1. If you can see the timeout value, you can probably change it.  However, I ask you, what is the status value at the output of the block when it times out?  Are you saving it when the Error output bit comes on so you can display and handle it?

2. Resolution and Input value are used together to let you know where the decimal point goes.  At least that is what the documentation seems to indicate.  Have you considered posting the values for a specific device?  With a UDint (input value), you have many digits.  With USInt (resolution), you have 0..255, but realistically, probably limited to 10 or less digits right of the decimal.

Did you use a sample project to see how Siemens uses the DALI data? 

loops0901

Dear all,

I need some info about DALI for sensor device type. I had configured a ET200sp (CPU1512SP) with CM 1xDALI module for lightning control system. I am able to setup, assign address, assign group for all devices. However , i having few problems regarding Sensor type device.

1. I am using function block ( DALI_SENSOR_INPUT) to get input value of the device. Sometime will timeout error. I found that the timeout is default to be 10sec inside the function block. I am wondering whether i can set another value of the timeout? Refer to Q1 image

2. i need information about the output of DALI_SENSOR_INPUT . The RESOLUTION and INPUT_VALUE. May i know how can i get the actual lux value from these two values? I am searched user manual or internet but i found no luck about this info. Max of INPUT_VALUE i can get is 250 eventhough data type is UDINT. Hopefully somebody can help to explain on this.

3. I wish to know whether i can set resolution of the sensor using DALI Command. If yes, may i know which DALI command block can help on this?

In the request blocks, are you monitoring the output bool's (done / busy / error) to make sure not to make another request until the previous request has returned either done or error ? 

If not, you need to start doing that.

The block ENable input should remain ON as soon as it is possible to make a request, and stay on until requests are no longer possible.  In serial and ethernet comms, you first open a port or establish a connection, and then requests are possible.  Sometimes ports or connections need to be closed, and that's when requests are no longer possible (as examples of what I mean).

If you have multiple requests sent before the first request returns with done or error, the requests could (or would) get out of sync and eventually start timing out.

Perhaps that's the only thing you need to look at?

I tend to create global tags (usually in a DB for each connection ID) for the done / error / status outputs.  Then at the request input, I insert:

"N.O. (connection established) AND [N.O. (done) OR N.O. (error) ]" into the REQuest input for a block that performs communications outside the PLC.

That scheme has worked remarkably well for nearly every Siemens built block.  They have a couple of specialty blocks that require the REQ input to be ON until either the done or error output comes on.

Keep in mind, Siemens tends to only leave the done / error / status output values available for a single scan, so you have to capture and act on them right away.

loops0901

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your reply
1. The timeout is fixed at 10s and is inside the DALI_SENSOR_INPUT block. I am not able to change it. The STATUS i got when error comes is 16#83 ( Timeout. The function block does not get the response from CM 1xDALI.) I set a program to periodically get input value from the sensor . It sometime will come out this timeout error. If possible, i wanna to change to lower timeout value as 10s is quite long for a lighting control system. Please refer to image Q2 and Q3.

2. About resolution, i asked the supplier from Germany , they also not really sure what is the resolution means.  From their documentation, they use pseudo code for DALI communication. I not sure what is the code related between Siemens and pseudo code. Please refer to image Q4. 

3. I am refer to the commisionning support from Siemens ( https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/109771151/commissioning-support-for-et-200sp-cm-1xdali-modules?dti=0&lc=en-MU) . Unfortunately, there is not sample program for sensor input device. So i am using Siemens DALI block and do it by myself. Please refer to image Q5.