Create a new device

  To create a new device, select ‘Tools’ → ‘I/O Devices’ or click the icon in the toolbar. The following picture shows the first step of creating a new device:

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I/O Device Name: Assign a device name. This name will be used in the tag configuration window of the Database, accompanied by the ‘Station Name’.

Select a device type

After selecting the ‘OK’ button in the previous step, the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ dialog box will appear as shown in following picture:

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In this window, set the ‘Device Type’ to ‘CIMON-PLC Loader’ and configure the serial communication parameters appropriate. Ensure that these parameters are matched with the PLC configuration.

  Note: The communication parameters of a standard loader port are as follows:

• Baud Rate: 38,400

• Parity: None

• Data Bits: 8 bits

Create a station

Move to the ‘Station’ tab of the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ dialog box. In this dialog box, all connected PLC stations can be configured and registered to the Xpanel. Each field can be configured with the following rules.

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Station Name: Give a name to the PLC. This name will be used in the database window accompanied with the ‘Device Name’.

Station Type: Choose the type of connected PLC.

• CP Series

• BP Series

• CM1-XPnA

• PLCS Series

• CM1-XPnB/XPnE

• CM1-CP3E

• CM1-CP4E

• CM1-XPnU/UPnF

• CM3-SPPRO

Network ID: N/A

Station No: Specify a decimal number between 0 and 31. This number is effective on CPU’s optional port or SCnnA/B module. The station number is ignored on the standard loader port.

16bits Data Swap: N/A

32bits Data Swap: N/A

Using Checksum: N/A

Comm. Error Message Pop Up: If this item is checked, Xpanel displays a communication error notification message for every Rx and Tx error. Otherwise (unchecked), Xpanel does not display the message for communication errors. Only when there is a data transmit error (writing a tag value to the station) will the notification message pop up. The message box will close automatically after 5 seconds.

Standard Loader Port on CPU

All the CPU models support RS232C loader port by RJ11 connector. There is no need to configure this port.

The communication parameters are fixed as ‘38400-n-8-1’.

This configuration supports only peer to peer (1:1) communication. Because of that, CPU ignores the station number part in the communication frame from Xpanel. That is, the CPU accepts all the station number from Xpanel.

CPU's Option Port

If the CPU’s optional communication port is used for connection with Xpanel, the CPU parameter must be configured as following picture.

Notice that the station number must be matched with that of Xpanel configuration. CP series CPU’s optional

port supports two protocols. But, there is no need to set the protocol type. This port automatically detects the

protocol type. Following CPU models support the loader protocol on the optional communication port.

· CM1-CP4C or D or U

Communication Module

If one of the following special function modules (options) is used for Xpanel connection, the property of module

should be configured as following picture.

· CM1-SC01A or B

· CM1-SC02A

· BPnnMxxx-U or T

The protocol item must be set as ‘CICON(Loader) Protocol’. And ensure that other communication parameters

are matched with Xpanel, especially for the station number.