ATIVA-PLC HMI Multi-Link (Only RS-485)

To create a new device, select [Tools] → [I/O Devices] or click the icon from the main toolbar. Select [New Device], then select ‘Serial Device’ and enter a device name. Press [OK] to create the device.

Open

Device Name: Designate a name for the I/O Device. The ‘Device Name' and 'Station Name’ are used together to define names for device tags in the database.

Once the device name is designated, the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ window appears as shown below:

After selecting 'ATIVA-PLC HMI Multi-Link' as the device type, match the remaining parameters to the settings chosen for the connected PLC. In the case of Multi-Link Communication, only RS-485 is supported (select “RS485” for ‘Comm Type’). See the Communication Configuration section for more information.

Move to the [Station] tab of the 'Serial Communication Configuration’ window. Here, users can register connected PLCs to the Xpanel. Each PLC must be configured, as shown below.

Station Name: Designate a name for the PLC. ‘Station Name’ is used with the 'Device Name' to generate names for device tags in the Database.

Station Type: Select ‘ATIVA PLC’.

Station No: Designate a number between 0 and 31. This must match the station number for the connected PLC.

16Bit Data Swap: N/A

32Bit Data Swap: N/A

Using Checksum: N/A

Comm. Error Message Pop Up: When this item is checked, Xpanel displays a communication error message box for every Rx and Tx error. Otherwise (unchecked), Xpanel does not display a message for communication errors. This message box will close automatically after a few seconds.

See the Communication Configuration section for more information about the remaining parameters.

Move to the [Multi-Link] tab from the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ window. Users can register Multi-Link Station No. and Multi-Link Table numbers.

The following options may be configured:

Multi-Link Station No: Designate the station number of the Xpanel within the Multi-Link setup. Each Xpanel in the Multi-Link network must use a unique station number.

Multi-Link Table: Select all station numbers which are used within the Multi-Link network. The more numbers that are used in the Multi-Link Table, the slower each communication cycle becomes. Therefore, users should select numbers based on specific on-site communication needs.

Example: Multi-Link network with 3 Xpanels on a single RS-485 channel. Each Xpanel must be configured separately, as shown below:

<Station No.0 Xpanel>

<Station No.1 Xpanel>

<Station No.2 Xpanel>

If using one of the following PLC modules to communicate with Xpanel, the card settings must be configured in CICON as shown below:

• CM1 - SC01B

• CM1 - SC02A

• BPnnMxxx - U

‘Protocol’ must be set to ‘HMI protocol’. All other communication parameters must match the settings chosen during the I/O device configuration.

If using a built-in CPU (PLC) serial port to communicate with Xpanel, the channel settings must be configured in CICON as shown below:

Note that the channel number (1 or 2) may vary depending on the selected PLC model.

This connection option is available with the following models:

• CM1 - CP4D

• BPnnMxxx - S

• PLC-S (RS485 ch)