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Mark V Cimplicity
- Thread starter grajesh
- Start date
The primary advantage of GE Mark V HMIs running MS-Windows and CIMPLICITY is that they are capable of multi-tasking. You can run multiple (two or three) command-prompt windows with VIEW tools running in them simultaneously, gathering data for troubleshooting. They are MS-Windows based, so making back-ups and copying files between HMIs is easier (and that's important for a site with Mark V control panel(s) and multiple operator interfaces).
The disadvantages are that they are very complicated. They can greatly increase network traffic on the StageLink. They are easy to "break" in that attempting to make changes to displays can be very problematic. And they are very poorly documented, so trying understand what to do and how to do it without "breaking it" is virtually impossible. It's also pretty common for them to come poorly configured (sad but true), such as incorrect DIAGC definition files, CIMPLICITY projects with pointnames that don't exist in the Mark V, and displays with buttons that don't work. So be prepared to spend a few weeks/months sorting out all of the issues unless you have a very exhaustive commissioning or a very good Factory Acceptance Test in which you test *every* function on every screen, CIMPLICITY and TCI screens.
But the real issue, which you're probably aware of, is that the ARCnet card in your <I> can't be replaced. When it fails, that's it. There are some used and NOS (New Old Stock) cards available from various sources (including Gas Turbine Controls, one of the advertisers on control.com), but the supply is dwindling.
Your options are not limited to GE Mark V HMIs. There have been several firms which have developed various HMI options for replacement of <I>s, but you need to consider each one very carefully. Most are just display-only options (using OPC), and you would still need to have an <I>, or a GE Mark V HMI, to do LVDT calibrations or troubleshooting or downloading, etc. Do your homework!
But, unless you have a stock of ISA (legacy) ARCnet cards for your <I>, you should think about replacing it relatively soon. Another thing is that MS-DOS doesn't run on every new microprocessor, and IDOS doesn't run on every new motherboard/CPU. So, if the CPU in the <I> fails you might have trouble getting a replacement up and running quickly if you don't have a spare on the shelf.
I know of one site which had two <I>s for one turbine, and the ARCnet card on one HMI failed and within 48 hours the CPU of the second HMI failed. They were able to take the ARCnet card from one HMI and get the other one to work, but they now have only one operator interface. They have spent about five weeks, and a few thousand dollars trying to find a CPU/motherboard which will run MS-DOS and IDOS and has an ISA slot for the ARCnet card. They have found a new industrial PC with a i386 processor, but you wouldn't believe the price! And there's no guarantee that IDOS will run on the PC.
The disadvantages are that they are very complicated. They can greatly increase network traffic on the StageLink. They are easy to "break" in that attempting to make changes to displays can be very problematic. And they are very poorly documented, so trying understand what to do and how to do it without "breaking it" is virtually impossible. It's also pretty common for them to come poorly configured (sad but true), such as incorrect DIAGC definition files, CIMPLICITY projects with pointnames that don't exist in the Mark V, and displays with buttons that don't work. So be prepared to spend a few weeks/months sorting out all of the issues unless you have a very exhaustive commissioning or a very good Factory Acceptance Test in which you test *every* function on every screen, CIMPLICITY and TCI screens.
But the real issue, which you're probably aware of, is that the ARCnet card in your <I> can't be replaced. When it fails, that's it. There are some used and NOS (New Old Stock) cards available from various sources (including Gas Turbine Controls, one of the advertisers on control.com), but the supply is dwindling.
Your options are not limited to GE Mark V HMIs. There have been several firms which have developed various HMI options for replacement of <I>s, but you need to consider each one very carefully. Most are just display-only options (using OPC), and you would still need to have an <I>, or a GE Mark V HMI, to do LVDT calibrations or troubleshooting or downloading, etc. Do your homework!
But, unless you have a stock of ISA (legacy) ARCnet cards for your <I>, you should think about replacing it relatively soon. Another thing is that MS-DOS doesn't run on every new microprocessor, and IDOS doesn't run on every new motherboard/CPU. So, if the CPU in the <I> fails you might have trouble getting a replacement up and running quickly if you don't have a spare on the shelf.
I know of one site which had two <I>s for one turbine, and the ARCnet card on one HMI failed and within 48 hours the CPU of the second HMI failed. They were able to take the ARCnet card from one HMI and get the other one to work, but they now have only one operator interface. They have spent about five weeks, and a few thousand dollars trying to find a CPU/motherboard which will run MS-DOS and IDOS and has an ISA slot for the ARCnet card. They have found a new industrial PC with a i386 processor, but you wouldn't believe the price! And there's no guarantee that IDOS will run on the PC.
G
G.Rajesh
Dear CSA,
Thank you, Can I assume it's good to go for some other option? What is your opinion?
Thank you, Can I assume it's good to go for some other option? What is your opinion?
