Danfoss OPC server for ECL Comfort 310 Operating instructions

Instructions

OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Danfoss ECL OPC Server ..............................................................................................................................2

2. Configuring databases ...........................................................................................................................................................6

3. Exporting configuration data ................................................................................................................................................7

4. Importing data from an XML file ...........................................................................................................................................8

5. Address Space .........................................................................................................................................................................9

6. Devices.................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

7. Folders .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

8. Data Items ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15

9. Conversions.......................................................................................................................................................................... 20

10. Device Parameters............................................................................................................................................................... 23

11. Simulation Signals ............................................................................................................................................................... 25

12. Alarm Definitions................................................................................................................................................................. 28

13. How the client connects to and gets data from a server................................................................................................... 34

Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

1. Introduction to Danfoss ECL OPC Server

The Danfoss ECL OPC Server is an OPC-compliant server that

serves data to OPC clients. The OPC server was implemented

using advanced programming concepts of the current version

of the OPC specification for use in developing next generation

industrial software applications.

The OPC Server communicates with OPC clients and real time

Danfoss ECL devices. This OPC server is also based on the

popular Modbus protocol and can be connected to real world

Modbus compatible I/O hardware.

Key features of the OPC Server include:

 Advanced OPC data quality and data conversion to

client’s request.

 Supports multiple multi-drop I/O devices.

 Supports multiple groups for easy configuration and

manageability.

 Supports popular PLC and RTU data types.

 Internally simulated for configuration and testing.

 User interface for viewing tags, groups, and real-time

signals.

 Supports OPC Data Access (DA) and Alarm and Events

(AE) specifications.

 Flexible engineering units and signal ranges

The OPC Server product contains two parts: a user interface

configuration module and the actual OPC server, the runtime

module.

Configuration module:

The configuration module allows you to create a database

that holds configuration data of the tags such as the tag

name, the ranging, and the alarm settings.

Runtime module:

The runtime module uses a runtime database to access the

actual values of the tags configured. Structures of both

databases are indicated in the following sections.

Changes made to the configuration are accepted only after a

restart of the OPC server. However, changes made to the

runtime database are accepted online.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

1.1 What is OLE for process control?

OLE™ for Process Control (OPC) is a standards-based approach

for connecting data sources (e.g., PLCs, controllers, I/O

devices, databases, etc.) with HMI client applications

(graphics, trending, alarming, etc.).

It enhances the interface between client and server

applications by providing a universally supported and well-

documented mechanism to communicate data from a data

source to any client application.

Included are not only a detailed guide on how to pass the

data, but also specific information on other attributes to

supplement those data, such as range information, data type,

quality flags, and date and time information.

Figure 1.1 shows the OPC Architecture, which was introduced

by the OPC Foundation. By following the OPC Architecture, a

device needs only one standard driver, which is an OPC-

compliant server. All OPC-compliant client applications can

then be connected to that device, either locally or over a

network. Furthermore, connections can be made to more

than one OPC server at the same time.

Figure 1-1: General OPC-Based Client-Server Architecture

Any OPC client application can connect to any OPC server. In

other words, OPC offers true Plug-and-Play capability in the

fields of HMI and industrial automation. OPC server types

include OPC Data Access (DA), OPC Alarm and Events (AE).

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Figure 1-2: Danfoss ECL Comfort OPC structure

The OPC Server is based on Standard Modbus protocol for

RS485 and TCP. Heat meter data can be read through the ECL

Comfort controller using the M-bus network.

1.2 System requirements

OPC Server Configurator can run on the following Microsoft

Windows operating systems:

 Windows Server 2008 x64 (runs in the 32 bit

compatibility mode)

 Windows Server 2008

 Windows Vista x64 (runs in the 32 bit compatibility

mode) †

 Windows Vista †

 Windows Server 2003 x64 (runs in the 32 bit

compatibility mode)

 Windows Server 2003 R2

 Windows Server 2003 SP2

 Windows XP Professional x64 (runs in the 32 bit

compatibility mode)

 Windows XP Professional SP3

 Windows 2000 Server SP4 ††

 Windows 2000 SP4 ††

†

Supported Editions of Windows Vista are Windows Vista

Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise Edition. Windows Vista Home

and Home Premium Editions are not supported in this release.

††

Windows 2000 is supported for Classic OPC Server installations

only.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

The OPC Server Configurator is capable of running on

computer/workstation hardware with the following

specifications:

 1 GHz Processor (CPU)

 1 GB Physical Memory (RAM)

 2 GB Hard Disk space available

 DVD drive for installation

 SVGA Video Card; 256 or more colors for best results

 A mouse or other compatible pointing device (such as a

trackball or touch screen)

 Microsoft-compatible keyboard

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

2. Configuring databases

The OPC Server Configurator provides the ability to create

new configuration databases.

2.1 Creating a Microsoft Access Configuration

Database

To create a new Microsoft Access Configuration Database in

the Configurator, the following steps have to be completed:

 Start the Danfoss ECL OPC Configurator.

 Select ‘File’, ‘New’ from the menu and specify a name for

the configuration. For example ‘myProject.mdb’

 Select the ‘Save’ button and the configuration file will be

created.

This configuration database will contain the configuration of

all your devices, and the logical tag naming in the OPC

address space.

2.2 Activating the database

Once your configuration is complete, you need to make sure

that your database is “Active”. The database that is

designated as “Active” is the one that the server uses.

To make a database active:

Select ‘File’, ‘Make Active’… and click the ‘Yes’ button.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

3. Exporting configuration data

3.1 Exporting data to an XML file

The Configurator also allows you to export data from your

configuration database to an XML file. The Configurator also

allows you to export the XML schema. A schema is a special

XML file that specifies the data structure of an XML data file.

The purpose of having the configuration in XML would be

that you have it in another readable format and could

manipulate the content with 3rd party tools to later import

the changes again.

To export data, select from the menu ‘File, XML Export’…

This opens the ‘Export XML File’ dialog box. Specify a file a

name and click ‘Save’.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

4. Importing data from an XML file

4.1 Importing data from an XML file

The Configurator allows you to import data from your

configuration database to an XML file.

To import data, select from the menu ‘File, XML Import’…

This opens the ‘Import XML File’ dialog box. Select a file and

click ‘Open’.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

5. Address Space

The 'Address Space' branch of the Configurator provides a tree

explorer in Workbench, shown in the figure below, for setting

the properties and connection parameters of the following

items:

 Devices

 Folders

 Data Items

Data items can be organized hierarchically. It is similar to

organizing directories and files on your computer's hard disk.

The OPC server offers several levels of hierarchy.

The Configurator module uses the terms ‘Folder’ and ‘Data

Item’. A folder can contain additional folders and also data

items. The data items are always the branches in the tree

control hierarchy.

The hierarchical structure of the folders and data items helps

to organize the devices and tags, as shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1: Address Space

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5.1 Areas

Areas can be used to group devices logically. You can

configure as many areas as required. At least one area is

required.

To add an new area:

Right-click on the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator

tree explorer in Workbench, and click on ‘New Area’.

Figure 5-2: Creating a 'New Area' in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench

Or

Select the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator tree

explorer in Workbench and use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Area’

menu item.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

6. Devices

In the Configurator, a device represents a hardware device that

communicates with the OPC server over TCP/IP.

A device is directly communicating with its socket, so it is

logically under the first level in the ‘Address Space’ tree.

Again, the device is represented by its symbolic name. Also, its

IP address in combination with the unit identifier value

uniquely identifies the device.

Setting up a device requires configuring its IP address, unit

identifier, TCP port, type, timeouts and optimization

parameters.

To add a device:

Right-click the ‘Address Space’ branch of the Configurator tree

explorer in Workbench, and click on ‘New Device’.

It is impossible to have two devices with the same IP

address.

Figure 6-1: Adding a 'New Device' in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench

Or

Select the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator tree

explorer in Workbench and use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Area’

menu item.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Configuring devices:

Figure 6-2: Configuring devices

Connection type:

The OPC server supports two types of data connections:

Ethernet cable and serial cable.

The best performance is achieved by using an Ethernet

connection. In this case the IP address of the device needs to

be specified as well as the TCP port.

If serial connection is selected, the physical serial port of the

computer connected to the device(s) needs to be selected.

Each serial port can be configured by selecting the Serial Ports

branch of the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench and set

the parameters for each port.

IP address:

The device ‘IP Address’ is a 32-bit value represented as four

numbers separated by dots that indicate the location of the

device on a TCP/IP network. Each number in the address can

range from 0 to 255.

TC port:

The TCP Port for Modbus communication via Ethernet is

default 502 and should not be changed unless it is specifically

required by the network.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Unit Id (Identifier):

The Unit Id (Identifier) field may be used to communicate via

devices such as bridges and gateways that use a single IP

address to support multiple independent end units.

Type:

The OPC Server supports both the ECL300 and ECL310 devices.

The selected type must match the type of the device

connected.

For other devices which support the Modbus standard

communication protocol please select the ‘Custom Type’

option. The device parameters for ‘Simple devices’ can be

configured by selecting the ‘Device Parameters’ branch of the

Configurator tree explorer in Workbench and set the

parameters for ‘Simple devices’.

Timeouts:

Read/Write:

Amount of time (in milliseconds) the OPC server will wait for a

response (read/write) from the device.

Timeouts to Suspend:

The number of consecutive read/write attempts that timeout

before the OPC Server will suspend communication with the

device.

Suspend Period:

Amount of time the OPC Server will wait before attempting to

reconnect to the device.

Delay:

Amount of time (in milliseconds) between read attempts.

The Suspend Period setting can be decreased to

reconnect faster with a device that has been restarted, but

this will cause the OPC server to generate more network

traffic while a device is down.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

7. Folders

Folders can be used to group data items logically. You can

configure as many folders as required. Each folder can even

have subfolders. The OPC server supports up to three folder

levels. The use of folders is not required.

If desirable, the configuration could just contain data items

without any folders. But most likely this will only be useful if

the application does not demand too many persistent tags.

To add a new folder:

Right-click on a ‘Device Branch’ (or another folder) in the

Configurator tree explorer in Workbench, then click on ‘New

Folder’.

Figure 7-1:

Creating a ‘New Folder’ in the Configurator tree explorer in

Workbench

Or

Select the ‘Device Branch’ in the Configurator tree explorer in

Workbench, then use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Folder’ menu

item.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

8. Data Items

A ‘Data Item’ represents a register in the device or a range of

registers. A symbolic name and description is associated with

the data item. An OPC client can obtain the data item

description.

The actual OPC item name (tag) is compounded from the

‘Address Space’ root, the names of the folder and its

subfolders, and the name of the data item. Data items can be

located in any folder, even in the root of the address space.

To add a new data item:

Right-click a device or folder in the Configurator tree explorer

in Workbench and click on ‘New Data Item’.

Figure 8-1:

Creating a ‘New Data Item’ in the Configurator tree explorer in

Workbench

Or

Select the ‘Device branch’ in the Configurator tree

explorer in Workbench, then use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’,

‘Data Item’.

Properties for data items:

Data items have the following properties, as shown in Figure

8-2.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Figure 8-2:

Properties for a ‘Data Item’

Name:

A logical name for the data item (Setpoint, Param001, ON_OFF,

etc).

Description:

A descriptive comment for the data item.

Location Type:

Location type is a type of a register in the device. Every device

is identified by its unique address. Its registers are read as

‘Input’ (1 bit long) or ‘Input Register’ (16 bits), or written to as

‘Coil’ (1 bit) or ‘Holding Register’ (16 bits). Registers of each

type are addressed by using 16-bit numbers. Device registers

are divided into ‘Coils’, ‘Inputs’, ‘Input Registers’ and ‘Holding

Registers’. Table 3-1 explains the name conventions used.

Read Only Read/Write

1 bit Input Coil

16 bit Input Register Holding Register

Table 3-1:

Name conventions

Modbus Type:

The location type (device data) will be understood as Modbus

type (OPC data type). Modbus data type also depends on the

‘Location type’ selected.

The ‘Data Length’ (bytes) field tells you how long (in bytes) the

field is for the Modbus type (e.g. ‘REAL’, ‘INT’, ‘UINT’, etc.)

selected. The ‘BOOL’ length is always 1 bit.

Example:

‘Coil’ or ‘Input’ (1 bit) device data type can be Modbus

BOOL only.

When selecting the Modbus STRING type, you must

specify the data length (how many bytes will the STRING

be represented by).

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Simulation:

To test the client functionality, choose a ‘Simulation Signal’

from the ‘Signal’ drop-down list and check the ‘Simulate’

checkbox. See the ‘Simulation Signals’ section for information

about creating simulation signals.

All levels in the ‘Address Space’ (port, device, folder, data item)

support the process of simulation (Simulate checkbox). The

parent list in the tree is superior; it has a higher priority when

deciding to simulate the data item or not.

In other words, a data item is simulated, if it itself has a

simulation selected, or if any of its parents has the ‘Simulate’

checkbox checked. (It may be simulated even if its ‘Simulate’

checkbox stays unchecked.)

Manual Value:

If the ‘Simulate’ checkbox is checked, the data item will offer a

constant parameter value, because the ‘Manual Value ‘setting

is of the highest priority. The changes in the configuration take

effect only when the server reloads the configuration (on

startup).

Starting Address:

This value specifies the data item address (register number) in

the device data space. With the 'UINT' Modbus type, it is

possible to extract bits from the register and use them as a

Boolean or integer value (this functionality is read-only).

You can specify a group of 'Count' adjacent bits inside a word

starting with 'Bit #'. This way, it is possible to use a register for

several separate data items.

Use Conversion:

To get the data value converted according to a prescribed

form, choose one of the predefined or user-defined

conversions. See the conversions section for more details.

Generate Alarm:

Check the ‘Generate Alarm’ checkbox to make the server

generate alarms based on the data item value. The ‘Msg. prefix’

parameter is the text of the message for this data item. It will

be followed by the text configured for a particular alarm type.

The second part of the alarm message will contain the

‘Message Body’ string (see ‘Alarm Definitions’).

The server allows any number of predefined alarm definitions

(templates). You can combine one of them with the specific

tags.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Additional Properties:

Clicking the ‘Additional Properties’ button opens the

‘Additional Properties’ dialog box, shown in Figure 8-3, which

allows you to set a textual string for an Open/Close label, a

default display, a .bmp file, an HTML file, a sound file, and an

.avi file.

These properties are also accessible for OPC Data Access

clients. For example, to see the HTML file name being

presented in the OPC client, you should append .HTMLFile to

the OPC Item name.

Figure 8-3:

‘Additional Properties’ dialog box

Importing XML-file with ‘Data Items’ for ECL device

The OPC Server comes with an XML-file containing names,

configurations and descriptions for all ‘Data Items’ supported

by the ECL device. By importing this XML-file all ‘Data Items’

are ready for use by the OPC Server or may optionally be

modified to fit specific requirements.

ItisrecommendedtoimporttheXML‐fileforthe

applicationusedbytheECLControllertoeasethe

configurationofitsparameters.

To import XML-file with ‘Data Items’:

Select a Device in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench

and click on the ‘Import XML’ button.

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Figure 8-4:

Importing the XML-file with ‘Data Items’ in Workbench

Select the appropriate ECL device and application key and click

the OK button to import the XML-file:

Figure 8-5:

Import ECL310 data

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Instructions OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

9. Conversions

You can tell the server to convert device data value simply by

setting the Conversion properties, as shown in figure 9-1.

To add a new conversion

Right-click the Conversions branch of the Configurator tree

explorer in Workbench, then click on ‘New Conversion’.

Figure 9-1:

Adding a ‘New Conversion’ in the Configurator tree explorer in

Workbench

Or

Select the Conversion branch in the Configurator tree explorer

in Workbench, then use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Conversion’.

This opens the Conversions properties window in the right-

pane of Workbench. Configure the following properties as

specified below.

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Danfoss OPC server for ECL Comfort 310 Operating instructions

Danfoss OPC server for ECL Comfort 310 Operating instructions

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