Inside this topic

Create a Device Placeholder
Commission a Device
Replacing a Commissioned Device
Comparing Fieldbus Device Configurations
Uploading Fieldbus Devices
Installing Generic Fieldbus Devices
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This document explains how to use the DeltaV applications to perform common procedures on fieldbus devices, such as creating device placeholders and commissioning devices. This is not a comprehensive resource as requirements for a host system, such as the DeltaV system, differ between devices but, rather, a starting point. For complete information, refer to the device's user manuals, the online help for the DeltaV applications, and related Books Online topics.

Create a Device Placeholder

Device support files must be installed before you can add a device to the segment or create a device placeholder. The DeltaV system includes built-in support for a number of fieldbus devices from different device manufacturers. The files necessary to support these devices are included in the DeltaV install image and are available in the DeltaV Explorer library (DeltaV System / Library / Fieldbus Devices). If a fieldbus device is not included in the DeltaV install image, you must install a set of device support files for that device. Many device files that have been tested with the DeltaV system are available from the website www.EasyDeltaV.com/fda. If the device files that you require are not available on the website, contact the device manufacturer. Refer to the Device Descriptions and Methods topic for information on how to install device support files.

About Device Placeholders
A device placeholder is an electronic representation of a device that exists in the DeltaV database with no associated physical device. You can use a placeholder to configure block parameters offline and have your control strategy in place prior to attaching the device to the segment. When you are ready, you can attach the device to the segment and use the DeltaV system to reconcile any differences between the placeholder and the device when you commission the device.

Note The use of placeholders is optional and depends on the size and requirements of your fieldbus application. However, it is recommended that you use placeholders for large applications. If you do not want to use placeholders, you can attach your devices directly to the segment.

1. Click Start | DeltaV | Engineering | DeltaV Explorer to open DeltaV Explorer.
2. Navigate to the fieldbus ports. The ports are under the fieldbus H1 card. The card is under the I/O subsystem.
3. Right-click the port to which you want to attach the device placeholder and select New Fieldbus Device. The Fieldbus Device Properties dialog opens.
4. Enter the appropriate information about the device in the dialog box. The DeltaV system selects an address. You can customize this field, but it is not necessary. Select the device type and revision based on the type of device you want to add. The device properties must match the properties of the device you will commission later. Remember that DeltaV Explorer has extensive online help. Click the Help button on this dialog box for help on any of the fields.

Fieldbus devices often provide error detection for a variety of device conditions. Refer to Device Alarms Overview and Configuring Device Alarms for more information. Select the Alarms and Displays tab in the Fieldbus Device Properties dialog to enable Device Alarms to be reported by the device.

Note The alarms and displays tab is only shown when supported by the DeltaV hardware. Device alerts are supported by Series 2 H1 cards.

Each device can also be configured with a primary control display and faceplate. DeltaV software includes a standard device faceplate.

5. Click OK to add the device placeholder to the segment. The device appears as a decommissioned device on the segment.
6. When device alarms are enabled, alarms become visible in the right pane in DeltaV Explorer when you select the Fieldbus Device Alarms icon for the device. Select an alarm and right-click properties to enable or disable it or to change the alarm's priority.

Commissioning a Device

Commissioning a device assigns it an address on the segment and makes the device available to the DeltaV system. You use the DeltaV Explorer to commission devices. You can reconcile any differences between the device and the placeholder during the commissioning process. After commissioning a device, you download.

1. Attach the device to the segment.
2. Click Start | DeltaV | Engineering | DeltaV Explorer to open the DeltaV Explorer.
3. The device should appear under Decommissioned Fieldbus Devices. It may take a minute for the device to appear. Tip: Press the F5 key to update the list.
4. The device must be in the Standby state before you can commission it. To determine if a device is in Standby, select Decommissioned Devices, click View | Details from the menu bar, and be sure that the words "Standby Fieldbus Device" appear under Type in the right pane.
   
   
   

If the device is not in Standby, select the device in the right pane, click the right mouse button, and select Standby. It may take a minute or so for the device to transition to Standby.

5. Now be sure that the decommissioned device's properties, Device Type, Manufacturer, and Device Revision, match the placeholder properties. To check the properties, select the item, click the right mouse button, and select Properties. If necessary, edit the placeholder properties to match the device properties. (For information about how to create a placeholder, refer to the Create a Device Placeholder topic.)
6. Select the device from the Decommissioned Fieldbus Devices list and drag it to the placeholder.

The Device Commissioning Wizard - Start opens.

7. Read the information on the Device Commissioning Wizard - Start dialog and click Next to open the Device Commissioning Wizard – Reconcile Device dialog.



We will use this dialog to reconcile any differences between the placeholder and the device.

8. Click the Reconcile Device button. (If you do not click this button and click Next instead, the parameters in the device will remain as they are and will overwrite the parameters in the placeholder when you commission the device.) The Reconcile Device dialog shows two sets of fieldbus device configuration parameters: parameters in the placeholder and parameters in the device. This dialog allows you to transfer parameters from a placeholder to a device and edit parameters in the device. The following figure shows the dialog for reconciling resource block parameters.



Click the Help button and read about reconciling device parameters. Click the Transducer block in the upper left corner of the Reconcile dialog to reconcile the transducer block parameters. Read the device documentation before reconciling transducer block parameters.



9. Click OK when you are finished reconciling parameters and then click Finish to commission the device.

It may take a little while to commission the device. Several factors contribute to the time it takes to commission. Among these are the number of function blocks and devices and the time it takes for devices to move through the various device states.

Replacing a Commissioned Device

The Fieldbus Device Replacement Wizard guides you through the process of replacing a commissioned fieldbus device. In DeltaV Explorer, select Replace from the device's context menu to open the Fieldbus Device Replacement Wizard.

The wizard:

• Checks for configuration changes since the last download
• Uploads function block parameter changes from the existing device if it is still on the network
• Uploads configuration data in the existing device
• Decommissions the existing device
• Commissions and downloads the replacement device

Follow the instructions on the wizard to proceed through the replacement process.

Here are a few guidelines for using the wizard:

• You must have the key to the lock associated with the VC_DEVICE_CHECKOUT_CHECKIN and REPLACE_DEVICE functions. By default, these functions are associated with the Can Calibrate lock.
• The replacement device must be of the same type and manufacturer as the existing device. The device revisions can differ as long as the same function blocks are supported between revisions.
• The replacement device, which may or may not be physically connected to the fieldbus segment, must be in Standby or Mismatch.
• The existing device, which may or may not be physically connected to the segment, must be commissioned.
• If the existing device is connected, it must be disconnected before the new device is selected to replace it.

Comparing Fieldbus Device Configurations

You can compare the configurations of two fieldbus devices. The devices can be two physical or placeholder devices (or one of each), but must be the same device type and revision. You can compare (and copy, depending on device state and configuration selected) parameter information between:

• Two configurations of a single fieldbus device (current to historical or historical to another historical)
• Two commissioned fieldbus devices (current to current, current to historical, historical to current, historical to historical)
• A placeholder and a standby fieldbus device during commissioning of the standby device
• A placeholder and a commissioned fieldbus device
• Two placeholders

Reconciling is the process of comparing configurations before commissioning. When you drop a device onto the fieldbus port, you are commissioning it. If the configuration differs from the current values, you have the opportunity to reconcile the values in either configuration to the other. A wizard steps you through the process.

Configuration and configuration comparisons are available from the device context menu.

Uploading Fieldbus Devices

You can upload parameter values from function blocks running in a commissioned fieldbus device to the database. This is useful if you want to ensure that factory-set parameter values are maintained in the database or that values modified by a technician in the field are uploaded to the database. Parameter changes to the following function blocks can be uploaded to the database: AI, AO, DI, DO, Fieldbus Multiplexed AI, Fieldbus Multiple DI, Fieldbus Multiple DO.

Unlike controllers where the system detects a need to upload changes, the system does not detect a need to upload changes to fieldbus device parameters. To upload a fieldbus device, select the device in the DeltaV Explorer, and select Upload Function Blocks. There is no need to download the device after an upload.

Installing Generic Fieldbus Devices

The DeltaV system requires a set of device definition files for each fieldbus device type and device revision. Many fieldbus device definition files are pre-installed with the DeltaV system. However, when you install a generic fieldbus device, you must first install the device's definition files from the ProfessionalPLUS workstation. After you install the device definition files from the ProfessionalPLUS workstation, you synchronize the device definitions on the other DeltaV workstations in order to make the other workstation's device definitions current with those on the ProfessionalPLUS workstation.

Use the DeltaV Explorer on the ProfessionalPLUS workstation to load the device definition files. Refer to the DeltaV Explorer online help for information on adding fieldbus device types.

Note Fieldbus devices that are supported on the DeltaV system have been tested for interoperability with the DeltaV system. Non-supported devices have not been tested for interoperability with the DeltaV system and may not operate properly.