Przem's Phase Linear 700 Series II White Oak Conversion

[laatsch55]

Amp done, power cord done...

 

[NavLinear]

Looking good Lee! As always a great job.

That sure looks like a FreeWave RF modem in the first photo. Do you use them in the field to transmit electronic health functions? If you have a slow data rate those things are awesome.

 

[laatsch55]

Yep, that's a Feewave radio. They come in our pumpoff controllers but we don't use them...

 

[NavLinear]

Sooooo - do you swap them out with something else or maybe use a hardline?

 

[laatsch55]

Hardwire to the drive or starter panel....

 

[NavLinear]

Hardwire to the drive or starter panel....

Ok. We use them to bi-directionally transmit sensor data from one platform to another or from a platform to a ground station - or visa-versa.

It sounds like the RF modem (radio) in your case was intended to transmit data over a short distance but since hardwiring was an option due to the close proximity of the interface circuits that would be the preferred option. Less shit to go wrong.

 

[laatsch55]

We are using a radio to control a pump accross a distance of 3/8 mile. It's a converted security system RF. The freewave would be better I suppose but have no experience with em. Have quite a few laying around....

 

[NavLinear]

We are using a radio to control a pump accross a distance of 3/8 mile. It's a converted security system RF. The freewave would be better I suppose but have no experience with em. Have quite a few laying around....

We sometimes bump up the output wattage from the approximately one watt output to five watts using an external amplifier and can get 30 to 50 mile coverage with low gain antennas on both ends. Of course one end if not both are in the air so we have line of sight. The FreeWave modems are quite capable and can be programmed using software you already have.

 

[laatsch55]

Oh......hmmm..........

 

[laatsch55]

Can they communicate directly with a PLC like the Allen Bradley 1760 Pico?

 

[NavLinear]

Can they communicate directly with a PLC like the Allen Bradley 1760 Pico?

Not directly. Normally one would have a RF modem at each end and translate and/or format the transmitted / received data as necessary.

 

[laatsch55]

I just need a go/no go signal. Most of our remote requirements are to turn something off when something else fucks up like pumps or pumping units. High tank kills, high pressure kills...

 

[NavLinear]

I just need a go/no go signal. Most of our remote requirements are to turn something off when something else fucks up like pumps or pumping units. High tank kills, high pressure kills...

Is a wireless system desired?

One thought is this data could be linked to a cell tower and wake someone up when things go tits up in addition to controlling the system it is monitoring.

 

[laatsch55]

I'd never get any sleep. And yes wireless would be way cool in a couple places we have. Save burying a lot of commo wire..

 

[NavLinear]

I'd never get any sleep. And yes wireless would be way cool in a couple places we have. Save burying a lot of commo wire..

Just send the data to Timdalf.

The FreeWave modems require a serial data input. If the rig sensors data are not serialized then a translator would be required. On the other end the modem output is serial so another conversion may be required to translate this to Allen Bradley speak.

 

[laatsch55]

Tim would love me for that.....


Allen Bradley speak....funny shit. ....
.

 

[laatsch55]

The sensors would be a dry contact off a gauge or float...

 

[NavLinear]

The sensors would be a dry contact off a gauge or float...

So my first take would be a Consumer Off the Shelve board (COTS) board that monitors the analog / discrete inputs and converts this to a serial stream. This data is linked to the RF modem (slave mode) and transmitted to the modem (master mode) that interfaces with the Allen Bradley. It sounds like the output will require a conversion to be compatible with the controller so another COTS board may be required. If something goes dip widget the master (based on the Allen Bradley logic) would send out the proper command that the slave receives and sends via the COTS board to do whatever was commanded.

 

[Northwinds]

Wut you sayin' Willis?

 

[gadget73]

A-B PLC stuff is a little odd. Their various families don't really interface well either. We have two at work. The radiation cell runs an old PLC 5, the blender uses a SLC-500. None of the parts interchange, and I don't expect the programming would either. The PLC 5 replaced an older PLC-2. The program was basically run through a translator and spit out the other end. It works, but boy is it quirky.