SpecView with Mitsubishi A Series Instruments

SpecView with Mitsubishi A Series Instruments

Use this document/help system in conjunction with the SpecView User Guide. In the help system there are some jumps to the SpecView Help. Use the Back button at the top of the help window to return to this help. Starting SpecView gives the user three options: 1. 2. 3. Go On-Line Now - to an existing configuration Test Comms for New Configuration normally for use if you have instruments connected to your computer. This feature is not available to Mitsubishi A Series instruments. New Manual Configuration for use when configuring Mitsubishi A Series instruments with SpecView. SpecView has a pre-configured database for most Mitsubishi A Series data types in the form of instruments:

Because PLCs are programmable it is not appropriate to provide a generic view of the PLC as a single instrument, therefore SpecView requires them to be manually configured. The appropriate instrument view must be selected manually from the Show New side of the Variables List. Click here for an overview of defining an instrument manually (or see Manually Defining Instruments in the main SpecView User Guide.

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Connections & Wiring

SpecView utilizes the PC COM port (or software pretending to be a COM port e.g. a software redirector) and as such relies upon the hardware connection made from the RS232 COM port to your instrument/s. SpecView talks to Mitsubishi A Series instruments using the FORM31 protocol over RS232. Mitsubishi A Series instruments can be connected directly to RS232 with the A1SJ71UC24-R2 or via RS422 with the A1SJ71UC24-R4 communications module. The RS232 port on the A1SJ71UC24-R2 Mitsubishi A Series instruments needs the following 9 Pin D Serial connections: Swap over 2 and 3 Jumper 1, 4 and 6 together Jumper 7 and 8 together

R4

R2

DIP Switch 5,6,7 are the Baud Rate see table below DIP Switch 8 is Data Bits DIP Switch 9 and 10 are the Parity DIP Switch 12 is Check-Sum FORM3 = MODE 7

LEDs see table below

FORM3 = MODE 3

DIP Switch 12 is Check-Sum Right = Off Left = On

RS422 RDB goes to TDA on B&B Converters RDA goes to TDB on B&B Converters SDB goes to RDA on B&B Converters SDA goes to RDB on B&B Converters RS232

1 FORM3 on the R2 is Mode 3 and Mode 7 on the R4

Connections & Wiring

DIP SWITCH SETTING DEFINITIONS FOR A1SJ71C24-R2

Switch 01* 02* 03 04 Setting Items Unused Computer link / multi drop link Unused Write During RUN Setting Baud Rate (BPS) 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Transmission Speed Settings same same Data Bits Parity Bit Setting Even/Odd Setting Stop Bits Check Sum ON Computer Link Enabled

AND

-R4
OFF -

Multidrop Link Disabled Not valid ON ON ON

300 | 600 | 1200 | 2400 4800 | 9600 | 19.2 K OFF | ON | OFF | ON OFF | OFF| ON | ON OFF | OFF| OFF | OFF 8 Bits Even or Odd Even 2 Stop Bits Yes OFF | ON | OFF OFF | OFF | ON ON | ON | ON 7 Bits None Odd 1 Stop Bits No

LED INDICATOR DEFINITIONS FOR A1SJ71C24-R2

Mode RUN SD RD CPU MD* NEU ACK NAK C/N P/S PRO SIO COM* Meaning Normal Run Transmitting Receiving When LED is On Normal Flash on transmit Flash on receive

AND

-R4 MODULES
LED Initial State

When LED is Off Abnormal

ON OFF OFF ON

Communications with PC Flashes during comm. with a PC Multidrop Link (RS-422) Neutral ACK NAK Communications result Parity/ Checksum Error Protocol error SIO Error COM Parity Checksum Error Communications protocol error Overrun, framing error Computer or multidrop link Multidrop Link Waiting for ENQ After sending ACK After sending NAK Computer link ENQ received After sending NAK After sending ACK Normal Normal Normal Normal Master multidrop link

Switch dependent Switch dependent Off Off OFF OFF OFF OFF Switch dependent

* MD and COM modes apply to the A1SJ71C24-R4 module only.

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The FX COMMUNICATION (RS-232C, RS-485) USERS MANUAL (JY992D69901C) under section 1.2.3 describes the possible wiring configurations as:

A 2 wire RS485 converter must have automatic control of the transmit and receive lines. SpecView does NOT support RTS control. B&B Electronics converters call this feature Send Data Control Most converters do NOT support this feature! If in doubt, please call SpecView for more details.

Auto Configuration

Auto Configuration
You cannot auto configure Mitsubishi A Series instruments with SpecView.

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Manually Defining Instruments

Open the Variables List by clicking the Variable List on the tool bar

Click the Show New button at the top of the Variables List

Click the blue plus sign by Mitsubishi A Series Instruments and then double click on the date type (known as instrument with SpecView) you want to create.

Manually Defining Instruments

This example is for Inputs.

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When adding an instrument to an existing instrument (as above) the instrument address is the same for each. The address for Mitsubishi A Series is specified thus: <Station Address><Check sum type><Station Address Offset><;Block Number> <Station Address> is the address of the Mitsubishi A Series instrument in the decimal range 0 to 99. The R2 only supports a station address of 0. <Check sum type> is either c or C for check sum on i.e. dip switch 12 is set on. Use n or N for check sum off. <Station Address Offset> is to be used when you need more than one data type for a given instrument e.g. o Your ladder program uses 257 Inputs for an instrument @ address 0 with check sum on. Then you need 2 Input blocks as each only holds 256 Inputs, so you would specify 2 Inputs: 1 2 o 0c 0c256

Your ladder program uses 513 Inputs for an instrument @ address 0 with check sum off. Then you need 3 Input blocks as each only holds 256 Inputs, so you would specify 3 Inputs: 1 2 3 1 1n256 1n512

<;Block Number> is used when accessing the File Registers instrument. The semicolon is mandatory. The number is decimal starting from 0.

See also Address Specification Click the Create button. If this is the first instrument that has been defined for that communications port the Port Settings box will appear

Manually Defining Instruments

Select the appropriate Baud Rate Auto means 9600 baud. The Driver parity settings are 7 Data Bits, Even Parity and 1 Stop Bit. Click the Show Defined button at the top of the Variables List to switch back to the instruments defined in your configuration. The instruments that you have created will be shown in the list. Click the blue plus sign to display all the parameters in the list. To add an individual variable to the screen (GDW) double click on the item you want. Pay attention as to whether you want the value with or without the name. The include name feature affects the text and value justification.

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To add an Instrument View to the GDW, double click on the NAME and then click the Add to GDW button.

Manually Defining Instruments

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Address Specification
When creating multiple instances of the same instrument see also Address Offsets. When defining an instrument manually you must specify: 1. 2. 3. The name of the instrument (SpecView suggests a name which you may edit) The COM Port that it will use The instrument address

The address format is: <Station Address><Check sum type><Station Address Offset><;Block Number> <Station Address> is the decimal address of the Mitsubishi A Series instrument in the decimal range 0 to 99. The R2 only supports a station address of 0. <Check sum type> is either c or C for check sum on i.e. dip switch 12 is set on. Use n or N for check sum off. <Station Address Offset> is a decimal value to be used when you need more than one data type for a given instrument e.g. o Your ladder program uses 257 Inputs for an instrument @ address 0 with check sum on. Then you need 2 Input blocks as each only holds 256 Inputs, so you would specify 2 Inputs: 3 4 o 0c 0c256

Your ladder program uses 513 Inputs for an instrument @ address 0 with check sum off. Then you need 3 Input blocks as each only holds 256 Inputs, so you would specify 3 Inputs: 4 5 3 1n 1n256 1n512

<;Block Number> are ONLY to be used when accessing the File Registers instrument. The semi-colon is mandatory. The number is decimal in the range 0 to 999 (0 means the PC CPU block registers are to be used NOT those in an additional memory cassette).

Examples: 0n 00n 1c 1c 2n256 2n;0 PLC at address 0, dip switch 12 off. PLC at address 0, dip switch 12 off. PLC at address 1, dip switch 12 on. PLC at address 1, dip switch 12 on. PLC at address 2, dip switch 12 off, offset of 256 e.g. for 2nd Input/Output instrument. Giving access to X0000 to X00FF or Y0000 to Y00FF. PLC at address 2, dip switch 12 off, block number of 0 (PC CPU registers) for File Register instrument. Giving access to R0000 to R0255 for block 0.

Address Specification

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2n256;0

PLC at address 2, dip switch 12 off, offset of 8192 for 2nd File Register instrument, block number of 0 (PC CPU registers) for File Register instrument. Giving access to R02562 to R0511 for block 1. PLC at address 2, dip switch 12 on, block number of 1 (Additional Memory Cassette) for 3rd File Register instrument access. Giving access to R0000 to R0255 for block 1.

2c;1

You will know what Mode and Check-Sum mode the PLC is in from your switch settings on the instrument itself e.g.

R4

R2

DIP Switch 5,6,7 are the Baud Rate see table above DIP Switch 8 is Data Bits DIP Switch 9 and 10 are the Parity DIP Switch 12 is Check-Sum FORM3 = MODE 7

LEDs see table above

FORM3 = MODE 3

DIP Switch 12 is Check-Sum

RS422 RDB goes to TDA on B&B Converters RDA goes to TDB on B&B Converters SDB goes to RDA on B&B Converters SDA goes to RDB on B&B Converters RS232

Back to overview

2 SpecView automatically names the instrument variables as R0000 to R0255, you will have to use the Variable List Export/Import feature to correct this!

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Address Offsets
To make the data types easy to use and not too cumbersome the instrument views are purposely setup in small blocks e.g. 16 timers (consisting of coil, contact and present value) per Timer instrument view; 256 inputs in the Input instrument view; 256 registers per Data Register instrument view etc. This will lead to the situation that you will have to specify more than instrument view of the same data type: Example 2 timer views for PLC @ address 0 with check sum off: 1. 2. 0n 0n16

3 input views for PLC @ address 11 with check sum on: 1. 2. 3. 11c 11c256 11c512

The addresses for each instance of the instrument are the same, offset by a fixed number.

Device Ranges

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Device Ranges
The following table has been extracted from the Mitsubishi programmable controller MELSEC-A Users Manual Computer Link Module type A1SJ71C24-R2: Device Device Number Ranges (Characters) Input X Output Y Internal Relay M Latch Relay L Step Relay S Link Relay B Annuciator F Special Relay M Timer (contact) T Timer (coil) T Counter (contact) C Counter (coil) C Timer (present value) T Counter (present value) C Data Register D Link Register W File Register3 R Special Data Register D X0000 to X07FF Y0000 to Y07FF M0000 to M2047 L0000 to L2047 S0000 to S2047 B0000 to B03FF F0000 to F0255 M9000 to M9255 TS000 to TS255 TC000 to TC255 CS000 to CS255 CC000 to CC255 TN000 to TN255 CN000 to CN255 D0000 to D1023 W0000 to W03FF R0000 to R8191 D9000 to D9255

3 These are further indexed by the mandatory Block Number see Address Specification and File Registers

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File Registers
As mentioned in Address Specification above the File Registers require a block number. Block number 0 represents those File Registers available as part of the PLC CPU. Block number 1 and above are File Registers that have been allocated memory via the programming software4 for the additional memory cassettes. Block 0 R0000 .. .. R8191 Block 1 R0000 .. .. R8191 Block 2 R0000 .. .. R8191 Block n R0000 .. .. R8191

SpecView only allows you access to R0000 to R0255 in one instrument. To overcome this you have to use address offsets see Address Offsets above.

4 Normally MEDDOC

HMIs

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HMIs
HMIs (such as the Beijer E910T and Mitsubishis E900 MAC) cannot be used for SCADA purposes with the A Series protocol as it does not support A Series protocols itself. Consequently if you wish to connect SpecView to an A Series PLC via an HMI then you should either: Use Modbus/RTU in SpecView to talk to the E910T RS232 Port (which should be configured for Modbus/RTU Slave); the RS422 Port on the E910T should be configured to A Series. To pass data between the two drivers you have to use block transfer. This would require the assistance of Mitsubishi Technical Support. Within SpecView you would have to use Generic Modbus/RTU support, which means that you would have to define all instruments manually; or Purchase an R2 or R4 module and configure as above.

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FAQs

SpecView just shows XXXs for all values

Problem
SpecView is not receiving a response to its messages to the PLC.

Cause
One of the following: The wiring is faulty The converter is not working The baud rate and/or parity specified in SpecView does not match that of the PLC

Solution
Check and correct the wiring Check and/or replace the converter with one that works Ensure that the baud rate and parity specified in SpecView does match that of the PLC

Testing
Since the Mitsubishi A Series protocol is ASCII, you can test the wiring and converter to the PLC using HyperTerminal by sending a message to the PLC. You should ensure that HyperTerminals baud rate and parity matches that of the PLC.

R2 or R4
Type in the following ensuring that case is correct, use Ctrl-b to create the <STX> character and Ctrl-c to create <ETX>: For an address of 0 with no check-sum: <STX>00FFWR0X000001<ETX> For an address of 0 with check-sum: <STX>00FFWR0X000001<ETX>41 For an address of 1 with no check-sum: <STX>01FFWR0X000001<ETX> For an address of 1 with check-sum: <STX>01FFWR0X000001<ETX>42

FAQs

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For an address of 2 with no check-sum: <STX>02FFWR0X000001<ETX> For an address of 2 with check-sum: <STX>02FFWR0X000001<ETX>43 If you get no response to your message then the wiring or PLC is at fault.

485ADP
Type in the following ensuring that case is correct, use Ctrl-e to create the <ENQ> character: For an address of 0 with no check-sum: <ENQ>00FFWR0X000001 For an address of 0 with check-sum: <ENQ>00FFWR0X0000013E For an address of 1 with no check-sum: <ENQ>01FFWR0X000001 For an address of 1 with check-sum: <ENQ>01FFWR0X0000013F For an address of 2 with no check-sum: <ENQ>02FFWR0X000001 For an address of 2 with check-sum: <ENQ>02FFWR0X00000140 If you get no response to your message then the wiring or PLC is at fault.

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SpecView just shows XXXs for my File Registers instruments only

Problem
SpecView is probably receiving an error response to its messages to the PLC.

Cause
One of the following (in most likely sequence): You probably have not specified the block number on the address specification see Address Specification above The wiring is faulty The converter is not working The baud rate and/or parity specified in SpecView does not match that of the PLC

Solution
Change the address specification to include the block number See SpecView just shows XXXs for all values above for details of testing wiring and communications settings.

SpecView does not show the Q series in the new instruments list
Problem
SpecView does not support the Q series natively.

Solution
See the Mitsubishi Q Series appendix for details of which Q series PLCs can take the A series Modbus/RTU cards which SpecView does support.