored, and system integrity can be verified. All signal routing 
(and special modes of operation) will still occur normally, as this mode effectively overrides the 
selected units inputs only, all other inputs on other units will still operate normally, and all outputs will 
operate normally, so it’s very easy to see the effect of input changes on complex systems.  
  It is even possible to override units not configured for operation; so if another configured unit is 
set with the un-configured units inputs as its signal source it will react to Modbus overridden signals. 
This allows Modbus control of all outputs without overriding any physical ‘active’ unit. When the 
override button is clicked again the button will stop flashing, the display will revert to normal operation, 
and the unit which was being overridden will revert to providing normal data from its standard analog 
and digital inputs.  
  This change back to normal operation will be delayed until the programmed ‘Modbus Override” 
time expires, typically several seconds. Allowing the unit to remain in the ‘overridden’ mode for a 
programmable time has several benefits. Although the RFScada configuration program ‘register 
override’ mode may be used for testing and configuration purposes it also provides complete 
monitoring and control capability of the whole system via Modbus.  
  
  Some users will want purchase or design their own control routines to run on a PC or PLC that 
(via Modbus) controls and/or monitors an RFScada network.  This may be done using products such 
as DAQFactory®, Visual Basic®, Labview®, Wonderware® etc. or supplied by vendors such as Data 
Delivery Devices LLC. These programs continually read and write data on the RFScada network and 
since the data is continuously being written the RFScada network will output signals depending on a 
combination of the RFScada system configuration, the actual input signals and the Modbus 
‘overridden’ signals. Any units that have been configured for ‘Modbus only’ control will only react to 
Modbus commands from the control system; typically this mode is for systems that rely on a PC to 
control the whole system. However, if the PC fails or loses power for example, once the ‘Modbus 
Override’ time expires without the connected RFScada receiving any valid Modbus data the RFScada 
reverts to the standard mode, which should be configured for a ‘failsafe’ condition. Therefore the 
complete system could revert to a known, safe condition in the case of a PC hardware or software 
failure. 
  
 To summarize, the RFScada system may be used in several ways.  
  
1.  As a standalone system it can route any analog input on any unit to any 
one (or more) analog outputs on any units. It also routes any digital input 
on any unit to any one (or more) digital outputs on any units. All units are 
aware of, and continually indicate, the confirmed operational status of all 
other units. If any unit fails all units can revert to a known state within a 
user programmed time. 
2.  All of (1) plus the built in control routines, for complete, automated pump 
and tank control using either analog and/or digital inputs. 
3.  All of (1) and (2) with the addition of monitoring any analog and digital 
input remotely using an RS-232, RS-485 or phone/modem connection via 
Modbus.  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 47 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
4.  All of (1), (2) and (3) with the capability of overriding any analog and 
digital input remotely using an RS-232, RS-485 or phone/modem 
connection via Modbus. 
5.  All inputs may be monitored using an RS-232, RS-485 or phone/modem 
connection via Modbus using a program such as DAQFactory. All outputs 
may be directly controlled with the same program. 
 
 
This flexibility allows simple or very complex systems to be assembled, with many options 
possible. Call Data Delivery Devices LLC for advice on how your specific application may be 
configured; since units are pre-configured at the factory even complex systems usually require no 
setup in the field.             
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 48 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 49 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990 
General System Information. 
 
  Selecting the about menu from the RFScada configuration &  tester program will display 
current information about the connected unit. An example of a typical display is shown below. 
Typically these parameters are set at the factory or depend on the units configuration.  
						

							RFScada 8ADI-9DO/4ADI-5DO Manual Ver 3.6 Copyright ©2005 Data Delivery Devices LLC Page - 50 – Bartlesville OK Tel 918-335-3318      FAX 918-398-9990