Frequently asked questions
How do I use Workbench 6 software to program a SCADAPack RTU to poll and control a Modbus slave device?
FA328762
28 October 2021
Issue: Need to use Workbench 6 software to configure a connection between SCADAPack RTU and a Modbus slave device. Example device used in this video is an Altivar 900. Need to address correct holding registers of the slave device. Need to test reading from and writing to holding registers of a slave device by going Online in Workbench 6 software and using the Point Browser tool in Series E Configurator software.
Product Lines:
Series E Configurator
SCADAPack RTU
Environment:
Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, on 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System
Cause: N/A
Solution:
- Open Series E Configurator and create or open a project
- If using TCP make sure TCP/IP is enabled in the RTU. If using serial set up a port on the SCADAPack to communicate to a PLC Device with
- In Configurator: Open Logic-> IEC 61131-3
- Set the correct target type
- Select “launch workbench”
- In Workbench, Right click your 1st resource, open IO devices
- Create your I/O device to read RTU value: RTU_{DATA_TYPE.EN_US}_READ
- Choose the amount of inputs you wish to read in the “Number of” parameter. Fill in device parameters according to your slave device and targeted points.
- Create a VarInput variable of the appropriate Data Type for each channel and attach it to the corresponding channel by double-clicking the channel, then select the variable. The values of the selected points from the RTU will now be read into your Workbench program when it is online.
- Create a VarOutput variable of the appropriate Data Type for each holding register you wish to write to.
- Create a program that transfers the values of the input variables to the corresponding output variables.
- Create your I/O device to write the readings from the RTU to the Modbus Slave Registers: MBUS_WRITE_{DATA_TYPE.EN_US} for serial communication, MTCP_WRITE_{DATA_TYPE.EN_US} for Ethernet communication.
- Choose the amount of outputs you wish to read in the “Number of” parameter. Fill in device parameters according to your slave device and targeted holding registers.
- Attach the output variables to their corresponding channels. When the program is online the points being read from the RTU will automatically be written to the chosen holding register in the slave device.
- Make the RTU I/O Device a ‘WRITE’ device and make the MBUS/MTCP I/O Device a ‘READ’ device.
- Make a simple program to control slave device