Obvius A8812 User manual

AcquiSuite – Data Acquisition Server
Obvius, LLC
Installation and Operation Manual
Model A8812
Date Aug 16, 2 11
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Copyright Information
Copyright © 2001 - 2011 by Obvius
Obvius and AcquiSuite are trademarks of Obvius oldings LLc
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
U.S. Government Restricted Rights: Use, duplication or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions set fourth in subparagraph (a) through
(d) of the Commercial Computer Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19 when applicable, or subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data
and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, and in similar clauses in the NASA FAR Supplement.
Limited Warranty
Obvius provides this warranty for all its products in lieu of all other warranties (whether express or implied), including any implied warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purchase. This warranty is the buyer’s exclusive remedy for all claims against Obvius. Obvius will not be liable
for any consequential or incidental damages and total liability shall be limited to the purchase price of the product.
Obvius promises buyer that any product manufactured by Obvius shall be free from all material defects in material or manufacture for a period of 2 years
from the date of sale. This warranty does not include ordinary wear and tear or replaceable components (e.g., batteries). During the warranty period,
Obvius will repair or replace (at its sole discretion) any product shown to be defective under this warranty at no charge to buyer. Returned freight prepaid
by buyer. The warranty shall remain in full force and effect for such 2 year period, provided that the product: (1) was installed, operated, and maintained
properly; (2) has not been abused or misused; (3) has not been repaired, altered, or modified outside of Obvius’ authorized facilities; (4) has not been sold
subject to other warranty terms specified at the time of sale; and (5) is still owned by the original purchaser. This warranty provides specific legal rights
that may be varied by state law. Obvius’ products are not intended for use in critical applications such as nuclear facilities, human implantable devices or
life support. Obvius is not liable, in whole or in part, for any claims or damages arising from such uses.
Obvius strongly believes in continuous improvement, therefore we must reserve the right to change specifications and product offerings without notice.
Where possible, we will substitute products with equivalent functionality when necessary.
DANGER
Hazard of Electric Shock, Explosion or Arc Flash
●Follow safe electrical work practices. See NFPA 7 E in the USA, or applicable local codes.
●This equipment must only be installed and serviced by qualified electrical personnel.
●Read, understand and follow the instructions before installing this product.
●Turn off all power supplying equipment before working on or inside the equipment. Use properly rated voltage sensing device to
confirm power is off. DO NOT DEPEND ON THIS PRODUCT FOR VOLTAGE INDICATION
●Only install this product on insulated conductors.
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
●This product is not intended for life safety applications.
●Do not install this product in hazardous or classified locations.
●The installer is responsible for conformance to all applicable codes.
FCC Part 15 Information
Note: This equipment has been tested by the manufacturer and found to comply with the limits of a class A digital device, pursuant to part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Modifications of this product without the express authorization of Obvius nullify this statement.
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Table of Contents
Overview....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Installation Checklist..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Markings and Symbols:................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
ardware Overview....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
A8812 Features and Specifications.......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Electrical Connections............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
ardware Installation............................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Basic Network Configuration......................................................................................................................................................................10
Laptop/Computer Setup.........................................................................................................................................................................11
AcquiSuite Administration Overview..........................................................................................................................................................13
Security........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Modbus........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Modbus Device List............................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Device List Options.........................................................................................................................................................................15
Device Details. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Device Configuration......................................................................................................................................................................16
Advanced Configuration Options....................................................................................................................................................16
Manual Device Add Options...........................................................................................................................................................17
Internal IO Configuration................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Troubleshooting Modbus Devices.........................................................................................................................................................20
Modbus Setup........................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Alarm Setup........................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Modbus Framework...............................................................................................................................................................................22
Wireless....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Sensor List.............................................................................................................................................................................................22
Mod opper Map...................................................................................................................................................................................22
Networking.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Network Status...................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Ethernet setup........................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Troubleshooting Ethernet Problems......................................................................................................................................................23
Modem Status........................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Modem Setup........................................................................................................................................................................................24
Modem PPP Dialout ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Example Dialout to an ISP or RAS........................................................................................................................................................25
GSM/GPRS Cellular modem (A8812-GSM only).................................................................................................................................25
Modem PPP Dialin................................................................................................................................................................................26
Dialin from a computer to the AcquiSuite.............................................................................................................................................26
Example Dialin from a WinXP computer..............................................................................................................................................27
System Options............................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
Status.....................................................................................................................................................................................................28
Processes............................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Date and Time....................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Universal Time Is Your Friend........................................................................................................................................................ 28
System logs............................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Firmware Update...................................................................................................................................................................................30
Diagnostics ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
ost Lookup.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Connection Test.....................................................................................................................................................................................30
LCD Console............................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Log File Data............................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Log File Status....................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Log File Format..................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Log Storage Capacity.............................................................................................................................................................................34
Uploading data to the BMO website......................................................................................................................................................35
Retrieving Data From the AcquiSuite......................................................................................................................................................... 36
TTP Direct from the AcquiSuite......................................................................................................................................................... 36
FTP Direct from the AcquiSuite............................................................................................................................................................36
Enertrax download direct from the AcquiSuite......................................................................................................................................36
TTP/Post Upload To Building Manager Online..................................................................................................................................37
TTP/Post Upload To Your Database Server.......................................................................................................................................37
Removing Data From the AcquiSuite....................................................................................................................................................37
Linking to AcquiSuite Device Status Pages...........................................................................................................................................37
Mechanical Drawings.................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
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Overview
The AcquiSuite™ data acquisition system is designed to allow owners and managers of commercial and industrial facilities
with a cost-effective means of gathering crucial information in a timely manner. To meet these requirements, the
AcquiSuite™ system provides the installer with all the tools necessary to install and configure the hardware and software
with a minimum of time and investment.
Installation Checklist
An AcquiSuite™ system installation has the following components:
Required hardware
●AcquiSuite™ A8812 data acquisition server (required)
●Data connection (ethernet or phone line).
●Ethernet Cat 5 cable (required for lan or direct laptop-to-AcquiSuite connection); or
●Phone line and cord (required for modem connection)
Optional hardware
●Analog sensors for temperature, humidity, etc.
●Pulse output transducers for measuring gas, electricity, water, etc. from existing meters and sensors.
●Additional Modbus RTU devices power meters (e.g., Veris Enercept, PML Ion, Emon ProMon, etc)
Next, choose one or more of the following connection methods.
For LAN installations only:
●Ethernet 10/100Mbit connection point (hub or switch)
●IP address and Netmask (check with system administrator)
●Gateway address (check with system administrator)
●DNS server address (check with system administrator)
●TTP Proxy address (optional), may be required if the AcquiSuite is behind a firewall (check with system
administrator)
For dialout installations only: (AcquiSuite initiates a phone call to your ISP or modem server)
●Phone line with dialtone. May be shared with other devices such as a fax machine.
●Phone cord for connection to phone system
●Dial out access prefixes, and long distance access code if required. (ie, dial 9 for local line)
●ISP account or Modem Server phone number (check with ISP)
●DNS server address. (check with ISP)
●Time to dial. If phone line is shared, choose a time of day when other devices are not in use, such as 4am.
●A regular telephone for line testing and diagnostics
For dialin installations only: (AcquiSuite receives/answers a phone call from your computer)
●Phone line with dialtone. Must be NOT shared with other devices. (or use appropriate line sharing device)
●Phone cord for connection to phone system.
●Telephone number for the phone line that the AcquiSuite will be attached to. (so you can call the AcquiSuite)
●Make note of the AcquiSuite dialin IP/Netmask for future use.
●A regular telephone for line testing and diagnostics
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Markings and Symbols:
WARNING: A potential risk exists if the operating instructions are not followed
General Warning Symbol: This symbol indicates the need to consult the operating instructions provided with the
product.
This symbol indicates the presence of electric shock hazards.
This symbol indicates: Do not apply to or remove from hazardous live conductors.
Direct Current symbol.
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Hardware Overview
A8812 Features and Specifications
Processor Arm9 embedded CPU, Arm7 io coprocessor
Operating System Linux 2.6
Memory 32 MB ram, 16 MB flash
LED 8x input, 4 modem activity, Modbus TX/RX, power, system, io status
Console 2 x 16 character LCD, two pushbuttons
LAN RJ45 10/100 Ethernet, full half duplex, auto polarity
Modem V.34 bis, 33,600 bps (A8812-1 only)
GSM/GPRS Cellular (A8812-GSM only)
Protocols Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP, TCP/IP, PPP, TTP/ TML, FTP, NTP, XML, SNMP-Trap
Power Supply 24VDC, 1A, class 2 wall brick transformer.
North America: 110-120VAC, 60hz, primary. (standard, included)
CE/Europe: 100-240VAC, 50-60hz, primary, with interchangeable plug adapters. (optional)
Interval Recording User selectable 1-60 minutes. Default 15 minute interval
Serial Port1RS-485 Modbus, supports up to 32 external devices (expandable)
Inputs18 flex-io inputs with multiple modes: voltage, current, resistance, pulse and status.
Voltage mode: 0-10vdc (min/max/average/instantaneous data)
accuracy: +- 0.25% of full scale at 20ºc
Current mode: 4-20mA (min/max/average/instantaneous data)
accuracy: +- 0.25% of full scale at 20ºc
Resistance mode: 100 ohms to 100k.
accuracy: 100Ω-1kΩ+- 1% of 1kΩ at 20ºc
1kΩ – 10kΩ+- 1% of 10kΩ at 20ºc
10kΩ – 47.5kΩ+- 1% of 47.5kΩ at 20ºc
47.5kΩ – 100kΩ+- 1% of 100kΩ at 20ºc
100kΩ − 10MΩaccuracy unrated.
Pulse mode: intended for use with dry contact outputs. (consumption/rate/runtime/status)
Standard and KYZ modes for form A and C relay outputs
Input terminal supplies 3V ~ 5V at 5mA sense voltage to detect contact closures.
Maximum rate: 10hz, minimum pulse width 50ms.
Adjustable contact closure threshold: 100Ω to 5kΩ, broken wire sense above 10kΩ optional.
Pulse count and runtime values are stored in non-volatile memory.
Outputs1: 2 optically isolated outputs type: opto-fet, dry contacts. rating: 30vdc, 150mA max.
Isolation2: The RJ45 ethernet, RJ11 Modem, pulse outputs, and the primary side of the power adapter are
electrically isolated from the AcquiSuite main PCB board and inputs.
Environmental North America: Indoor, temperature 0º - 50ºc, 0 - 95% humidity, non-condensing.
CE/Europe: Indoor, temperature 5º - 40ºc, 0 - 90% humidity, non-condensing.
EMC FCC CFR 47 Part 15, Class A
EN 61000, EN 61326
Size 8” x 9.25” x 2.5” (203mm x 235mm x 64mm)
Mass 5lbs (2.3kg)
1 inputs are intended for low voltage class 2 outputs.
2 if the product is used in a manner not specified by the
manufacture, the protection provided by the equipment
may be impaired.
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Electrical Connections
Hardware Installation
Step 1 - Unpack materials: Remove all materials from shipping box and verify all required components are available
Step 2 - Mount the AcquiSuite on the wall or other appropriate location.
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Step 3 – (optional) Connect any analog or pulse output sensors you may have. For Analog sensors, 0-10V or 4-20mA sensor
types are allowed. The combined power consumption of all the analog sensors attached to the AcquiSuite must not exceed
200mA. If more current is required, use an external power supply as shown in the wiring diagram for each input type later in
this section.
Step 4 (optional) - Connect the Modbus network loop as shown in the wiring diagram. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for installing and powering the Modbus devices. Verify that the Modbus address settings are unique for each
device (i.e., no two devices with the same address) and power up the device. Connect each device in the chain by “daisy-
chaining” the devices together . Observe + and - polarity on the Modbus devices. For more information about Modbus loops,
please read our Modbus FAQ.
Low Voltage analog, pulse, and RS485 wiring that enters electrical panels must have a minimum insulation rating that
exceeds the voltage inside the panel. In addition, other regulations may apply; consult the building codes in your area prior
to installation.
The RS485 port on the A8812 has a built in terminator. A 150 ohm termination resistor should be placed at the other end of
the RS485 loop, between the + and – wires. For more information about RS485 termination, read the Modbus FAQ.
Some Modbus devices do not use the same label notation as the AcquiSuite. Rather than +,-,S, Emon uses Low, igh, and
Gnd. To attach an Emon meter, use + to high, - to low, and shield to gnd.
The AcquiSuite A8812 internal IO module (Analog and pulse inputs) uses Modbus address 250, and will show up in the
Modbus device count as a single Modbus device. Additional analog or pulse input IO modules may be added to the Modbus
loop as needed.
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Step 5 - Power-up and diagnostics: Attach the power supply to the power input jack on the AcquiSuite, and plug the power
brick into a wall outlet. The power brick should be in a location that is accessible for connection and disconnection. After
power is applied, the green “Alive” light in the upper right of the AcquiSuite should come on and the LCD display will
display a series of diagnostic screens ending with the following message on the LCD display (this boot sequence may require
up to 20 seconds to complete):
AcquiSuite Ready
192.168.40.50
This indicates that the AcquiSuite has loaded properly and is ready for configuration and connection to the network and
sensors. If the “Alive” light does not come on or the LCD display does not cycle to the above screen, verify that the power
cord is plugged in. If after cycling the power the unit still does not power up (or if an error message appears in the LCD
display) contact technical support. After the A8812 has been powered up for a minute, the green Alive LED should blink
slowly once per second during normal operation.
●odbus TX/RX: The Modbus TX and RX LEDs blink to indicate data on the RS485/Modbus loop. The
RX led blinks only when data is received by the AcquiSuite
●odem RTS: the modem is being monitored or operated by the AcquiSuite, off when the modem is idle.
This LED will be on when a dialout call is in progress, or when dialin is enabled and waiting for an
inbound call.
●odem CD: the modem has a carrier connection to a remote system.
●odem TX/RX: data is being sent or received on the modem.
●Alive: blinks once per second while the system is operating correctly.
●Alarm: blinks to indicate a problem.
●Inputs 1-8: in pulse or status mode, the LED is on when contacts are closed. In analog 4-20mA and 0-
10V mode, the led blinks quickly (2hz) to indicate an over-range alarm error. In 4-20mA mode when the
input current is less than 4mA, or in resistance mode where the input resistance is above 10Mohm, the led
will blink a pattern (blink, blink, off) to indicate a broken wire alarm.
●Ethernet Link/Act: On when connected to a hub or switch, off when not connected. Blinks when Lan
traffic is being sent or received.
●RS485 RX/TX. The 485TX led should blink slowly once per second during normal operation. The RX
led will blink when external Modbus devices communicate with the AcquiSuite.
●RF TX / RF RX: If the A8812 has a built-in Mod opper option with an on-board radio, the RF LEDs
will blink showing transmit and receive packets.
Step 6 Verify connected devices: To verify that the Modbus devices are installed and reporting correctly, use the Modbus
status utility on the AcquiSuite™ server. To do this test, follow these steps:
A. Press and release the menu (top) button on the AcquiSuite. The following will appear on the LCD display:
[Main Menu]
TCP/IP Config
B. Press the menu (top) button several more times until the LCD display shows the following message:
[Main Menu]
Modbus Status
C. Press the select (bottom) button on the server and the unit will begin the diagnosis of the Modbus loop.
After the check is completed, the unit will display the following message:
X devices OK
X fail, X new
D. Verify that the number of devices located by the server (the total of OK, fail and new) matches the number
of devices actually installed and connected. For a first time installation, all devices should appear as “new”.
The AcquiSuite A8812 Internal IO (pulse and analog inputs) appear as one device in this list.
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(Note: A “device” is the Modbus connected device, not necessarily the sensor. For example, an A8 23-4 I/O
module with 4 sensors connected is only one modbus device, not four) For further information on the LCD
console, please review the console section of this manual.
E. The AcquiSuite completes a background scan for new Modbus devices every 2-5 minutes. Increasing the
RS485 Modbus timeout may increase the time required to detect new devices. If the Modbus devices are
connected after the server is booted up, the devices may not appear on the screen for several minutes. In the
worst case, allow up to 5 minutes for the AcquiSuite to locate all the connected devices.
F. If all devices are reporting properly, it is now time to connect the server to the network or phone line for
remote reporting and configuration.
Basic Network Config ration
Step 1 - Determine the IP addressing needs: The IP address of the AcquiSuite™ server can be implemented using one of
three methods. Check with the network administrator to determine which method applies. For phone installations, use "direct
connection to laptop" to allow initial configuration.
●Static IP address - this is a fixed IP address which is assigned by a network administrator and “hard-coded” into the
AcquiSuite; or
●Dynamic ost Configuration Protocol (D CP) address - this process assigns an IP address dynamically to the
AcquiSuite when it is connected to the network from a host D CP server; or
●Direct connection between the AcquiSuite and a single temporary computer such as a laptop. (primary connection
will be dialin or dialout by modem)
You will need the following information from your network administrator: The addresses will be in the form of
“###.###.###.###”), where “#” refers to the numbers 0 to 9.
Static IP Address DHCP Direct Connection to Laptop
IP address: ___.___.___.___
Netmask: ___.___.___.___
Gateway: ___.___.___.___
DNS server: ___.___.___.___
DNS server: ___.___.___.___
TTP Proxy _____________
proxy server port: ______
IP address: (dhcp assigned)
Netmask: (dhcp assigned)
Gateway: (dhcp assigned)
DNS server: (dhcp assigned)
TTP Proxy _____________
proxy server port: ______
IP Address: 192.168.40.50
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gatway: 192.168.40.1
DNS: 70.99.203.62
TTP Proxy: [blank]
(factory default settings)
Network Address Worksheet
Step 2 - Configure the IP address as selected from the table above. For Direct Connection to Laptop, the address settings
above are set as the factory default, and you may be able to skip to the "Laptop/Computer Setup" section if the factory
default settings are present.
To begin configuration, make sure that the server displays the start screen:
AcquiSuite Ready
192.168.40.50
If this screen does not appear on the LCD display, press and hold the menu (top) button on the server for several seconds and
the message should appear. To change the IP address to the static address assigned by the network administrator, do the
following:
A. Press the menu (top) button once to get the TCP/IP configuration menu
[Main Menu]
TCP/IP Config
B. Press the select (bottom) button twice to get the IP config menu:
[TCP/IP Config]
IP Address
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C. Press the select button again to see the IP address menu:
[IP Address]
192.168.40.50
D. At this point, the cursor on the display will be blinking on the first number in the IP address on the second
line.
E. To change the number, press the menu (top) button and the display will cycle through the digits 0-9 as well
as “.”. Once the correct digit is displayed, press the select (lower) button to advance to the next digit and
repeat the process until all the digits are correct.
F. Once the IP address on the AcquiSuite matches the assigned IP address, press the select (bottom) button
once more to return to the main TCP/IP menu.
Step 3 - Set the netmask, gateway, and DNS server(s) addresses as noted in the chart "Network Address Worksheet" using
the same technique as shown above. The only change is that after Step B, press the menu (top) button multiple times to see
the netmask, gateway, and dns setup menu, then push the select button to set the option.
Note: If D CP configuration is selected, the IP, netmask, gateway, and dns server addresses will be obtained automatically.
Simply select the “Enable D CP” from the first TCP/IP configuration manu.
Step 4 - After the address information has been set, you must reboot the AcquiSuite. Select the "(Previous Menu)" option
after step B above. The menu will then state that the AcquiSuite must be rebooted to take effect. Press 'select' to allow the
AcquiSuite to reboot.
Once the AcquiSuite has rebooted, the new IP address will be displayed on the console. If D CP addressing was specified,
the server assigned address will be displayed.
Note: if D CP is unable to obtain an ip address, the AcquiSuite will use the fallback address of 192.168.0.100.
Laptop/Computer Setup
Step 1 - You must have a computer to access and configure the AcquiSuite. This computer must have an ethernet connection
(on the LAN or by direct connection) and must have a web browser installed such as Internet Explorer or Netscape.
Note: If your building already has an existing LAN that the AcquiSuite is attached to, you can use an existing computer on
that LAN. Check with your network administrator for details. If this option is available, use a LAN connected computer and
skip to the “AcquiSuite administration overview” section below.
The remainder of this section will assume the installer has brought a laptop to the site, and will connect the laptop to the
building LAN, or directly to the AcquiSuite. Attach the laptop to the AcquiSuite or LAN as shown in figure 6, Ethernet
hookup.
Step 2 - Attach the Laptop to the AcquiSuite or to the LAN. The A8812 will automatically detect whether a direct or
crossover cable is required, and will reverse polarity accordingly. This feature will allow you to use either a straight ethernet
cable or a crossover ethernet cable interchangeably.
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If the Laptop is to be attached to an existing LAN, obtain a static IP address (or use D CP addressing) from the network
administrator.
Static IP Address for the laptop DHCP Direct Connection to Laptop
Specify an IP address
IP address: ___.___.___.___
Netmask: ___.___.___.___
Obtain an IP address automatically.
(All other required settings are assigned
by the D CP server)
IP Address: 192.168.40.1
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
(AcquiSuite factory default settings)
Laptop Address Worksheet
Step 3 - Configure the laptop IP address using the following steps. Note: Only Windows XP is detailed below, however you
can use any OS/Browser you wish such as MacOS or Linux. Details on network setup for non-windows operating systems is
beyond the scope of this document however.
A. From the Windows start menu, select the
"Settings”, “Network Connections" option.
Double click the 'Local Area' network
connection icon in the network folder, then click
the "Properties" button.
B. In the network setup dialog, there should be a list
of items including adapters, clients and
protocols. Locate the item labeled "Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP)".
Note: If you have multiple ethernet cards, you may have multiple lines labeled "TCP/IP --> ethernet card". Locate
the ethernet card that corresponds to the physical connection to the AcquiSuite and then select the TCP/IP option
that is linked with that ethernet card.
C. Double click the TCP/IP option you selected in step B above. The
Ineternet Protocol properties dialog will be shown. This page
allows you to select D CP (obtain an IP address automatically) or
configure an address manually.
D. Select the option for “Use the following IP address” as shown in the
picture to the right. Set the IP and Netmask from the Laptop
Address Worksheet above. It would be helpful to make note of your
previous settings in this dialog so you may set them back after you
are done with the AcquiSuite Configuration.
E. Close the TCP/IP settings dialog, and Network dialog.
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Acq iS ite Administration Overview
The AcquiSuite should now be available on the local area network for you to access using a web browser such as Internet
Explorer or Netscape.
Step 1 - Use your web browser to connect to the AcquiSuite by entering
http://192.168.40.50/setup/
Where 192.168.40.50 is the IP address displayed on the on the AcquiSuite LCD display.
Step 2 - When prompted, use the following default login information
Login: admin
Password: admin
Step 3 - Your web browser should now display the AcquiSuite configuration menu. To the left, a list of configuration
options are available. On the right, a specific configuration page will be shown. The first page is a welcome message with
some system status information. Proceed with the configuration of the AcquiSuite using your web browser.
Step 4 - Click on the + mark next to the Accounts menu. Select the Admin account, and click 'Change Password'. All units
are shipped with the same factory default password, and it should be changed to prevent unwanted access.
Step 5 - Expand the Networking option, and select setup. Verify the addresses are consistent with those in the "Network
Address Worksheet."
Step 6 - Expand the Modbus option, and select "Device List." You should see a list of each Modbus device attached to the
AcquiSuite. Before the AcquiSuite can begin logging data, each Modbus device must be assigned a unique name.
A. Click the device number to the left of the unconfigured Modbus device.
B. A page with the current device status and readings will be displayed. Click on the 'configure' button at the bottom of
the page.
C. Enter a name for the device in the supplied field.
D. Change any low and high range alarm settings you may need. (optional)
E. Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page to save your changes.
F. Repeat these steps for each Modbus device.
Some devices may require additional information. For example, the Veris 8238 Multi circuit power meter allows the CT
size to be specified. The Obvius A8923-4 IO Module and the A8812 AcquiSuite internal IO module have additional
configuration options on each data point line to specify the details of the analog or pulse input. These include the 4-20mA
device scale, multipliers and engineering units. Each 4-20mA or 0-10Vsensor should be supplied with technical information
including the low and high range values that can be used to configure the AcquiSuite. Also, the AcquiSuite has many
common sensor types pre-programmed that can be selected from a drop down list. Review the Modbus Advanced
Configuration Options section of this manual for further configuration details.
Step 7 - Select the Modbus/Setup menu option. Specify the Modbus Loop Name. This will become the name of the
AcquiSuite. This is the name that will appear on the BMO website service (if subscribed). Specify the data logging period.
The default is 15 minutes.
Step 8 – Decide upon a method of data transfer. (see section later in this document) . If you select the TTP/Post method to
send data to the BMO website, you can configure this by selecting the “LogFileData, Setup/Upload” page.
A. Make note of the AcquiSuite serial number.
B. Select upload options as needed for time of day to upload the data and retry control.
C. Check the checkbox to allow remote configuration. This will allow you to reconfigure the AcquiSuite from the
BMO web site without having to connect directly to the AcquiSuite.
D. Specify the "Target address to upload data." This is the website address where the AcquiSuite will send the
collected data. If you have an in-house data collection service, you should enter the address of your data server in
this field. Obvius also provides a service called Building Manager Online that can collect and report data for you. If
you are using the BMO service, the target address to upload data should be set to
http://www.buildingmanageronline.com/upload.php
E. When configuring the AcquiSuite to send data to the BMO site or your own data collection server, the AcquiSuite
will authenticate itself with the server by using the serial number and a password. This password must be supplied
here, and can be obtained when you subscribe for the BMO service, or by your database administrator.
F. Click "Apply" to save your changes.
If you select a manual transfer method, remove (blank out) the target address in the Modbus/Upload Data page.
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Sec rity
The AcquiSuite has three levels of security. These are “operator”, “user” and “admin”. When using a browser to access the
AcquiSuite, basic http authentication is used to prompt your browser for a username and password. The admin account uses
“admin” as the default password. To change the password, select the Accounts menu from the left side tree display. Next,
select the account name. Click the “Change Password” button to set a new password for the selected account.
admin: This account has full access to modify any of the system settings. The default password is “admin”.
operator: This account may view settings, however may only change modbus alarm ranges and device names.
user: This account can view some system settings including the modbus device status pages and can change nothing.
When using FTP to access the AcquiSuite, you may use the admin account username/password for read-only access. Log
information is stored in /var/log/modbus. For read-write-delete access, use the login name “root” and the admin password.
The three usernames specified are not able to be changed or renamed, nor can arbitrary usernames be added to the
AcquiSuite. Access is only controlled by setting the password for the three existing usernames noted above.
The “operator” and “user” accounts are disabled by default. These accounts are activated when you first set a password for
each.
Modb s
Modbus evice List
The AcquiSuite automatically searches for Modbus devices on the RS485 serial loop. The Modbus Device List page will
show a listing of all the currently detected or configured devices the AcquiSuite has found. The device list will show the
Modbus address number, status (OK, Error, Alarm, Unconfigured), the device name (user specified) and the device
identification string.
Click on the Modbus address number for any of the devices for specific device details
Note: not all Modbus devices have built in driver support in the AcquiSuite. If a device appears in the list with “Unknown”
in the status column, you may need to upgrade the firmware on the AcquiSuite to access the device. At the bottom of the
device list page under the Type column, a link is shown that will show all the Modbus devices with built in driver support
provided in the firmware. Use the System/Firmware update page to check for newer versions of the firmware. The
Obvius.com website faq also has a list of supported Modbus devices. Modbus devices that are not supported by built in
drivers may be configured using the Modbus Framework feature in the AcquiSuite.
At the bottom of the device list, there is an option to allow you to rename all the devices listed. This is useful for initial
deployments. There is also a troubleshooting link that will look for common configuration problems and alert you to the
appropriate solution.
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Device List Options
At the top of the Modbus device list page, there are several display options that control the sorting of the device list.
Tree display: Click this icon to organize the list by showing each Mod opper, and the devices attached to each one.
List display: (default) Show the list of Modbus devices sorted by the Modbus address number.
At the bottom of the Modbus device list, there are several options that may be selected to view or configure all the Modbus
devices at the same time. These options are as follows:
Add: Manually add a Modbus device to the device list. This option can be used to configure a Modbus device that is not
presently connected to the system, add a framework configured device, or add a Modbus/TCP connected device. See the
section on manually adding a device below.
Troubleshoot: The AcquiSuite will review the devices connected and offer suggestions about any problems found.
Rename all devices: This option allows you to edit all the device names in one configuration page. This is useful when
initially configuring a large number of new devices. A name must be assigned to a device before the AcquiSuite will log
data for it.
List all supported devices: This option will show a list of all Modbus devices with built in drivers in the installed firmware.
Show [setup]: Display links for Device configuration and Advanced configuration for each device.
Show [devinfo]: Display the communications options including baud rate, serial number and firmware version (when
available) for all devices in the Modbus device list.
Show [stats]: show packet counters for all devices in the device list. These include
Sent: Total number of packets sent to this Modbus address.
Received: Total number of valid packets received from this Modbus address.
Error: Total number of packets received that fail CRC for this device. (does not include non-response queries)
RTT: The average round trip time for the last 7-10 packets that received a valid response. This value is useful
in configuring the Modbus timeout in the ModbusSetup/RS485 page. Note: if the timeout is set too short, you
will not see an accurate value because packets dropped for timeout are not counted for RTT.
X L: Display the device list data in XML format.
Notes on RTT and Timeout configuration:
To best measure the true RTT, set the ModbusSetup/RS485 timeout to the maximum period and allow the AcquiSuite to run
for 5 or 10 minutes. Next, review the RTT values seen in the device list page and make note of the longest RTT time shown
for any device. Last, configure the ModbusSetup/RS485 timeout to the option that is the next largest than the longest time
seen for any device. For example; if the worst RTT is 600ms, set the timeout to 1second.
Typical RTT values for direct connected devices should range between 40ms and 200ms. Systems that have wireless links
such as Mod oppers should expect an additional delay of 500ms per hop. A complex system with multiple Mod oppers
may have RTT values upwards of 3 seconds.
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Device Details.
The device detail page will show a list of all the meter data points, alarm settings and console options. The data point names
for most devices are automatically entered. Some devices such as the A8923-4 io module have generic inputs, and will be
labeled as “pulse input #1”. At the top of the page, the status of the device is shown. This usually reports “ok” however it
can include error information if the device is not responding properly. A list of device errors is available in the log file
details section of this manual. At the bottom of the page, several buttons are present.
Done: returns you to the device list page.
Log File: This icon will display a table view of the most recent data in the current log file. Use the log file export page for
complete log data access.
X L: This icon will show the current data from the Modbus device in an XML format. The URL from this icon can be
copied and used to gather xml data for client side Javascript or Java applications.
Configure: This button will allow you to change the device parameters such as the name, alarm and console settings.
Device Configuration
When the “configure” button is clicked from the device details page, the screen will be refreshed, with the same information,
however the device name, alarm settings and console checkbox will be available.
Device Name: This field allows you to specify a name for the device such as “main building power” or other useful name to
indicate the location or function of the device. A name must be assigned to a device before the AcquiSuite will log data for
it.
Low Alarm, High Alarm: Specify a threshold for the alarm. If the data point is recorded below the Low Alarm, or above
the igh Alarm levels at the time a log entry is taken, the point will be considered in an alarm state.
Console: Checking this checkbox will cause the AcquiSuite to display this data point on the LCD console. Multiple data
points are rotated about every 10 seconds. The values on the LCD console are updated when the next log interval occurs.
Point Config: Some devices have configurable point features. The A8923-4 IO module has 4 pulse and 4 analog inputs that
require additional configuration as detailed in the next section. The 663/704 BCM product only requires the circuit
breaker name in this menu. Most data points are automatically configured and this option may not be displayed.
Advanced: At the lower right corner of the page, an advanced configuration button may be present depending on the
Modbus device features.
Advanced Configuration Options
The advanced configuration page contains special options specific to the device you are configuring. For the A8923-4 io
module, you may specify the pulse rate speed that the pulse inputs will work at, as well as review the 4-20mA/0-10v input
status. On power meters, the CT size and orientation options may be present. The device serial number and other specific
parameters will be displayed if available.
Specific options available in the Advanced Configuration page vary depending on the features available in the Modbus
Device, as well as the features implemented in the built in AcquiSuite driver.
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anual Device Add Options
Modbus devices may be added manually by clicking on the “add” link on the bottom of the Modbus device list page. This
option is intended for use when adding devices to the configuration profile prior to installing the physical hardware, or
configuring Modbus/TCP devices that will not automatically populate in the Modbus device list.
The manual setup page has several options that must be configured before the AcquiSuite will recognize the Modbus device.
The options are as follows:
odbus Address: The Modbus device address must be supplied. Note: when configuring a device on a remote
Modbus/TCP gateway, the Modbus address of the remote device must not be the same as any address on the local RS485
loop.
odbus/TCP Gateway IP: This option allows the AcquiSuite to log data from a remote Modbus device that is attached to
the LAN via a Modbus TCP gateway device such as an EGX or Moxa gateway. For local Modbus devices attached to the
AcquiSuite RS485 port, use “127.0.0.1”.
odbus/TCP Gateway Port: If a remote Modbus/TCP gateway is used, the tcp port of the remote gateway must be
specified. The default TCP port is 502 on most gateways. For local Modbus devices attached to the AcquiSuite RS485 port,
use 502.
Device Name: You must provide a name for the Modbus device to identify it in the device list. This should be something
that will identify the meter location and purpose.
Device Type: This menu will allow the selection of any built in driver or any Modbus Framework template that is available
on the AcquiSuite. It is important to select the driver or template that matches the Modbus device.
Note: Up to 32 remote Modbus/TCP devices may be added to the system. Because of addressing the devices on the
AcquiSuite device list, each Modbus/TCP device must have a unique ID in the same way that Modbus/RS485 devices do.
There is no hard limit on the number of Modbus/RS485, however typical systems should not exceed 64 total devices for
performance reasons. Depending on the Modbus/RS485 device, the RS485 line may limit the system to 32 physically
attached meters, but can be expanded with the use of either Mod oppers or RS485 repeaters. The ModBus addressing
system on some meters will only allow addresses between 1 and 64, the Modbus Protocol requires the address be between 1
and 256.
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Internal IO Configuration
The A8812 AcquiSuite provides 8 multipurpose flex inputs on board. The onboard io inputs will always be device 250 in
the device list.
1. Click on the device number 250 in the device list. A page showing the device inputs will be presented. Each input has 5
lines on this page. Analog inputs have one line each for an instantaneous, min, max and average value. Pulse inputs
have a line for the accumulated value, rate, runtime and status.
2. Click the Configure button at the bottom of the page. The page will be displayed again, however the device name and
alarm level fields will allow editing.
Type in a name for the device in the space provided at the top of the page. The name should describe the purpose or
location of the IO module. For device 250, you may want to use the name “Internal IO”
3. For each input that you wish to use, click the “Config Point” button to the right of the input.
4. The input configuration requires several options. The input mode will control how the input functions. This includes
measuring voltage, current, resistance, pulse, or runtime. Use the dropdown menu to select the mode that is appropriate
for your sensor. The input configuration must be completed for each input that is in use.
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Sensor Name: change this to describe the input. This can be anything you wish, such as “Indoor Temperature”
Input ode: Select from one of the following: Voltage 0-10v, Current 4-20mA, Resistance, Pulse, Pulse-KYZ, status or
Unconfigured.
Sensor ake and odel: This entry is a space for the model number of the sensor. It is only used for reference.
Sensor inimum Range: All Analog Sensors have min/max range values. For example, a temp sensor may have a
range of 50 to 95 degrees F. Enter the low range number here.
Sensor aximum Range: Enter the high range value of the analog sensor here.
Pulse ultiplier: for pulse mode inputs, this option specifies the multiplier for the input.
Curve Scaling: Some sensors such as thermistors have a non-linear output. This option allows a lookup table to be
specified to convert from the input reading to an engineering unit data output. Several conversion tables (Curve Scale
Templates) are provided with the AcquiSuite. For more information refer to the Curve Scale Documentation supplement
provided on the obvius.com website.
Pulse Rate: for most units, this feature is an automatic rate field. For KW points, the rate is KW.
Engineering Units: Enter the units of measure. ie, Degrees F, %R , etc.
5. After saving the sensor profile, the device configuration page will be displayed again. The input values should now be
scaled correctly and the names will be updated to your new configuration. You may wish to set any alarm thresholds
required, or check the “console” check box for any data points that should be displayed on the LCD console.
6. Click the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner of the page. For the A8812 onboard IO, there are several options.
Input types: this list shows the status of the 8 analog inputs, either 0-10V, 4-20mA, resistance, pulse, status, etc.
The Contact Closure Threshold allows you to set a maximum resistance to be counted as a “closed” contact. This is
helpful when using intrinsic barrier devices.
The Contact Open Threshold can be used in conjunction with a 20K resistor in parallel with the contact closure. When
the contact is open, the AcquiSuite will read 20K, when closed, it will read <100ohms. If the wire is broken, the reading
will go above 20k ohms, and will cause an alarm condition.
The Pulse count for instantaneous rate value specifies the number of puses to use to calculate the instantaneous rate,
min, and max fields in pulse mode.
7. After returning to the device configuration page, click “Save” at the bottom of the page to return to the device display
page.
The internal io device 250 is also available to the Modbus TCP gateway feature. External systems such as computer
software or PLC may send a Modbus TCP query to the AcquiSuite using Modbus address 250. The internal io device will
respond with Modbus registers that represent all of the features seen in the AcquiSuite configuration pages. Complete
documentation of the Internal IO device 250 Modbus registers is available online on the website obvius.com in the A8812
overview section.
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Troubleshooting Modbus evices
If the device you have attached does not appear in the Modbus device list, check the following:
●Verify the + (red), - (black), and Shield connections are correct on all connections. Look for any connection in the
middle of the loop that may have the wires reversed, or shorted together. Check the Modbus faq on the obvius.com
website for further details on wiring a Modbus serial connection.
●Verify the address settings of every Modbus device. No two devices may have the same address. Note: the AcquiSuite
A8812 uses the address 250 for the internal IO module. Do not assign this address to any other Modbus device.
●If only one device is not working, try disconnecting all the other devices on the Modbus loop to isolate the problem. If
possible, bring the failed device adjacent to the AcquiSuite and attach it with a short stub of wire to eliminate possible
wiring problems. If the AcquiSuite can find a device on the short stub, the problem is probably a wiring related issue on
the RS485 loop.
●Check to verify the Modbus device is supported by the AcquiSuite. Usually, the AcquiSuite will locate the device and
print “Unknown” in the device status column if the device is not recognized by the AcquiSuite firmware drivers. In the
lower right corner of this screen, there is a link that will show a list of supported devices. Use this to verify the Modbus
device in question is supported by the AcquiSuite firmware version. If not, check for firmware upgrades online with the
Firmware Update configuration page.
●Remember, the AcquiSuite may take between 2 and 5 minutes to detect a new device that has been attached to the
Modbus rs485 loop. Rebooting the AcquiSuite, refreshing the device list page, or using the console 'Modbus status'
menu will not speed up the recognition process.
●Click the “Troubleshooting” link at the bottom of the Modbus device list page for further diagnostics.
Modbus Setup
The Modbus setup page provides several options related to the Modbus RS485 serial port.
AcquiSuite Name: This is the name of the AcquiSuite. This name will be present on all log file descriptors when uploaded
to a central database website such as BMO. It is helpful to name the AcquiSuite based on the physical location of the
system, or building. Note: this feature was labeled “Loop Name” in older firmware versions.
Data logging period: This option sets the log interval for the AcquiSuite. Options range from once per minute to once per
hour. All of the selections are even divisions of one hour. The AcquiSuite calculates the next log time by finding the next
multiple of the log period past the start of the hour. For example, if the log period is 15 minutes, log readings will be taken
at 0, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour. The log period is not calculated based on “15 minutes after the last reading”
When the AcquiSuite is first started, it will take an initial reading of all the Modbus devices immediately. Following that, the
next log reading will be calculated as a multiple of the log period after the hour. The initial reading is taken to allow the
AcquiSuite to gather information for meters that require demand calculations, as well as provide accurate information
starting when the AcquiSuite is booted.
odbus/TCP access: The AcquiSuite has a Modbus TCP gateway feature that allows other systems to send queries to all
attached Modbus RS485 devices. This feature allows control of what systems have access to the Modbus TCP gateway
feature. The settings include “no access”, “local subnet only” and “allow any”. This basic security feature only allows
control based on the IP address of the system making the request. The Modbus TCP protocol does not have provisions for
any authentication password or other methods of security. By default, the gateway feature is disabled, and set to “No
Access.”
The Modbus TCP gateway is a feature that allows the AcquiSuite to share the attached Modbus RS485 devices with other
systems such as PCs with software and building control systems. The gateway receives incoming TCP requests, verifies the
length of the packet does not exceed 255 bytes, and forwards the packet to the Modbus RS485 loop. The gateway does not
verify the contents of the packet, nor the target address specified in the request. If the Modbus RS485 device sends a valid
response back, the gateway will return this information to the the system requesting it via TCP. If no response is received, a
timeout failure will be sent to the requester. Because the gateway does not process the contents of the request or reply, it is
possible to query devices on the Modbus RS485 loop that are not specifically supported by the AcquiSuite. A Modbus/TCP
technical guide may be available soon.
odbus RS/485 baud rate: This feature allows the configuration of the RS485 serial port speed which the AcquiSuite uses
to communicate with Modbus devices. Options include 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200. The default is 9600, most
Modbus devices communicate at this speed as well. Multiple baud rates may be selected in this menu. If multiple rates are
selected, the AcquiSuite will automatically detect the baud rate of each Modbus device from the chosen options. Once the
baud rate has been detected for a specific Modbus device address, and will continue to communicate with that specific
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