Every month, Control's editors take a specific product area, collect all the latest, significant tools we can find, and present them here to make your job easier. If you know of any tools and resources we didn't include, send them to [email protected], and we'll add them to the website.
INTRISICALLY SAFE FIELDBUS
This article, "Intrinsically Safe Foundation fieldbus H1 Networks," discusses factors that need to be considered when implementing an intrinsically safe (IS) Foundation fieldbus H1 network in a classified hazardous area. It includes a primer on Foundation fieldbus H1, hazardous-area classifications, wiring considerations for hazardous areas, how IS Foundation fieldbus differs from its general-purpose counterparts, working with FISCO systems and more. The direct link is at www.controlglobal.com/articles/2006/218.html. Access is free.
Control
INSTALLING FIELDBUS
This white paper discusses the basics of installing a fieldbus system. It covers choosing the correct fieldbus for your purpose, fieldbus power supplies, segment calculations, terminators, the installation itself, cables, short circuits, redundant operations, hazardous-area installation, removing and replacing instruments, and simplifying the installations. The direct link to the free, downloadable PDF is at http://tinyurl.com/bt6smhl.
Moore industries
CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) PDFS
Controller Area Network (CAN) is a serial network technology that was originally designed for the automotive industry, especially for European cars, but has also become a popular bus in industrial automation and other applications. CAN bus is primarily used in embedded systems, and is a network technology that provides fast communication among microcontrollers up to real-time requirements, eliminating the need for the more expensive and complex technology of a dual-ported RAM. In addition, this presentation explains the CAN technology, including general aspects, protocol features, hardware features, development aspects, higher layer protocol and available literature. There are links to both a PDF and a video presentation. The direct link to these items is www.esdusa.com/tutorials/.
ESD Electronics Inc.
PROFIBUS TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Whether you're responding to a trouble signal or just starting up a new network, troubleshooting can be a difficult process, particularly for the beginner. This article outlines a procedure for troubleshooting ProfibusPA and identifies some of the tools required. Subjects covered include problems with installation, problems with existing networks, physical-layer issues and device issues. The direct link to this free PDF is at http://tinyurl.com/87ps5gd.
PTO Profibus North America
FIELDBUS FOR REMOTE OPERATIONS
Remote operations management (ROM) is one of the fastest growing segments of the process automation business. However, it is also caught up in the turbulence of business challenges, technological change, personnel issues and the need for operational excellence. This free white paper, "Foundation for Remote Operations Management," discusses how Foundation technology addresses the needs of remote operations from oil and gas pipelines to tank farms and terminals with a single infrastructure built from the ground up for process automation. It also covers the changing landscape of ROM, the challenges of securing such operations and controlling their costs, integrating fieldbus and wireless technologies and more. The direct link is at http://tinyurl.com/7omot8k.
Fieldbus Foundation
FIELDBUS ON YOUTUBE
This link takes you to two short videos on Foundation fieldbus concepts. One is a basic tutorial. The other is on the Foundation fieldbus link active scheduler algorithm. Both are free at www.youtube.com/watch?v=95hIMjxwy8o.
Hightech Multimedia
EAAL PROFIBUS TUTORIAL
This brief overview of Profibus helps users understand the interfacing of the fieldbus I/O to the Cimetrix Open Development Environment's (CODE) control processes by using a device driver for a Profibus-DP I/O interface card. The direct link is at http://tinyurl.com/7cl3f57.
EAAL
