NU-LEC INDUSTRIES PTY LTD

(A Schneider Electric Company)

APPLICATION NOTE

FOR

Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers

using WSOS and WIFI technology

SCOPE
This document describes how to use WIFI devices to communicate wirelessly to Nu-Lec controllers
from WSOS.

Document Part No: PTCC-4032

Document Revision Level: R01

COPYRIGHT NU-LEC INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 2006

 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

Nu-Lec Industries Pty Ltd.

ACN 085 972 425
35-37 South Street
LYTTON 4178
Queensland
Australia.
Tel +61 7 3249 5444
Fax +61 7 3249 5888

LIMITATIONS
This document is copyright and is provided solely for the use of the recipient. It is not to be copied in any
way, nor its contents divulged to any third party, nor to be used as the basis of a tender or specification
without the express written permission of Nu-Lec Industries Pty Ltd.
This document discloses confidential intellectual property that belongs to Nu-Lec Industries Pty Ltd. This
document does not invest any rights to Nu-Lec Industries intellectual property in the recipient. Moreover, the
recipient is required not to disclose any of the intellectual property contained in this document to any other
party unless authorised in writing by Nu-Lec Industries Pty Ltd.

Source: VSS\\WSOS\Manuals\PTCC-4032
Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

REVISION RECORD

Level Date Author Comment

R00 24/07/2006 R Salesse Draft for approval.
R01 09/01/2007 R.Salesse First release and minor changes.
 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WIFI technology

CONTENTS
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 2
2. Applications........................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Communication Equipment ..........................................................................................................2
2.2 Communication Ports....................................................................................................................3
2.3 Recommended Hardware and Software ......................................................................................3
2.3.1. Computer System ..............................................................................................................3
2.3.2. PTCC software...................................................................................................................3
2.3.3. ADVC software...................................................................................................................3
3. PTCC Controller ................................................................................................. 3
3.1 P8 Port availability .........................................................................................................................4
3.2 P8 Port configuration for WSOS V4 .............................................................................................4
3.3 WIFI configuration..........................................................................................................................4
3.4 WSOS V4 configuration.................................................................................................................5
4. ADVC controller ................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Ethernet port configuration for WSOS V5 ...................................................................................6
4.2 WIFI Configuration .........................................................................................................................7
4.3 WSOS V5 Configuration ................................................................................................................7
5. References.......................................................................................................... 8
 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

1. Introduction

With the development of wireless communication technology, there are now a lot of different ways to
communicate with the controller without using any hardwire cables. This application note shows how to use
WIFI (Wireless Fidelity) device servers to communicate through RS232 or Ethernet ports with the Nu-Lec
PTCC (Pole Top Control Cubicle) and ADVC (Advanced) controllers.

WIFI technology is now widely used in laptops or PCs to access the internet.

It works at 2.4GHz for the IEEE802.11b or 11g standards and is not sensitive to electromagnetic interference
which makes it an ideal communications device for substation or pole mounted applications.

2. Applications

Using a wireless device in the controller means there is no need for any cable connection to be connected
between the laptop and the controller, therefore removing the need to climb to an above-ground controller.
The operator can re-configure the software and access the history data from his car or across the road. The
safety for the utility personnel and the laptop is maximal.

Figure 1: Pole Mounted N Series

2.1 Communication Equipment

There are a wide range of devices available on the market. Testing all possible hardware configurations is
therefore not possible. We used two devices from MOXA Technologies, which is a company specialising in
Industrial Device Networking. Please contact your distributor for advice on the type of device necessary for
your region.

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

2.2 Communication Ports

The PTCC has two RS232 communication ports on its CAPM (Control and Protection Module). Either RS232
port can be used to connect the RS232 WIFI device. The ADVC has one Ethernet port on its PCOM
(Protection and Communication Module) card which makes it ideal to connect a WIFI Ethernet device ready
for TCP/IP data.

2.3 Recommended Hardware and Software

2.3.1. Computer System
For maximum reliability it is recommended that a quality computer system is purchased. Generous amounts
of RAM, hard drive space and processor speed will result in a more responsive system.
The computer system should have an internal WIFI card or a USB/PCMCIA external card compatible
IEEE802.11g/b.
The system will work on Microsoft Windows 98, NT4, 2000 and XP. Windows 98 is not an NT based system
and may be less reliable.

2.3.2. PTCC software

WSOS is available in controllers fitted CAPM2, CAPM 4 or CAPM5 cards. Any CAPM4/5 software will have
WSOS available either on P9 or P8. If WSOS is required for P8 on a CAPM2, a specific software will be
required. Contact your distributor if you require a specific software.
The baud rate setting will be different between CAPM hardware.The maximum speed for P8 is 2400 bauds in
CAPM2 and 9600 bauds in a CAPM4. We can use a CAPM5 for this application where the baud rate can be
set to 19200 bauds on P8.

2.3.3. ADVC software

WSOS over TCP/IP is available in all ADVC A41+.

3. PTCC Controller

Establishing WSOS communications with a PTCC controller using a WIFI communication device can be
achieved through either of the RS232 communication ports : P9 or P8. P9 is used as the local port and is
accessible from the front panel. P8 is used as the remote port and is accessible on the customer tray at the
bottom of the control cubicle. It’s easier to use P8 as there is a large amount of space to fit the WIFI device
on the customer tray, a DB25 RS232 connector is available for connection, and the radio power supply is also
available on the tray.

Figure 2: Example of Application with PTCC

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

3.1 P8 Port availability

When you load a CAPM software that has a communication protocol like DNP3 or Modbus, P8 is already “in
use” for the communication protocol and not available for WSOS. To make P8 available for WSOS, the port
needs to be turned OFF in the communication protocol configuration screen.
After P8 RS232 is turned OFF in the configuration screen, it’s now available for WSOS and the status is
OFF-Line.
If a communication protocol like DNP3 or Modbus is not required, you can load WSOS only software in the
CAPM and in that case P8 is available by default for WSOS communications. Ask you local distributor for any
software requirement.

3.2 P8 Port configuration for WSOS V4

P8 configuration for WSOS only requires setting up the correct baud rate that will be used by the WIFI device.
We can choose the highest available : 19200 bauds (CAPM5 only). WSOS communication only requires Tx,
Rx and GND.

3.3 WIFI configuration

The default WLAN configuration of the wireless device uses a static IP address. The wireless network
connection properties need to be set up in the same subnet range.

Figure 3: TCP/IP configuration

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

The wireless network interface supports data encryption (WEP, 64 or 128 bits) and authentification, which
has to be configured for security reasons in the connection properties. WEP key identification is used to set
either an ASCII or HEX format key.

Figure 4: Key Identification Properties

The device is now available through the WLAN network.

Figure 5: Windows Wireless connection screen

3.4 WSOS V4 configuration

As far as WSOS is concerned, this is a direct communication through a serial comms port. The wireless
device is provided with software that creates a virtual com port when the wireless communication is enabled.
In the Customise – WSOS communications configuration screen, the settings are direct on the virtual com
port number with the baud rate set up for the device at 19200 bauds.

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

Figure 6: WSOS V4 Communications Configuration

4. ADVC controller

Establishing WSOS communications with an ADVC controller using a WIFI communication device can be
achieved through the Ethernet port, allowing high speed communications with WSOS at 10Mbs, and making
the application ideal for several controllers fitted in a substation or an industrial area with an exisiting WIFI
network.

Figure 7: Example of Application with ADVC

4.1 Ethernet port configuration for WSOS V5

The Ethernet port can be configured in DHCP mode or with a static IP address. The wireless device is
configured by default with a static address. Use this IP address for the ADVC Ethernet port.

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

Figure 8: ADVC Ethernet port configuration

4.2 WIFI Configuration

See WSOS V4 configuration. The same configuration applies for the internal or external USB/PCMCIA WIFI
card.

4.3 WSOS V5 Configuration

WSOS version 5 has numerous options to connect with an ADVC controller including a TCP/IP option which
only requires the same IP address as the ADVC. The subnet and other configuration are already configured
for the wireless network connection to the device.

Figure 9: WSOS V5 Communications Configuration

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 Wireless communications with Nu-Lec controllers using WSOS and WIFI technology

5. References

WSOS version 4 and 5 are available for download from the Nu-lec general website in demonstration mode.
Contact your local distributor if you need a licence to communicate with Nu-lec controllers.

www.nulec.com.au

More information on Moxa products can be found at.

www.moxa.com and at www.paqworks.com.au

Nu-Lec Industries Quality

35-37 South Street, Lytton, Qld 4178 Endorsed
Company
PO Box 761, Wynnum, Qld 4178, ISO9001
AUSTRALIA Lic No 2477
Tel: +61 7 3249 5444 Standards Australia
Fax: +61 7 3249 5888
sales@nulec.com.au 8
http://www.nulec.com.au