SITRANS FST020 COMM

Good question.

1) Although there is no real-time flow rate output, like Modbus, available on the initial release of the FST-020, the FST-020 manual claims that the RS-232 port will provide 'sequential ASCII text files" as a logger output function.

Whether "sequential ASCII text files" means the dump of an entire logger file, or, the periodic export of specified variables is not clear. No example is provided.

To do so, the FST's RS-232 com settings have to be compatible with the serial printer setup the Logger has to be configured (which points, how often). The 'printer' mode is enabled separately under Logger Control > Output Logger.

2) Terminal Mode
RS-232 is available for terminal connection with a terminal program similar to Windows' Hyperterminal program or terminal mode in Siware software. Terminal mode display the data that would be shown in an equivalent FUS display (more data than is available on two line FST-020 display). Terminal mode is very valuable for those familiar with FUS setup, because the navigation through the displays is identical. Terminal mode is hidden under the Utilities tab.

3) Serial port connection to SiWare software

SiWare software provides
- real-time on-screen graphing of various flow parameters
- data logging to a local drive on the O/S that runs the Siware software in .csv format
- diagnostic waveforms
- commands for loading and saving setups
- terminal mode as described in 2) above. (highly recommended over HyperTerminal, which is no longer supplied with Windows 7 or 8).

SiWare software is available as free download from Siemens, but as of March 2013, it is not included on the CD ROM that ships with the FST020. It was previously called DataView software.

"Si-Ware software Ver. 1.01.02 for all SITRANS F US clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters"
http://support.automation.siemens.com/US/llisapi.dll?func=cslib.csinfo&lang=en&siteid=cseus&aktprim=0&extranet=standard&viewreg=US&objid=43412101&treeLang=en

SiWare connects to the FST-020 with a Null Modem DB9F x DB9M serial cable.

4) Logger memory
An FST-020 has a non-volatile logger memory. Data logged to the logger memory can be exported from the FST-020 as a .csv file. But logger data is after-the-fact data.

The logger has a fixed amount of memory. The logger is configured for which data points are saved. Under Meter Facilities > Logger Control there is a calculated value for the estimated log time remaining (Est LogTime Left) in hours and minutes.

5) The obvious means of exporting real-time flow rate data from the FST-020 are the
- 4-20mA analog output
- frequency output (uses the PGEN parameter)

The totalizer output can be handled with a periodic pulse output from either the electromechanical relay or an open collector transistor; where each pulse represent X volume.

New question published by Simon44 is split to a separate thread with the subject SITRANS FST020, problem in messure flow rate.

Best regards
Min_Moderator