4x S7 1200 & HMI

Hi all!

I have 4 S7 1214C PLC's, each with their own HMI.

I want to be able to set select set points from my main PLC (1 of the 4) and visualize some of the information. All PLC's will be interconnected by PROFINET.

In your opinion, what would be the best way to read and set the data?

This is what I am thinking, in no particular order:
1. PUT/GET
2. CONTROLLER/DEVICE
3. Just use the HMI

Perhaps there is a better way?

Thanks!

Ton Verra

Hi all!

I have 4 S7 1214C PLC's, each with their own HMI.

I want to be able to set select set points from my main PLC (1 of the 4) and visualize some of the information. All PLC's will be interconnected by PROFINET.

In your opinion, what would be the best way to read and set the data?

This is what I am thinking, in no particular order:
1. PUT/GET
2. CONTROLLER/DEVICE
3. Just use the HMI

Perhaps there is a better way?

Thanks!

Where will the setpoints be generated?
Internal to the PLC or given by HMI?

Which HMI will be used for the visualization?
Which data will be used?.. perhaps each PLC for each HMI?

I would go with the PUT/GET,
but may change my mind when knowing more.

My design would aim to lower the communication overhead (minimize traffic) to only what is needed when it is needed.

w

Hi William,

Thank you!

The setpoints for the controllers are set by the operator on their respective HMI's, so they should not change often. I would like to be able to set all setpoints from my main HMI. I would also like the operator to be able to get an overview of the whole installation from the one main HMI.

The reason why we have multiple controllers and HMI's is so that all of them can be operated independently.

I am still not sure how the data should flow.
This is going to be the key.
You can have the data synchronise between the devices.

See what you can do with this..
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/39040038

..or something in the same line.

w

Gotya.

That is why I was thinking just using the HMI to directly set and visualize the data from HMI 1 in PLC2/3/4. This way all the set points are only in the respective PLC's and are just being visualized in multiple HMI's (as I do not need the data from PLC 2/3/4 in PLC 1)

If that makes sense :).

Thanks!

Ton, yes, data will flow almost randomly, depends on who writes the data for first, roughly.

You really should so some small coding on PLC whcih will handle the signals from panels and prioritize them as you need, otherwise you will have a randomic data writing

Ton Verra

Gotya.

That is why I was thinking just using the HMI to directly set and visualize the data from HMI 1 in PLC2/3/4. This way all the set points are only in the respective PLC's and are just being visualized in multiple HMI's (as I do not need the data from PLC 2/3/4 in PLC 1)

If that makes sense :).

Thanks!

Sorry, I still do not know how the information is flowing. A picture would help... it would help you to visualize the process.

You probably have the answer you need. Personally I would use a central database (one PLC). This way a PLC can extract data by request as it is needed.. especially when the HMI does not automatically makes sure the data reaches a PLC.

Having said that.. a Comfort model does offer some coding tricks that can ensure a PLC is updated even if it was not on line at the moment the set points was changed.

..I hope my babbling is of value.
Cheers.
w

I appreciate the ramblings :).

I will do as you guys suggest and try to make an overview.

Thank you!

Hello Ton Verra

You can use more than one connection on each HMI device.

So you can create on all of the Panels connections to each PLC. but  you have to be careful because the S71200 have on so much Communication ressources. So you can only connect 2 comfort Panels or three Basic Panels at the same time.

So if you want to get access one PLC from all Panels you have to distribute the Information between the PLC or you use a non PLC communicatoin.

For Example if you have Comfort Panels you can use the HTTP Channel Server and HTTP Channel toget access HMI Tags from another HMI without PLC. (Or you can also use OPC)

Bye Murof

Hello again,

So after contemplating what to use, I decided to go for S7 communication using PUT/GET.

I have set things up, the connections seems to be OK. But the PUT/GET blocks are not doing anything. I sometimes get an error code 19, but not every try. See attached pics.