500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN
Edition December 2007

USBDriver Installation
p
Software Manual

REB500
RE.316*4

 2004 ABB Switzerland Ltd

Baden/Switzerland

2nd Edition

Applies for software version V7.0

Released Editions

Date

1st Edition

June 2004

nd

2 Edition

December 2007

We reserve all rights with respect to this document and the software it describes. Unauthorized
use, in particular reproduction (excepting for backup purposes) or making available to third parties
without our explicit consent in writing is prohibited.
The use is only allowed for the purpose laid down in the contract.
This document has been carefully prepared and reviewed. Should in spite of this the reader find an
error, he is requested to inform us at his earliest convenience.
The data contained herein purport solely to describe the product and are not a warranty of
performance or characteristic. It is with the best interest of our customers in mind that we
constantly strive to improve our products and keep them abreast of advances in technology. This
may, however, lead to discrepancies between a product or software and its 'Technical Description'
or 'Software Manual'.

500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

December 2007

1.

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 2

1.1.

Abbreviations..............................................................................................................2

1.2.

Before we start ...........................................................................................................2

1.3.
1.3.1.
1.3.1.1.
1.3.1.2.
1.3.2.
1.3.3.
1.3.4.

Installation with Windows XP......................................................................................3

Installating the USB and COM port drivers.................................................................3
Installating the USB driver ..........................................................................................3
Installating the COM port driver ..................................................................................6
Changing the virtual COM port number and settings ...............................................10
Special note on the USB connector..........................................................................14
Uninstalling ...............................................................................................................14

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1KHA000975-UEN

1.

500OCC03

INTRODUCTION
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become the predominant serial communication
subsystem in personal computers.
The USB port/cable is required to connect your PC to the IED frontend
communication port. Once the communication port/cable is properly configured, the
communication link with the IED can be established. Thereby, you can configure,
parameterize, or trouble shoot the IED.
In the next few pages we will walk you through a typical installation and
configuration session of the USB and COM port for the Windows XP operating
system. The procedure is similar for other operating systems (for example
Windows 2000), subject to minor differences in the look and feel of the windows,
or, the text displayed in the window menus.

1.1.

1.2.

Abbreviations
Abbreviation

Description

CD-ROM

Compact Disc - Read Only Memory

COM (n)

Serial communications port name, n = 1, 2, 3, 4 etc.

CR

Carriage Return

e.g.

(Lat. exempli gratia) for example

HW

Hardware

i.e.

(Lat. id est) that is

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

IED

Intelligent Electronic Device (Protection and/or Control Device) e.g.

RE.316*4

OS

Operating System

PC

Personal Computer (Desktop/Laptop)

SW

Software

USB

Universal Serial Bus

WinXP

Microsoft Windows XP Operating System

Table 1.1

List of abbreviations

Before we start
What do we need before we start?
1. A PC with an USB port and a CD-ROM drive
2. WinXP operating system pre-installed in the PC
3. The serial fiber optic communication cable for the PC-IED i.e. 500OCC03
ABB order number: 1MRB380084R0003
4. USB Driver Installation CD-ROM
ABB order number: 1MRB260042R0001

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

1.3.

Installation with Windows XP

1.3.1.

Installating the USB and COM port drivers

The driver installation is a two-step process. The USB section of the driver is loaded
first, followed by the COM port driver.

1.3.1.1.

Installating the USB driver

Let us start with the first step, the USB driver.
Insert the CD-ROM 1MRB260042R0001 in the CD-ROM drive.
Plug in the USB serial - optical
1MRB380084R0003 into the USB port.

converter

cable

ABB

part

number

Soon, 'Found New Hardware' window will pop-up. After sometime (variable depends on the system load), the 'Found New Hardware Wizard' window shown
below will pop-up.

Fig. 1.1

'Found New Hardware Wizard'

Select the 'No, not this time' option and click on the 'Next' button to continue.

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1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.2

500OCC03

Install Wizard, USB <-> Serial

Make sure that you have checked the 'Install from a list or specific location
(Advanced)' selection, prior to clicking on the 'Next' button.

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.3

Location of the USB driver files

Per default the 'Search for the best driver in these location' and Search removable
media (floppy, CD-ROM) box is selected (Fig. 1.3). If not, select this box and
ensure that no other boxes are checked before you click on the 'Next' button. This
step specifies the WinXP to look for the installation files in the CD-ROM.
The WinXP should find the file 'ftdibus.inf', which contains the instructions for WinXP
on how to install the USB driver. Now, click on the 'Next' button and sit back, until
the window on the next page is displayed (Fig. 1.4).

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Fig. 1.4

500OCC03

Finishing the USB driver installation

When you click on the 'Finish' button, the installation of the USB driver is completed.

1.3.1.2.

Installating the COM port driver

Once the USB driver is installed, we come to the next step - installation of the COM
port drivers. This is detailed in the next pages, and the steps involved are similar to
what we encountered in the USB driver installation. When you clicked on the 'Finish'
button, WinXP repeats the installation procedure for the COM port drivers.
A window similar to the one shown in Fig. 1.1, is opened automatically.
Repeat the steps described by Fig. 1.2 to Fig. 1.4.
WinXP will automatically find the COM port driver, i.e. the 'ftdiport.inf' as shown on
the next page. Now the COM port section of the drivers can be installed.

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.5

Starting the COM port driver installation

Select the 'No, not this time' option and click on the 'Next>' button.

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1KHA000975-UEN

500OCC03

Fig. 1.6

Selecting software location for COM port driver installation

Fig. 1.7

Selecting removable media for COM port driver installation

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

Make sure the 'Search for the best driver in these location' and Search removable
media (floppy, CD-ROM) box is selected (Fig. 1.3). If not, select this box and
ensure that no other boxes are checked before you click on the 'Next' button. This
step specifies the Win XP to look for the installation files in the CD-ROM.

Finally click on the 'Finish' button in the window shown below to complete the
installation.
If the computer requires a restart in order to activate the new drivers and settings,
selected the yes option.

Fig. 1.8

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Restart the computer?

1KHA000975-UEN

1.3.2.

500OCC03

Changing the virtual COM port number and settings

We present here a general guide to adjust the settings and to set the port number of
the COM port. The pictures shown in this section are taken from WinXP. The
procedure described henceforth is almost identical for other Windows operating
systems.
From the Windows 'Start' button (normally in the lower left hand corner of the PC
console display), select Settings -> Control Panel, select the 'System' icon and
either press CR or double click on the icon.

Fig. 1.9

10

System properties

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.10

System properties, Hardware tab

Select the 'Hardware' tab, followed by clicking on the 'Device Manager' button,
which will activate the window below.

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1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.11

500OCC03

List of the hardware devices

Select the 'USB serial port', then right click and select the 'Properties' entry. In the
opened window select the 'Port Settings' tab.

12

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500OCC03

1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.12

USB Serial Port (COM3) Properties

And last click on the 'Advanced' button. This brings up the window shown on the
next page.

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13

1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.13

500OCC03

Advanced Settings for COM3

From the 'COM Port Number:' pull down menu select a suitable port number.
ATTENTION: Ensure that the port number is not in use!
1.3.3.

Special note on the USB connector

NOTICE: If your PC is equipped with more than one USB connector, note that you
have to connect your USB serial - optical converter cable always to the same USB
connector. If you want to able to plug-in the cable into any connector repeat the
installation process for every USB connector you want to use.

1.3.4.

Uninstalling
Any number of reasons can be provided for uninstalling the drivers. For example
when the drivers are not properly installed, then the installation procedure has to be
repeated.
Start with uninstall. To do this, click on the 'Start' icon at the bottom left hand corner
of your PC display, followed by, 'Settings' and 'Control Panel', click on 'Add/Remove
programs', and click on the 'FTDI USB Serial Converter Drivers'.

14

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1KHA000975-UEN

Fig. 1.14

Removing the USB and COM port drivers

When the following windows are displayed select 'Continue' followed by 'Finish'.

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15

1KHA000975-UEN

16

500OCC03

Fig. 1.15

Unplugging the USB converter cable/device

Fig. 1.16

Uninstalling completed

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Notification Form for Errors in this Document

Dear User,
We constantly endeavor to improve the quality of our technical publications and would like
to hear your suggestions and comments. Would you therefore please fill in this questionnaire
and return it to the address given below.
Thank you.
ABB Switzerland Ltd
Utility Automation Systems
Technical Publications / Dept. PS-BD
Bruggerstrasse 72
CH-5401 Baden
Telefax +41 58 585 76 84
Concerns publication: 1KHA000975-UEN (USB-Driver Installation)
Have you discovered any mistakes in this publication? If so, please note here the pages,
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Notification Form for Software Errors and Problems

Dear User,
As we all know from practice, software does not always function as expected for all
applications. A precise description of the problem and your observations will help us to
improve and maintain the software. Please complete this form and send it together with any
supporting information or documents to the address below.
ABB Switzerland Ltd
Power Systems
Software Support Group / Dept. PSAT
Bruggerstrasse 72
CH-5401 Baden

Telefax +41 58 585 66 77

E -mail: SA-LEC-Support@ch.abb.com
Unit/
System:

REC316*4
REG316*4
REL316*4
RET316*4
REB500

SW-Version:
SW-Version:
SW-Version:
SW-Version:
SW Version:

Problem:

Program error (unit/system)

Error in manual
other:

REC216
REG216
HMI
other:

SW-Version:
SW-Version:
SW-Version:
SW-Version:

Program error (HMI /PC)

Suggestion for improvement

Can the error be reproduced at will?

yes

no

Particulars of hardware and software (unit/system configuration including jumper positions,

type of PC etc.):

Problem located?
Suggested changes enclosed?

yes
yes

no
no

The following are enclosed (floppy with settings etc.):

Floppy
other:

Unit/system settings, file name:

Description of problem:

Customer:

Date:

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Please contact:

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DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: (continuation)

ACTION (internal use of ABB Switzerland Ltd, Dept. PSAT only)

Received by:
Answered by:

Date:
Date:

Problem solved?
Week:

yes
Name:

no
Position:

Consequence:

IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Experience has shown that reliable operation of our products is assured, providing the
information and recommendations contained in this manual and equipment instructions for
installation and operation are adhered to.
It is scarcely possible for the instructions to cover every eventuality that can occur when
using software and technical devices. We would therefore request the user to notify us
directly or our agent of any unusual observations or of instances, in which these
instructions provide no or insufficient information.
We expressly accept no responsibility for any direct damage, which may result from
incorrect operation of this software and equipment, even if no reference is made to the
particular situation in the software manual and in instructions for installation and operation
of the equipment.

ABB Switzerland Ltd

Power Systems
Bruggerstrasse 72
CH-5400 Baden / Switzerland
Telefon +41 58 585 77 44
Telefax +41 58 585 55 77
E-mail
substation.automation@ch.abb.com
www.abb.com/substationautomation
Printed in Switzerland (0712-000-0)