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Ben Orchard

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groov EPIC firmware 3.5 is here

Posted by Ben Orchard on Aug 2, 2023 10:30:27 AM

Get Sparkplug 3.0 compliance, updated Node-RED, and new options for your groov EPIC controller.

The engineers at Opto 22 have been busy working around chip shortages and supply chain delays, yet even with those additional efforts, we're announcing the release of a new groov EPIC firmware update, version 3.5.

If I had to sum things up, I’d say a lot of really nice quality-of-life improvements and solid bug fixes were the key takeaways here.

Let's take a high-level look at some of the new features in this release.

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Topics: Updates, Firmware, groov EPIC

groov Manage: Controller

Posted by Ben Orchard on Aug 1, 2023 8:38:42 AM

Week 6 of the groov Manage video series brings you a detailed look at the control engines included with groov EPIC.

You might think we have a sleeper menu feature for this week's blog: only two buttons behind the Controller groov Manage menu option. Boring, right? Far from it! This is amazing! 

The fact that you can even choose between two control engine options is worth a pause. Learn what's possible in this week's groov Manage: Controller video.

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Topics: PAC Control, CODESYS, groov EPIC, groov Manage, groov Manage series

groov Manage: I/O Status

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jul 26, 2023 8:00:00 AM

Live I/O configuration and status from a web browser? Watch the next episode of the groov Manage video series and see how it's possible.

Our groov devices are much more than just industrially hardened, cybersecure devices—they also have abundant I/O options. In the case of the groov RIO, the 10 channels provide over 200,000 I/O combinations! This flexibility is also easy to drop into the groov EPIC chassis with the MM module. So, how can you configure, wire, and commission all this?

To get a glimpse, take a look at this week's groov Manage teaser video: I/O Status.

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Topics: Videos, groov EPIC, groov Manage, groov RIO, groov Manage series

groov Manage: Security

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jul 19, 2023 8:00:00 AM

Follow along with the 4th installment of the groov Manage video and blog series as we focus on the Security button in the groov Manage menu.

This week brings you the fourth installment of walking through the groov Manage menu options found on a groov EPIC. In case you missed it, you might want to catch up on the previous three menu options we've covered so far: Accounts, Network, and System. Now, you'll be ready to dive into the Security features.

Watch groov Manage: Security.

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Topics: Videos, groov EPIC, groov Manage, cybersecurity, EPIC Security, groov Manage series

groov Manage: System

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jul 12, 2023 8:02:09 AM

The 12-part video and blog series continues with a look at what's behind the System button on the groov Manage menu.

Over the past few weeks we've been taking a peek behind each of the main groov Manage menu options, both in a quick video and here in this blog. This week we are going to be jumping into the System menu.

Watch groov Manage: System.

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Topics: Videos, groov EPIC, groov Manage, groov Manage series

groov Manage: Network

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jul 5, 2023 9:11:30 AM

Learn Network configuration in the next of our new 12-part groov Manage video series.

If you've used a groov EPIC controller before, you're familiar with its 12 front-page menu buttons. But what power does each unlock? 

This 12-part groov Manage video series takes a deep dive into each home screen menu button, and our blog posts expand on the video. The simple blue menu contains a surprising amount of flexibility and granular control over the many programs and functions that each groov EPIC can run.

Last week we covered the Accounts button. Now let's move on to groov Manage: Network.

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Topics: Videos, groov EPIC, groov Manage, groov Manage series

New video series: All you need to know about groov Manage

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jun 28, 2023 12:09:27 PM

See all the things you can do with groov EPIC in our new video series.

Did you know that there are 12 front-page menu buttons on groov EPIC? What power does each unlock? 

groov customers say that the simple blue menu of groov Manage is very deceiving given its power, flexibility, and granular control over the many programs and functions that each groov EPIC can run.

Today you can see the first of a new 12-part video series on the groov Manage menu. Over the next 12 weeks we'll feature 12 videos and blog some specifics of each menu option—and the power that lies beneath. Be sure to subscribe to this blog in the top right corner of this page so you'll be notified when we release the next video in the series.

Let's get started with groov Manage: Accounts.

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Topics: Videos, groov EPIC, groov Manage, groov Manage series

Selecting and sizing a current transformer

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jun 14, 2023 10:12:45 AM

What looks like a donut, but you can't eat it, yet it still gives energy?
Clearly, I’m not very good at riddles, so I’ll cut straight to the answer: a current transformer, or CT.

CTs are a critical part of any electrical load monitoring system, so let's take a look at how they work, the different types, how to size them, and lastly, two important aspects of installing them.

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Topics: Energy management, groov rio emu, current transformers, energy monitoring

SNAP PAC to groov EPIC - Serial modules and I/O configurations

Posted by Ben Orchard on Nov 10, 2022 7:57:08 AM

Honest answers to your questions about making the move from SNAP PAC controllers to groov EPIC.

I’d like to try and feed two birds with one handful of grain in this blog…

We often get these two questions from existing Opto 22 customers who are moving or migrating from SNAP PAC controllers to groov EPIC (or sometimes keeping SNAP I/O to work with an EPIC system).

  1. Are they the same?
  2. Which should I configure first, groov Manage or PAC Control?
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Topics: PAC Control, groov EPIC, snap pac

Quick recap: groov EPIC 3.4.3 firmware update

Posted by Ben Orchard on Aug 16, 2022 12:37:43 PM

Review some important bug fixes included in the latest groov EPIC firmware update 3.4.3.

Everyone here at Opto 22 knows that updating any controller's firmware is not a trivial task, and when in a production environment, it’s not something that can be done at the drop of a hat.

That said, sometimes we fix some bugs that require a minor point firmware update and the latest 3.4.3 release is just such a case. If you are using groov View or the new Data Services feature, then you should look closely at this release as you determine where updating your controller(s) should be prioritized in your jam-packed schedule.

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Topics: Updates, Firmware, groov View, groov EPIC, OPC UA

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