I recommend clearly defining the separation between the PLC and I/A very for a couple of reasons. One reason is to lower the amount of information that needs to pass between them to the smallest amount necessary. If you can define the BMS down to a "black box" you may treat it similarly to a motor -- Turn ON, Turn OFF, Let me know if there is a problem, etc. The other reason is to comply with safety regulatory agencies. I recommend keeping the BMS as self-contained as possible, but the regulations in your area may be different than mine. (And, if the current BMS works, why fix it?) Lowering the amount of communication between I/A and burner management makes it easier to certify for safety--and to troubleshoot, later on. Our equipment is older than you have to work with. We have redundant CP30s and AP51As. We use an AB Gateway. The basic processing cycle is 2 seconds. So, our BMSs have to be self-contained to be fast enough. But, the combined system works just fine. Once you have clearly defined what each processor will do, the communication solution will depend on how much data you actually need to pass between I/A and PLC (and to how many PLCs you must communicate). Chuck Jones Refinery Automation Technologist Tate & Lyle -- Lafayette South Plant 765.477.5324 - Office | 877.536.9219 - Pager -----Original Message----- From: foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Baptiste, Nigel Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 3:21 PM To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [foxboro] Foxboro I/A interface with PLC5/30's Thanks Chuck. The I/A system (Unix based) will be doing the boiler combustion controls = and motor control as well as data acquisition. The project is still in the planning stages so I am seeking advice on = how to proceed. We can do either of your options but I would like to = know which is your recommendation based on your experience. NB. -----Original Message----- From: foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Jones, Charles R. (Chuck) Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 4:12 PM To: 'foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: Re: [foxboro] Foxboro I/A interface with PLC5/30's I've done this and I'm sorry to hear about your troubles... But = seriously, now it's not as bad as it once was. Before we can begin to send you advice, can you let us know whether you = are running on Unix or Windows? =20 And, will your I/A system primarily supply the user interface or will = there be controls as well? =20 Or, better yet (since the PLC is only for BMS), can you focus your I/A = to AB interface down to passing a few digital bits of information back and = forth? Is it good enough that the I/A can just say, "Turn ON (or OFF) the = flame" and is it okay if the I/A only has to know whether the flame is ON or = OFF? Chuck Jones Refinery Automation Technologist Tate & Lyle -- Lafayette South Plant 765.477.5324 - Office | 877.536.9219 - Pager -----Original Message----- From: foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] = On Behalf Of Baptiste, Nigel Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 2:59 PM To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [foxboro] Foxboro I/A interface with PLC5/30's Hello list, Does anyone have experience interfacing I/A with AB PLC5/30's? I have to integrate the two for combustion control & burner management = =3D on a steam turbine generator unit. The combustion controls would be replaced with the I/A system but the = =3D budget does not permit the replacement of the PLC based BMS. Hence I'm seeking the best way to interface the two systems. Regards, Nigel Baptiste. =20 =20 _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html =20 foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: = mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=3Djoin to unsubscribe: = mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=3Dleave =20 *************************************************************************= **************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and = intended solely for the=20 use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are = not the intended=20 recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the = intended recipient, be=20 advised that you have received this email in error that any use, = dissemination,=20 forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. = If you have received=20 this email in error please notify the sender immediately. Please note = that we reserve=20 the right to monitor and read any emails sent and received by the = Company in=20 accordance with and to the extent permitted by applicable legal rules. *************************************************************************= **************************** =20 =20 _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html =20 foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: = mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=3Djoin to unsubscribe: = mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=3Dleave =20 _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave ***************************************************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately. Please note that we reserve the right to monitor and read any emails sent and received by the Company in accordance with and to the extent permitted by applicable legal rules. ***************************************************************************************************** _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave