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Ben Orchard

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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

Big release news: groov EPIC 3.4 firmware is here

Posted by Ben Orchard on Jun 22, 2022 8:15:46 AM

Major release adds embedded OPC UA server, expanded MQTT/Sparkplug options, SNMP, Scratch Pad data access, and more

Everyone here at Opto is very excited to announce that the latest EPIC firmware update is now live.

Just as you update the OS on your phone to get the latest improvements in security, stability and performance, the OS on your groov EPIC is no different. It is after all, a quad core Linux computer, so updates are very important for the exact same reasons: security, stability, and performance.

And often these updates come with some cool new features. With this release, you'll find several.

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Topics: Updates, Firmware, Node-RED, MQTT, groov EPIC, OPC UA, Version 3.4 update

Power and energy monitoring with Modbus TCP

Posted by Ben Orchard on May 23, 2022 1:00:00 PM

Get some tips on using the groov RIO EMU with other Modbus TCP devices.

The Modbus protocol has been around since the late 1970’s. This is both amazing and cool. Amazing as some reading this have been using it since then (how time flies!). Cool because it's been around so long, and well established and widely used.

Opto 22 products have been supporting Modbus TCP since way-back-when. Out of the box, our devices are Modbus TCP slaves (now called "servers") and can be polled for data on specific register addresses. The groov RIO EMU (Energy Monitoring Unit), one of our newest products, is no different.

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Topics: Energy management, Modbus, groov RIO, OptoForum, power monitoring, groov rio emu

Google Apps ending access to less secure apps - are you ready?

Posted by Ben Orchard on May 9, 2022 10:08:18 AM

Prepare to make security changes to your email accounts by May 30, 2022.

For a long time, automation engineers have sent email alerts and reports from automation applications via a ‘throwaway’ Gmail account. This seemed harmless enough at the time and really useful, but it wasn’t very secure. As email abuse has risen over the years, it's time for the “less secure” party to come to an end.

Does this mean an end to all email alerts? Not at all. You just need to adjust your Google Gmail settings and update to a new application password in each application. Of course, this applies (with different end dates) to most other email providers as well as Google; check with your email provider for details. This blog will focus on Google Gmail.

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Topics: Security, Node-RED, groov EPIC, snap pac, groov RIO, email notifications

Deepsea Challenge - 10 years later

Posted by Ben Orchard on Mar 25, 2022 7:00:00 AM

This month marks the 10-year anniversary of James Cameron's historic dive to the Mariana Trench with the help of Opto 22 controls.

About this time 10 years ago, I got two emails about an hour apart. The first was from my wife saying my 16-year old son had fallen off his skateboard and taken a chunk out of his elbow. The second was from my son himself, asking if he could go back and find the missing bit rather than go to hospital to get stitches.

Today, we all have a bit of a laugh about it when we recall the story. But at the time, it was pretty stressful for each of us, mostly because I was away from home half way around the world.

In fact, I was a thousand miles out at sea working with the team that was preparing the Deepsea Challenge submersible that would end up taking movie director and deep ocean explorer James Cameron to the deepest point on the planet - the Mariana Trench.

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Topics: Case studies, Videos, Deepsea Challenge

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