AdvancedHMI to Solo Temperature Controller

Modbus RTU will be the serial (RS485) method in which we will communicate between the AdvancedHMI Screen and the Automation Direct Solo Process Temperature Controller.


We can address up to 247 (Solo 1 to 247) devices on this master-slave protocol. A maximum of 32 devices (Nodes) on the network can communicate to the master. A review of the Modbus RTU protocol can be seen at the following URL.
http://www.rtautomation.com/technologies/modbus-rtu/

AdvancedHMI is a free HMI programming package the runs on Microsoft Visual Studio. It can be downloaded at the following URL.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/advancedhmi/

Connections – AdvancedHMI to Solo Process Temperature Controller

We will be running the AdvancedHMI software on the computer. One of the USB ports will have a USB to RS485 adapter and communicate RS485 to the Solo process temperature controller.
Solo Process Temp Controller 010 Communication Diagram-min
See the following post to install the USB to RS485 adapter.
https://accautomation.ca/usb-to-rs485-pc-adapter-installation/

Solo Controller Settings

In the Initial Setting Mode we will change the online configuration and make the changes to the Modbus settings as follows: 9600 Baud, Even, 7 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit, Modbus ASCII Format. We will leave the default unit number as 1. See the following post to set the controller:
https://accautomation.ca/solo-process-temperature-controller/

Modbus RTU (Addresses)
The following address will be used in our project:
AdvancedHMI to Solo 050-min

AdvancedHMI to Solo 055-min
AdvancedHMI will use the Modbus Decimal value in the PLCAddressValue to determine the information that you want to get. For a list of all Modbus addresses that can be used in your project, refer to the Solo Manual located a the following URL:
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Manuals/Catalog/Process_Control_-a-_Measurement/Temperature_-z-_Process_Controllers

Screen Display: (AdvancedHMI)

Here is what our screen will look like:
Visual Studio vb.net
We have mimicked the look of the solo process temperature controller. Our PV and SV values are DigitalPanelMeters from the AdvancedHMI toolbar.  The eight output indicators are just labels.

Our ModbusRTUCom1 settings are as follows:
Visual Studio vb.net
Settings: 9600, 8, Even, One StopBit and Station 1 should all match the settings in the Solo process temperature controller that we did previously.
PollRateOverride will allow us to determine how often communication will take place to the controller. (250msec)
The PortName will be the same port number that the computer will communicate out of. This will be set when you install the USB to RS485 adapter. It may change if a different USB port is used.

The DataSubsciber1 will be used to determine the status of the controller.
Visual Studio vb.net
PLCAddressValue = 44139

We read the value of the eight status bits and convert this into a string so we can determine the status of each of the individual bits. Here is the code that is used to do this. It is the only code required for this application.

Private Sub DataSubscriber1_DataChanged(sender As Object, e AsDrivers.Common.PlcComEventArgs) Handles DataSubscriber1.DataChanged
        Dim i As Integer = DataSubscriber1.Value
        Dim Status As String
        Status = Convert.ToString(i, 2).PadLeft(8, "0") '8 bits
        'There are 8 bits that we need to check and account for on our screen. 
        'Modbus Decimal - 44139
        'Bit 0 - ALM3 - Alarm 3
        'Bit 1 - ALM2 - Alarm 2
        'Bit 2 - C degrees
        'Bit 3 - F degrees
        'Bit 4 - ALM1 - Alarm 1
        'Bit 5 - OUT 2 
        'Bit 6 - OUT 1
        'Bit 7 - AT - Auto Tuning

The complete AdvancedHMI code for this application can be downloaded at the end of the post.

The PV and SV indicators are DigitalPanelMeters as mentioned above.
Visual Studio vb.net

AdvancedHMI to Solo 065-min
They both have four digits with a decimal position of 1. This will give us a value between 000.0 and 999.9.
The SV includes a keypad to change the set value. KeypadScaleFactor is set to 0.1 to allow for the decimal place.

Included in our display is a BasicTrendChart from the AdvancedHMI toolbar.
AdvancedHMI to Solo 075-min

AdvancedHMI to Solo 070-min
You want to make sure that the YMaximum and YMinimum settings are set to the values will not go past these settings. If they do then the graph line will disappear from the chart at that point and time.
This will show a running trend for the last 5 minutes.
Polling rate is 250msec x 1200 points in the chart = 300 000msec
300 000msec / 1000 = 300 seconds
300 seconds / 60 (seconds in minute) = 5 minutes

Notes: Displaying Extended ASCII Symbols in Visual Studio (VB.NET)
You can display any symbol in the visual studio environment by holding the ‘Alt’ key down and typing the decimal number of the symbol that you want. In our example, the degrees symbol is Alt 248.
Here are the extended ASCII symbols:
AdvancedHMI to Solo 020-min
http://www.asciitable.com/

Running the Application:
AdvancedHMI to Solo 085-min

You will notice that the response rate is very quick. (250msec) As the PV, SV or indication values change, the screen will get updated.AdvancedHMI to Solo 090-min

The trend chart will show the last 5 minutes of the PV value. AdvancedHMI to Solo 095-min

As you can see, programming the AdvancedHMI to communicate to the Solo process temperature controller is very easily done.

Download the AdvancedHMI code for this project here.

Watch on YouTube: AdvancedHMI to Solo Process Temperature Controller


If you have any questions or need further information please contact me.
Thank you,
Garry



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9 thoughts on “AdvancedHMI to Solo Temperature Controller”

  1. Garry,
    Thanks for taking the time to do this. I have tried your solution above. I also tried using the latest version of AdvancedHMI. Error is NO PC Connection. I have a Solo SL4848-RR-D. I Also purchased their USB to RS485. The setup -same computer that I installed the SOLO software on. It works in the SOLO software but not ADVANCED HMI. I’m using Com7, so that should be the only difference. Can you think of anything else that might cause this?
    Thanks
    George

    Reply
    • Hi George,
      Under the ModbusRTUCom1 driver for AdvancedHMI, please ensure that you have set the communication port to COM7. I would also verify the communication baud rate, data bits and parity while displaying the information. This will have to match the settings in the Solo exactly.
      Note: The Solo unit must also be set for Modbus RTU. I believe that it defaults to Modbus ASCII.
      https://accautomation.ca/solo-process-temperature-controller/

      Let me know how you make out George.
      Thanks,
      Garry

      Reply
  2. Garry,
    That was on Ascii. So I changed it to RTU. Both your version and doing it on the latest version – same thing. Can’t find the PLC.
    Thanks
    George

    Reply
    • Hi George,
      This is a tough one. The solo software works on the same computer that you have AdvancedHMI running on.
      This means that the communication cable is correctly wired and working as expected.

      ModbusRTUCom1 settings are set to the following:
      BaudRate – 9600
      DataBits – 8
      Parity – Even
      PortName – COM7
      StationAdddress – 1
      StopBits – One

      The solo must also be set to the same parameters above.
      On-Line Configuration – On – ID Number P3-12
      Modbus Protocol – RTU – ID Number P3-13
      Network Address – 1 – ID Number P3-14 (Same as StationAddress)
      Baud Rate – 9600 – ID Number P3-15
      Bit Length – 8 – ID Number P3-16
      Parity – Even – ID Number P3-17
      Stop Bit – 1 – ID Number P3-18

      These are all of the parameters that I can think of to check.
      Garry

      Reply
  3. Garry,
    Got it. I think it was a combination of the ASCII – RTU and the 7 vs 8 Data Bits. Both the version I got from you and the brand new one I started from scratch now works.
    Thanks so much.
    George

    Reply

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