Hi,
Does anyone have a reference regarding the best way to connect a CR23x to a CR1000? We will have the CR1000 connected to the network via an ethernet cable and we'd like to add the CR23x to the CR1000 as if it were a sensor - or at least this is what we've been told will work. Both loggers will be connected to a suite of sensors. Does this make sense? The distance between the two loggers is a couple of feet of cable.
Thanks,
AMK
One way to do this is to load the PB (PakBus) version of the OS into the CR23X (making it a CR23X-PB). Then you should be able to connect a serial cable between the I/O of the CR23X and the CS I/O of the CR1000, setting it up to use an SDC channel with the same fixed baud rate, etc. You would have to make sure that the pakbus address of the CR23X-PB is unique from the CR1000 pakbus address, etc.
Then you have two ways to collect your data:
1. Use the GetVariables or GetRecords command inside the CR1000 program to pull any readings across from the CR23X-PB to the CR1000. You would simply put in the PakBus address of the CR23X-PB as an argument in those instructions. Then the two dataloggers should communicate with each other via PakBus.
2. The other way to do this is to set up the CR1000 as a PakBus router (in its device settings -- DevConfig). Then you can place a CR23X-PB onto the network map of LoggerNet (SetupScreen) as a child of the CR1000. Once you've specified the pakbus address of the CR23X-PB to loggernet, it should be able to route packets through the CR1000 to get to the CR23X-PB. It may be a bit slow, but in theory LoggerNet should be able to connect to the logger, collect data, etc.
You can't use the CS I/O port to communicate between the dataloggers because both dataloggers will attempt to control SDC communications. Your best bet is to connect the RS-232 ports of the two dataloggers with a null modem cable. Alternatively, you can connect the CR23X-PB RS-232 port to one of the CR1000's COM ports.
AMK,
Take a look at the P106 instruction for your CR23X. That lets your CR23X look and act like an SDI-12 Sensor to your CR1000. You'll need one Control Port (c1-C8) on the CR23X and one on the CR1000 (C1, C3, C5 or C7).
Janet
Okay, this is great. So in every case, no additional hardware is required. This is exactly what I wanted to hear (excluding maybe the null modem (sc105, S32b???))?
Thanks again,
AMK
Would the P106 command and serial cable work if the dataloggers are:
1) CR1000, CR1000, CR1000 & CR10 (not CR10X)
2) CR5000 & CR10
and the distance between loggers 100, 500 and 50 ft in the first case, and 50 ft in the second.
I can picture calling the CR1000-s in the Pakbus network, but am unclear if the CR10 that would be connected to the to one of the downstream CR1000-s would work as intended.
I called the CSI guys about this and they pointed me to a specific piece of hardware that was specifically designed to connect loggers. I don't recall the model number. Maybe someone can post the device name?
jtrauntvein,
If we use the rs232 ports and null modem, what are the program calls for this?
No special programming. Just configuration. Connect the two dataloggers using a null modem cable. Male connections on both ends. Make sure the legacy logger has a -PB OS loaded and has a unique PakBus address. Then configure the CR1000 as a PakBus router, making sure that it too has a unique PakBus address. Now you can connect to the CR1000 over one interface and have your packets routed automatically to the CR23X-PB.
Alternatively, you may have a chance of leveraging PakBus Datagrams or programming the CR1000 to act as a serial server. You would only want to do these if for some reason you can't make the CR23X OS be -PB.
Can the CR10X-PB talk Pakbus via control ports configured for RS-232 serial communications?
The CR10X-PB only supports Pakbus communication on the CSIO port. You can add a CSIO device like a SC105 to get another communication port.
Would an SC32A work for this? Or a PDA to CS I/O adapter? Those are pieces I have on hand.
They both appear to work, at 9600 baud.
Would it be possible to establish a Pakbus connection between C1/C2 on a CR1000 and the CS I/O port on a CR10X-PB? Electrically at least they should be compatible.
I don't know about a CR1000 C1/C2 to CS I/O port of a CR10X-PB. Sorry.
As an aside, as you have TCP/IP at the station, why not add an NL201 so that the CR10X-PB (or CR23x in your original post) can be connected direct to the network and not through the CR1000? The CR10X or CR23X cannot support TCP/IP directly, but the NL201 can be setup as a serial server and so you can talk to it directly from your remote PC using LoggerNet.
You do need an SC32B between the NL201 and the CS I/O port of the CR10X/CR23X.
Details of the NL201 are here :-
Thanks for your suggestion. The network connection is already working throught the CR1000 (with NL120) so I think that part of it is ok.
Anton, the NL201 is a good suggestion. You would add the NL201, SC32B and a small switch, and then you could network both loggers to the switch.
Thats right. Each logger then can be addressed by LoggerNet and you dont have the headache of trying to connect the old CR10X to a CR1000.
The added advantage is that you can monitor measurements remotely, make changes, upload programs, etc. with this solution.
I'll keep the NL201 in mind for future applications, but I can actually do all the things mentioned above with the serial connection between the CR10X and CR1000.