Have you been wondering how to get the events and data logs from your AMETEK Solidstate Controls Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system? Learn how to connect your system into our software so you can download reports.
First, you will need to check to see if you already have our software downloaded on your laptop. For newer digital systems like our DPP and DSE, you will need SCILink. If you have an old DPP system that still utilizes the three-board set, you need to contact us about upgrading to our three-in-one board. These old systems cannot utilize SCILink and need DPPLink. If you have an older micro-Ferro system, you will need FerroLink. If you don’t have our software already downloaded, contact us and we can help you identify which software you need for your specific systems and send the software package to you.
Once you have the SCILink or FerroLink software installed on your computer, you’re ready to get connected.
For our digital UPS systems: Our digital systems have the communication port on the front of the system by the display screen. Older digital systems will utilize the RS232 Serial Port and you will need to add a Serial Adaptor to your USB cable to plug into this port. Our newer systems will have a standard USB port.
For our micro-Ferro systems: Due to the age of these systems, you’ll need to modify your standard USB connector cable to have a Serial Adaptor that allows it to plug into a RS232 and it also requires a Null Modem adaptor. These older Ferroresonant systems do not have a communication port on the outside door so you will need to open the cabinet door to find the connection spot. Once opened, you must locate the display boards within the machine and the RS232 connector will be on the board. While connecting your cable, take note of the Baud Rate of your dipswitch on the board, you’ll need to input this number in the software.
Once your system and laptop are connected, you’ll need to start the software and set up the Communication Port and Baud Rating.
For digital systems: The Communications setup menu should generate when you start the software, and you will need to select the Comm Port1 and Baud Rate on the right-hand side. The Baud Rate is set to 19200 for Serial and 115200 for USB.
For micro-Ferro: Under the settings at the top, click the ‘Configuration’ option and then ‘Serial’ option. A new screen for the Comm Port and Baud Rates will pop up. Select the port1 and fill in the Baud Rating with the number that matches the dipswitch on your board.
1For both setups: The Comm Port must be the same as the Comm Port used by your USB Serial Connector on your laptop. You can use the device manager to see what port the cable was assigned, and you may need to change this assignment if it’s assigned to a number that isn’t selectable in our software.
Once you’ve saved your configuration, you need to hit the ‘Query’ button to start populating the data which includes status indicators and alarms. If nothing populates when ‘Query’ is pressed, you have a communication error and need to revisit the Configuration set up to make sure the right selections were made. Now that you have communication, you can utilize the ‘Reports’ menu at the top to download the reports and data you need. We always recommend using the ‘Select All’ button and then changing the selection of Data Log to Data Log (Extended). If you are using SCILink, you will have more report options than those utilizing FerroLink. Both software versions will show a popup status bar of the report generation progress for each report, and it will disappear once the reports are complete. The reports will now be visible on your screen within the software. You can use the ‘Save’ button to save each of the reports as a .txt file to your laptop for further analysis or sharing it with your AMETEK Solidstate Controls Technical Support Manager.
We recommend always selecting all reports and changing the Data Log to extended because this will give you the best snapshot of what’s going on with your system. The extended data log includes more information than the regular selection, like additional alarm readings at the time of the alarm and it helps with troubleshooting. If you are having issues with your system and provide these reports to your Technical Service Manager, they can use them to compare the system settings you have now in the field to how it left the factory, see if it’s corrupted and it helps paint a picture for us while we troubleshoot remotely.
If you’d like to see our Senior Technical Manager demonstrate each of the items discussed above, click here to view our May 2023 Webinar. This topic is covered from the beginning to the 24-minute mark.
To learn more about the capabilities or receive assistance with our software programs, please contact us.