How to use Bacnet in CPU to CPU point communication with Fidelix CPU:s
Bacnet can be used in CPU to CPU point communication when a faster communication is needed than what can be achieved with global points.
This is especially useful when a measurement and a control point that uses that measurement are in different CPU:s.
First you have to activate Bacnet in the CPU:s.
- Sign in to the CPU using your credentials.
- Click on dropdown menu that reads "Usermode" and choose option "Settings".
- Click on dropdown menu that reads "Select category" and choose option "Activations".
- Copy the Product code for "Bacnet Functionality".
- Sign in to "support.fidelix.fi" and choose option Product activation.
- If you do not have an account the site contains information on how to aquire an account.
- Paste the copied product code to the product code field and fill in project information.
- Click Order.
- You will see a page with 6 digit "ActivationKey". This will also be sent to you in email.
- Copy the activation key and paste it to the activation key field in the CPU:s activations page.
- Click "Change".
- Bacnet is now activated to this CPU.
Next You have to set up Bacnet in the CPU.
- Click on dropdown menu where you previously chose "Activations" and choose option "System setup".
- You will see a box with "BACnet Device Settings". Activate BACnet IP and choose an ID for the CPU. For example the ID could be the last 4 digits of CPU:s IP address.
- Click "Change".
Next you can start setting up the points that will be using Bacnet.
- Measurements
- In the CPU writing the point to another CPU, select from the first dropdown menu "Programming" and from the second menu "Measurements"
- Locate the point you wish to write to another CPU.
- From the points programming options activate "Bacnet Server Object". At this point you can choose identifying number for the point or allow it to be set automatically.
- Click "Change".
- Then from the CPU that is reading the point from the first CPU go to "Programming" and "Measurements" page.
- Locate the point to witch you wish to read the value from the other CPU.
- From the points programming options activate "External Bacnet Object".
- Choose port "Bacnet IP
- Click on "Devices" button
- A list will appear showing all CPU:s in the network that have Bacnet enabled.
- Click on the CPU that you want to read a point from.
- A list will appear showing all points that can be read from the CPU.
- Click on the point you want to read
- A list will appear showing information from the point.
- Click on the row: "present-value".
- The choices made will now show on the points programming options.
- Click "Change".
- The value of the point is now read from the other CPU with Bacnet.
- In the CPU writing the point to another CPU, select from the first dropdown menu "Programming" and from the second menu "Measurements"
- Indications/alarms
- With indication and alarm points most of the settings are the same as with measurements, except that the object type will be "Multi-state Input".
- Again activate "Bacnet Server Object" from the points programming options. Identifying number can be chosen also or it can be automatically set.
- Click "Change".
- Go to points programming of the point where you want to read the value from the other CPU and activate "External Bacnet Object".
- Choose port "Bacnet IP".
- Click on "Devices" button.
- A list will appear showing all CPU:s in the network that have Bacnet enabled.
- Select the CPU where you want to read the point value from.
- A list will appear showing all points that can be read from the CPU.
- Select the point you want to read.
- A list will appear showing information from the point.
- Select "present-value".
- Click "Change".
- The value of the point is now read from the other CPU with Bacnet.
Important to note with "Multi-state Input" Bacnet objects is that the value of the point will increase by 1 when read through Bacnet. So if the value at the CPU writing the point is 0 the CPU reading the point will get value 1 and if the value at the CPU writing the point is 1 the CPU reading the point will get value 2. So this must be considered when programming functions that use these points.