Bacnet in Fidelix CPU to CPU point communication

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.

  1. Sign in to the CPU using your credentials.
  2. Click on dropdown menu that reads "Usermode" and choose option "Settings".
  3. Click on dropdown menu that reads "Select category" and choose option "Activations".
  4. Copy the Product code for "Bacnet Functionality".
  5. Sign in to "support.fidelix.fi" and choose option Product activation.
    1. If you do not have an account the site contains information on how to aquire an account.
  6. Paste the copied product code to the product code field and fill in project information.
  7. Click Order.
  8. You will see a page with 6 digit "ActivationKey". This will also be sent to you in email.
  9. Copy the activation key and paste it to the activation key field in the CPU:s activations page.
  10. Click "Change".
  11. Bacnet is now activated to this CPU.

 

Next You have to set up Bacnet in the CPU.

  1. Click on dropdown menu where you previously chose "Activations" and choose option "System setup".
  2. 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.
  3. Click "Change".

 

Next you can start setting up the points that will be using Bacnet.

  1. Measurements
    1. In the CPU writing the point to another CPU, select from the first dropdown menu "Programming" and from the second menu "Measurements"
    2. Locate the point you wish to write to another CPU.
    3. 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.
    4. Click "Change".
    5. Then from the CPU that is reading the point from the first CPU go to "Programming" and "Measurements" page.
    6. Locate the point to witch you wish to read the value from the other CPU.
    7. From the points programming options activate "External Bacnet Object".
    8. Choose port "Bacnet IP
    9. Click on "Devices" button
    10. A list will appear showing all CPU:s in the network that have Bacnet enabled.
    11. Click on the CPU that you want to read a point from.
    12. A list will appear showing all points that can be read from the CPU.
    13. Click on the point you want to read
    14. A list will appear showing information from the point.
    15. Click on the row: "present-value".
    16. The choices made will now show on the points programming options.
    17. Click "Change".
    18. The value of the point is now read from the other CPU with Bacnet.
  2.  Indications/alarms
    1. 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".
    2. Again activate "Bacnet Server Object" from the points programming options. Identifying number can be chosen also or it can be automatically set.
    3. Click "Change".
    4. Go to points programming of the point where you want to read the value from the other CPU and activate "External Bacnet Object".
    5. Choose port "Bacnet IP".
    6. Click on "Devices" button.
    7. A list will appear showing all CPU:s in the network that have Bacnet enabled.
    8. Select the CPU where you want to read the point value from.
    9. A list will appear showing all points that can be read from the CPU.
    10. Select the point you want to read.
    11. A list will appear showing information from the point.
    12. Select "present-value".
    13. Click "Change".
    14. The value of the point is now read from the other CPU with Bacnet.

image-png-Feb-09-2021-04-02-40-50-PM 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.