TestEquity F4T User manual

Copyright © 2014-16 TestEquity LLC Rev. 2.03 – October 31, 2016
Portions of this manual are used with permission from Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, 2014-16
F4T Touch Screen Controller
User’s Guide
Revision 3.0 Firmware
TestEquity LLC
6100 Condor Drive
Moorpark, CA 93021
Support: 877-512-3457 Toll Free
805-480-0638
Corporate: 800-732-3457
805-498-9933
http://www.testequity.com

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Safety Instructions __________________________________________________5
Introduction _____________________________________________________________________ 5
Safety Notices ____________________________________________________________________ 5
Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel ___________________________________________7
F4T Menus ______________________________________________________________________ 7
Understanding F4T Menus _________________________________________________________________7
Event Driven Menus ______________________________________________________________________7
Navigating and Understanding the User Interface ______________________________________ 8
Home Screen____________________________________________________________________________8
Home Screen Parameters __________________________________________________________________9
Front Panel Navigational Buttons ____________________________________________________________9
Main Menu _____________________________________________________________________________9
Manual Chamber Operation _______________________________________________________ 10
Static (Manual) Set Point _________________________________________________________________10
Navigating the Closed-Loop Set Point Screen _________________________________________________10
Chamber Functions (Output Widget)________________________________________________ 11
Ramp to Set Point________________________________________________________________ 12
Profile Mode ____________________________________________________________________ 13
Profile Actions _________________________________________________________________________13
Profile Parameters _______________________________________________________________________14
Step Parameters_________________________________________________________________________14
Sample Ramp and Soak Profile_____________________________________________________________17
Data Logging____________________________________________________________________ 19
Overview______________________________________________________________________________19
Data Logging Menu _____________________________________________________________________19
How to Enable Data Logging ______________________________________________________________20
Transferring Data Log Files _______________________________________________________________21
Trend Charts____________________________________________________________________ 22
Exporting/Importing Profiles and Configuration via USB_______________________________ 23
Transferring Profile Files _________________________________________________________________23
Transferring Configuration Files____________________________________________________________23
Personalizing the Home Screen_____________________________________________________ 24
Changing Loop Operational Parameters _____________________________________________ 25
Operations Page _________________________________________________________________ 26
Screen Snapshot Utility ___________________________________________________________ 26
Chapter 3 – Composer Software ________________________________________________27
Installation______________________________________________________________________ 27
Overview______________________________________________________________________________27
Downloading the Software and System Requirements ___________________________________________27
Installing the Software ___________________________________________________________________27
Network Configuration ___________________________________________________________________27
Composer Welcome Screen Orientation _____________________________________________ 28
Using Composer Software _________________________________________________________ 28
Establishing an Online Connection to a System Using Ethernet____________________________________28
System Overview Screen __________________________________________________________ 29
System________________________________________________________________________________29
Device Menus __________________________________________________________________________29
Security and Passwords___________________________________________________________________29
Save System Image ______________________________________________________________________31
Import System Image ____________________________________________________________________32
Global Settings _________________________________________________________________________33
Device Details ___________________________________________________________________ 33
Device Name___________________________________________________________________________33
Restore Settings From____________________________________________________________________33
Pluggable Flex Modules ___________________________________________________________ 33

Table of Contents
Personalization __________________________________________________________________ 34
Data Logging____________________________________________________________________ 35
Trend Charts____________________________________________________________________ 35
Creating and Editing Profiles in Composer Software___________________________________ 36
Profile View - Screen Orientation___________________________________________________________37
Profile Parameters _______________________________________________________________________38
Step Parameters_________________________________________________________________________38
Opening the Profile View _________________________________________________________________40
Creating Profiles ________________________________________________________________________40
Saving a Profile to a Storage Device_________________________________________________________40
Loading a Profile________________________________________________________________________40
Duplicating a Profile _____________________________________________________________________41
Deleting Profiles ________________________________________________________________________41
Opening the Step Editor __________________________________________________________________41
Adding Steps___________________________________________________________________________41
Inserting Steps__________________________________________________________________________41
Deleting Steps __________________________________________________________________________42
Password Protect a Profile ________________________________________________________________42
Changing or Removing a Password from a Protected Profile ______________________________________42
Chapter 4 – Communications __________________________________________________43
Ethernet Parameters _____________________________________________________________ 43
Changing Ethernet Parameters _____________________________________________________________43
Ethernet Parameters and Settings ___________________________________________________________43
RS-232 Parameters_______________________________________________________________ 44
Changing RS-232 Parameters ______________________________________________________________44
RS-232 Parameters and Settings ____________________________________________________________44
Modbus ________________________________________________________________________ 45
Introduction to the Modbus Protocol ________________________________________________________45
F4T and F4 Modbus Mapping______________________________________________________________45
Common Modbus Registers________________________________________________________ 46
F4T Mode _____________________________________________________________________________46
F4 Compatibility Mode ___________________________________________________________________47
SCPI Programming Mode _________________________________________________________ 48
GPIB and Ethernet Modbus Interface Converters (optional) ____________________________ 50
Serial Modbus-to-GPIB Converter __________________________________________________________50
Serial Modbus-to-Ethernet Converter ________________________________________________________50
Programming Syntax for the F4T Controller, Data Map 1 ________________________________________51
Programming Syntax for the F4T Controller, Data Map 2 ________________________________________52
Chapter 5 – Event Board Option TE-0033 ________________________________________53
Introduction ____________________________________________________________________ 53
Connections _____________________________________________________________________ 53
Connecting to the Event Board (for 1000 Series Chambers) ______________________________________53
Connecting to the Event Board (for Models 140 and 115A)_______________________________________53
Controlling the Events ____________________________________________________________ 54
Chapter 6 – Retransmit Option TE-F4T-RETRANSMIT ___________________________55
Introduction ____________________________________________________________________ 55
Connections _____________________________________________________________________ 55
Chapter 7 – F4T Controller Calibration _________________________________________57
Equipment Required _____________________________________________________________ 57
Input Setup and Calibration _______________________________________________________ 57
F4T Connections_________________________________________________________________ 58

Chapter 1 – Safety
TestEquity F4T Controller Page 5
Chapter 1 – Safety Instructions
Introduction
Follow all CAUTION notices to prevent damage to the chamber or your test sample. Failure to
follow all CAUTION notices may void your warranty. CAUTION may also indicate a
potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate personal
injury.
The safety alert symbol !precedes a general CAUTION statement.
Safety Notices
!CAUTION: The Watlow F4T Manuals are written by the manufacturer, Watlow, for a
wide variety of applications and configurations. Not all features or functions
are applicable. Only the capabilities of model F4T1L2EAA2A1017 (for
Temperature Chambers) or F4T1L2EAA2B2018 (for Temperature/Humidity
Chambers) are applicable. “Cascade Control” and “Retransmit” functions are
available as options.
!CAUTION: The F4T “Alarm” functions are NOT used in the chamber’s safety system.
TestEquity does NOT recommend using the F4T alarm function as the main
protection device. The independent EZ-Zone Limit Controller functions as the
main protection device.
!CAUTION: The F4T Controller has been properly configured by TestEquity to match the
chamber’s system requirements and to perform optimally over a wide range of
operating conditions. Improper modifications to these setup values can result
in erratic performance and unreliable operation. Setup examples in the
Watlow F4T Manuals are NOT applicable to this chamber. Do not attempt to
modify the setup values, unless you thoroughly understand what you are
doing. If there is any doubt, please call TestEquity before proceeding.
!CAUTION: Configuration files are unique to each particular model chamber and must
NEVER be transferred to a different model chamber.
!CAUTION: NEVER select “Factory” in the “Restore Settings From” prompt in the Device
Details menu in Composer Software. This will erase all controller
configuration settings. The chamber will not work if you do this.

Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel
TestEquity F4T Controller Page 7
Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel
F4T Menus
This chapter is designed to give you a better understanding of the structure and navigation of the
F4T menus as viewed from the front panel.
Understanding F4T Menus
The graphic below illustrates at a high level the structure of the F4T menus.
Event Driven Menus
During normal operation it is possible that an event can
occur that will present the user with indications, pop-up
windows and menu selections that are not shown above. As
an example, if an alarm occurs then the status bar (top of
screen shot as shown) will indicate its existence by blinking
yellow. If the user presses the status bar button to view the
alarm message, and then presses the alarm tab, menu options
may appear (silence or clear) depending on the alarm
settings. A representative alarm display is shown here.
As another example, if an input sensor opens, an error
message will be displayed on the screen requiring user
intervention. Once the error is acknowledged (Dismiss), the
status bar will continue to blink red until the open sensor has
been fixed. Once fixed, the status bar will return to its
normal operational display.

Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel
Page 8 TestEquity F4T Controller
Navigating and Understanding the User Interface
Home Screen
After powering up the controller a white screen will appear first while initializing. Once the
startup process is complete the Home Screen will be presented as shown below. The image
below shows a configured Home screen for a TestEquity Temperature/Humidity Chamber while
it is running a profile.
①Controller Status:Indicates alarms and errors if they occur while also showing the current
security level if enabled (see “Security” section). Also indicates if Data Logging is enabled
and if a USB thumb drive is plugged into the USB host port. The button shown in the center
of the status bar allows you to view alarm and error messages when pressed.
②Profile Status Bar: Provides visibility and information pertaining to running profiles as well
as access to available profile actions (see “Creating and Editing Profiles” section).
③Vertical Ellipsis:Displays current control mode while also providing access to other
operational parameters such as the Closed Loop Set Point, Autotune, PID Settings, and more
(see “Changing Loop Operational Parameters” section).
④Next Page: If the controller has more than one control loop (like temperature and humidity)
and the Home screen has been setup to display multiple pages (loops), the left and right
arrows on each side of the home screen provides navigation from one to the other (see
“Personalizing the Home Screen” section).
⑤Output Widget Bar: Function keys or output status (ON/OFF).
User
1. Controller
Status
3. Vertical
Ellipsis
4. Next Page
(if configured)
2. Profile
Status
5. Output
Widget

Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel
TestEquity F4T Controller Page 9
Home Screen Parameters
Parameters on the Home screen include:
•Loop name: “Temperature” and “Humidity” in the above example.
•Control mode:“Auto” shown in the above example.
•Process Value or PV:Actual Temperature or Humidity.
•Target Set Point or TSP: The desired set point in a step when running a profile)
•Current Set Point or CSP: The instantaneous set point during a ramp step when running a
profile. May be the same value as the TSP)
•Set Point:The desired Temperature or Humidity to be maintained by the controller.
•PWR:% Output power levels (throttle) for heat and cool. The upper PWR bar (orange) is the
heat throttle. The lower PWR bar (blue) is the cool throttle.
•Output Actions:Allows you to monitor the ON/OFF status of controller outputs.
Front Panel Navigational Buttons
Four buttons at the bottom of the F4T are displayed as icons
shown below. The text in this graphic was placed there for
clarity only and is not present on the front panel.
•Home: Regardless of the screen currently in view, when Home is pressed you will always
return to the Home screen (shown on the previous page).
•Menu:Pressing the Menu button will provide access to other settings and functions within
the controller.
•Return:Pressing this button will take you back to the previous screen until the top level of
either the Home Screen or the Main Menu is reached.
•Help:Displays information about the controller such as part number and software revision.
Main Menu
The Main Menu provides access to settings and functions within the controller.
•My Menu: Quick access to user assignable functions.
•Profiles:Profiles are added, accessed, and edited from this
menu.
•Operations:Contains access to alarms, control setting,
profile events, inputs, and outputs.
•Settings:Contains access to network settings, global settings
(controller name, date, time, °C/°F display), firmware update
utility, and feature update utility.
•Data Logging: Contains access to settings for data logging.
•Trending: Contains access to settings for trend graphing and the trend graph display.
•File Transfer: Contains access to USB file transfer utilities for Import/Export of
Configuration and Profiles and Export of Data Log files.
•Login (Logout): For password entry, shown with a user already logged in.
•Service: (not shown, appears when display is scrolled down in this pictured configuration).
Provides access to the calibration menu.
•Personalize:The home screen layout is modified in this menu. This has been configured by
TestEquity to only show if a user is logged in with a password.
•Help:(not shown, appears when display is scrolled down in this pictured configuration)
Displays information about the controller such as part number and software revision.

Chapter 2 – Using the F4T Front Panel
Page 10 TestEquity F4T Controller
Manual Chamber Operation
Static (Manual) Set Point
Set Point is the Temperature or Humidity setting that you want the chamber to maintain. The
F4T Controller is in Static Set Point Mode when it is not controlling a Profile. The Static Set
Point is entered in the Closed-Loop Set Point screen.
Navigating the Closed-Loop Set Point Screen
To enter the Closed-Loop Set Point screen, press the area in the Set Point box on the Home
Screen. The Closed-Loop Set Point screen will appear. Values can be added with the numeric
keypad or the or arrow keys.
Pressing the numeric keys will directly enter a value in the Closed-Loop Set Point box. There is
no need to clear the existing value first.
Pressing the or arrow keys will increment or decrement the existing Closed-Loop Set Point
value in 0.1 increments each time the key is pressed.
•Clear will clear all entries in the Closed-Loop Set Point box.
•Bksp (backspace) will clear the last digit in the Closed Loop Set Point box.
•Enter will enter the values in the Closed-Loop Set Point box and return you to the Home
Screen.
•Cancel will return you to the Home Screen without changing the Set Point.