Events Web Server SCADA HMI

Application note: Using Rugid RTU Hardware Rugid’s RTU hardware is a very good match for Events SCADA HMI. Rugid Computer Inc. supplies a very reliable field RTU that is programmable and interfaces with many different types of devices. The 3 main products we have been using are the RUG9, RUG5 and RUG3. These products offer a very cost effective solution for interfacing with pumps, valves, water tank monitors, lift station pressure transducers, environmental sensors and alarm devices. Rugid hardware systems are smart RTUs because they can be programmed for your specific application. Usually, a master base station RTU (a RUG9 with voice autodialer) is used to interface with a phone line connection, a 900 MHz radio link or a VHF / UHF radio link. The master either polls the remote sites or waits for transmissions from multiple sites (a quiescent system). At the same time Events is connected to an RS232 port polling the RUG9 for the latest information received. The field units are usually a RUG5 or RUG3 depending on the remote site requirements. The RUG3 is the most cost effective, less than $500 with 6AI, 8DI, 4DO, Modem, Keyboard and 2 line display. This RTU is also programmable according to your sites requirements. Using a smart RTU system like the Rugid makes the system work more efficiently. The remote programs are usually stand alone. They do their work based on the set points sent from the master. If the master fails, the remote continues to work with the last set of set points received. On Site Displays Rugid RTUs can be supplied with or without displays. But if you are a field man and you are doing maintenance of the system, you will want a display to help troubleshoot a sensor or device. The displays are very useful in calibrating your attached devices. If you connect a pressure transducer to the RTU, you will need to calibrate its reading to the tank level or water level your measuring. Without a display, you can connect your notebook to a serial port for display information. A notebook is still useful if you need to upload a new program or if you want additional information using the Rugid’s Watch Window. Optimized Modbus and ALERT protocols Rugid RTUs can be configured as a master or slave Modbus RTU. The RTU also reads serial, binary Modbus data from other PLCs or receives ALERT formatted data from a radio receiver. Rugid Modbus is optimized because you can poll for Coils (status sensors), Integers and Float values in one message instead of 3 messages. This is a big savings in Event’s polling time. You can also write status, integer and floats in one message type. The Rugid Modbus is very effective and efficient. Ease of Use The best feature of the Rugids is the setup software. The free software from Rugid Computer is a module based system. There are multiple modules for inputs, outputs, alarms, delays, timers, math, displays and communications. The modules have properties that you set according to your device. For instance, an analog input module has an offset, span and filter properties that you can hard code or attach set points to. If you use set points, you can adjust the these properties in the field by using the Rugid keyboard. Summary Rugid RTUs are very reliable and work well with Events SCADA Software. Contact Rugid Computer You can contact us or Rugid Computer, Inc about using these RTUs.

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