We have an ethernet Relay 4 channel, we can communicate using Pro XR software but having trouble with ASCII text from our PLC, the relays don’t respond. We have one way communication only so not sure if that is causing a problem or the ASCII text format from the PLC is an issue. This is the string (assuming it’s ASCII) we get when we output the message from the PLC to a file. We are trying to switch on a relay for 30 seconds.
Hi,
The Relay Controller cannot be controlled via ASCII. Raw bytes will need to be sent over the socket/port to the relay controller.
You might check your PLC docs or support to see if they have a way to send bytes instead of ASCII over a socket. Sometimes you can just write the bytes as a hex string i.e. 0xfe 0x32 0x5b 0x00 0x00 0x1e 0x00.
Thanks Jacob, we tried sending 0xfe 0x32 0x5b 0x00 0x00 0x1e 0x00 as a plain text but no response, is there a way we can see what the Relay is receiving? is it possible to schedule a call?
The easiest way is to use software and open a TCP socket and have your PLC connect to that and send the data. You can read what is being sent from the PC running the listener.
If you’re using Windows Serial Port Tool has a free trial for a software that will make this relatively easy: Comm Operator - Serial Port Tool - Debug Software for Seial Port & Network. If you run Base Station and connect to a device there will also be a link to it on the left of Base Station.
If using Comm operator click the Open Connection icon in the top left, choose TCP server, enter 2101 as the port number, and click Open. Now you have a listener open. On the right hand side you should see radio buttons and you’ll want to select Dec or Hex. This will tell you the exact bytes being sent. Now in your PLC you can tell it to connect to your PC and send the data. You may need to turn off firewalls on your PC for this to function, but I rarely use Windows so I’m not sure.
I am available tomorrow from 11AM to 3PM Central time tomorrow. If you let me know your availability I can send an invite via email
That works well please send the invite for 11 tomorrow