Now You Can Have Robust Data Logging for Free – Part 4

We will leave this at the default setting in our project. Remember that this can be modified any time if you wish to increase the amount of information logged.

Run Minute_Logger
MHR2 – Pointer – Value 670 to 2000
MHR660 – MHR669 – Current logged values
MHR660 – Year – xxxx   MHR661 – Month – xx   MHR662- Day – xx
MHR663 – Hour – xx   MHR664 – Minute – xx   MHR665- Second – xx
MHR666 – MHR667 – Current Meters – xxxxxxxx
MHR668 – Current Rate – xxxxx mpm
Internally used bits –
D40 – D49 / V2

We will start by looking at the log pointer.

Minute Log Pointer
MHR2 is the pointer for the minute production log. It will point to the location to store the next series. (Next Minute of Data)
MHR2 = 670 means that we are all data has been retrieved.
MHR2 = 2000 means that we have 133 minutes of data to be retrieved.
A visual basic program will read MHR2. If it is more significant than 670 then the data will be read and then written into a database. It will then write the value of 670 back into MHR2 to reset the pointer.
Current values are located here:
MHR660 – MHR667

After 133 minutes (~2 hours) without communication with the programmable logic controller, the data will be lost. You may wish to increase the memory area as mentioned above. This will change the MHR area, so your reset value will have to change from 2000 to your new setting.

Log Time Parameters
MHR660 – Year
MHR661 – Month
MHR662 – Day
MHR663 – Hour
MHR664 – Minute
MHR665 – Second

This area sets up the real-time clock. (RTC) The format is as follows: YYYY MM dd hh mm ss.

Meters
For testing purposes, a 50ms internal timer is used. The count input should be activated on the leading edge if you remove the 50ms internal timer.

Rate
This is the rate per minute. (MPM)
Samples are taken once per minute.

D40 – Current Meters
D42 – Last Minutes Meters
D43 – Meters passed since the last minute
MHR668 – Meters per minute (Rate)
If the current meters are more significant than the last minute meters, then subtract the previous minute meters from the current meters and store them in the meters passed since the last minute. If not, do the opposite. This will ensure that a negative number is not obtained. The meters passed since the last minute are then divided by 1000, so we are only looking at the integer of the number.

This finishes the PLC programming. In part 5, we will continue getting the information out of the PLC.
If you have any questions or need further information, please get in touch with me.
Regards,
Garry

To get a copy of the entire program. Please get in touch with me in the contact section. I will be more than happy to send you the program. Put ‘Robust Logger’ in the subject line.