Edwards 970520 Tech Bulletin

Edwards Signaling Fieldstone Court CT 06410 699 3300 203 699 3108 Bulletin 970520 Category PLC Activation 19 1999 Centers How to display text messages using a PLC Edwards Message Centers are capable of displaying messages using an ASCII Text This bulletin will describe the steps necessary to use a PLC to display basic on any Edwards Message Center The PLC needs to be capable of sending an Text String to either an RS232 or RS485 output The text string must be in the proper otherwise the message will not be displayed Any Experienced Ladder Logic will understand these basic instructions and will be able to integrate these into more complex Ladder Logic Functions SECTION I Hardware Connections PLC Software must be capable of sending an ASCII Text String to an RS232 Serial Port single Message Center operation use an adapter and straight through RS 232 cable as in diagram 1 Or for multiple Message Centers or RS485 operation you should follow wiring employed in diagram 2 No ferrite end towards Message Center foot 6 conductor RS 232 cable foot 6 conductor RS 232 cable Pin D Sub to 6 pos RJ11 adapter foot 9 pin to 9pin type A9 RS232 cable Set internal message center jumper to RS232 1 Bulletin 970520 1 of 4 No Termination ferrite end towards Message Center foot 4 conductor RS 485 cable foot 4 conductor RS 485 cable network adapter foot spool of RS485 cable box w 2 EOL terminators foot 9 pin to 9 pin type A9 RS232 cable Set internal message center jumper to RS485 II Software Configuration 2 configure any software for communications with the Message Center the following parameters need to established by the user Bits Bits III Message Center Setup are only a few things needed to set up the Message Center to receive text strings from the PLC First the internal jumper to RS 232 or RS 485 position as needed Next Clear the Message Center memory setup the desired serial address using the remote control serial string to clear memory is NUL NUL NUL NUL NUL SOH Z01 STX E AAU0100FF00 EOT This string the Message Center memory configuration for File Label A Write a Text File Unlocked File is using Remote Control File Size 0100h 256 bytes 4 byte format Start Time FF Run always byte format and Stop Time 00 Stop time is ignored when message is set to run always two byte Bulletin 970520 2 of 4 IV Text String Format message can easily be constructed by typing directly in ASCII to the appropriate data source file Listed is a sample string that tells an Edward Message Center to display the following text and format and Supervisor report to cell 3 with Fill text Red text color normal font in hold text mode Message Center serial address in this example is 01 example 1 A B C D E M F G H I J K L and Supervisor please report to cell 3 EOT Code Address Code Label Value consecutive NUL for sync auto baud detect of message of Header character Type Code for All Signs in network Byte ASCII Hex Sign Address see note 1 of Text character code A Write a TEXT File to the sign Label A name ESC sequence character that denotes start of Field position see note 2 control character that denotes holding the text in place 1 2 byte control character that tells the sign to use Red see note 3 Message text that will appear on the sign and to cell 3 EOT end of transmission character Must follow end of every message string The serial address of the sign is represented by two ASCII digits as a number between 00 to FF 0 to If 00 is the desired serial address the two byte ASCII representation would be 30h for the first digit Bulletin 970520 3 of 4 30h for the second digit It is important to remember to treat the serial address as a two digit code signs on the network will respond to the string when the serial address is 00 On one line Message Centers the Display Position is irrelevant but must be included The following characters can be used for the Display Position ASCII Value Description the sign with all available lines vertically the text in the middle the text on the top line the text on the bottom line The following control characters can be used for text color The control characters for the Color Codes in a two byte format Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C Value Red Green 1 2 Mix V Sample Strings Action Red Message Green Message Red Message Green Message Required Hats Required EOT Hats Required EOT Hats Required EOT Hats Required EOT In order for text or other features to properly work Message Centers should have the disabled This can be done one time directly from the remote control in mode VI Additional Support questions please call our Technical Support 203 699 3300 or visit our web site www edwards Additional codes are available for controlling message center text strings in our Protocol available from your local Edwards Signaling representative Bulletin 970520 4 of 4