I would like to figure out how to set up communications between a Caterpillar generator panel (EMCP 3.2) and a plc with modbus. I have information on the Caterpillar part and ge fanuc programming software but hardly know where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

 

You need a caterpillar CCM Module and then a protocol converter because although the CCM provides a serial interface, it does not talk Modbus or GE-SNP/SNPx/STRP. Caterpillar do not allow direct access to the controller communication bus.

I have done this many times. Give me call at 1866-636-5400 ext 11. Peter

 

It may be possible to do this but it will take you a lot of time and you will end up with a system that is cumbersome to maintain and may not give you the performance you desire. If you want to do this as an exercise, then jump right in. You can download the Caterpillar communications protocol (M5X) from Cat's web site. You would then build canned ASCII messages (not Modbus ASCII) including the checksum to do single parameter reads and send the messages out the PLC communications port to a Cat CCM. The Cat CCM will
respond and then you will need to write more code to extract the data from the messages.

Or, you could purchase a module that does this for you. There are several on the market including the one we make, the MARC Omnii-Comm. You can download a data sheet here http://www.miille.com/din266-p00.pdf or you can contact me directly for more information at [email protected]

 

Gentlemen,

Thank you for you responses but the new caterpillar 3.x control panels do talk modbus without a ccm. If you can offer any help with this new product I can provide a cat a&i guide in .pdf. (about 5.5 mb file).

This may be just an exercise, I am uncertain of the long term value but it may prove to be useful.

 

I just completed a setup to a New EMCP3.2 to an RSView system using Modbus. The EMCP System was setup as a Modbus slave and the computer was the modbus master. It was very easy setup compared to the old EMCPII which we had done before.

 

I have searched the internet end-end to try and find a price for the CCM module. Can you please give me an idea of price and where I can order one of these elusive devices...

TIA

 

Check out http://www.monicoinc.com. We specialize in Caterpillar engine communications. We provide a Modbus converter for the CAT CCM Module that is a canned solution. However, we are also ready to introduce a new product called the CAT Data Link Gateway that does not need the CCM module and can output GE Fanuc data map for direct polling by the PLC as a remote device like an HMI. Contact me at [email protected] for more details.

 

The CAT EMCP 3.2 has a Modbus output, but I have heard many complaints about the implementation by CAT. There are severe limitations that are not published such as a 5 word limit per poll.

So, your real issue is to get the Modbus into the GE PLC. I have a module that will do this if you want to contact me at [email protected].

By the way, the CAT CCM Module will not work on this system and neither will any other CAT Communications devices. I have a device that would read the engine data directly from the ECM, but at this point it will not get the electrical data. I am working on that.

 

The CCM Module will not work with the EMCP 3 series. Since they implemented Modbus in this panel, they did not make provisions for the CCM. In fact, the new PL1000E does not even work with the EMCP 3 series.

My company, Monico, is now selling a CAT Data Link Gateway that resides directly on the CAT Data Link and provides CAT Data in Modbus or directly into an Allen Bradley PLC, GE PLC, Siemens PLC, etc without using any devices from CAT.

Unfortunately, not even my device will work with the EMCP 3 because it uses proprietary PGN's on a J1939 link and does not use the CDL at all.

Monico specializes on CAT communications, so if I can help let me know.

[email protected]

 

The CCM Module is traditionally about $1500 USD, but since it is being discontinued the CAT Dealers can no longer order it on the engine and get a discount. Therefore, they are now paying about $1500 and will have to mark it up.

Monico makes devices that reside directly on the CAT data Link just like the CCM module, except we are very fast. We can take CAT Data and put it directly into an Allen Bradley SLC, PLC-5, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, or MicroLogix PLC without the use of a ProSoft Card. The savings of not needing the prosoft card is $1500-2000.

We can also put the CAT Data directly into GE Fanuc, Siemens S5/S7, and many other PLC's. If I can help, my email is [email protected].