OptoBlog

Jean Femia

Jean Femia writes about technical subjects and has focused on automation and control systems for more than 15 years. She likes learning about technology and taking corners in her Honda S2000.
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Recent Posts

OptoNews: Holiday schedule and Thank you!

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 16, 2015 4:56:27 PM

As 2015 draws to a close, all of us at Opto 22 say "Thank you!"

Thanks for your achievements in the automation field, your community contributions in OptoForums and the industry, and of course your interest in Opto 22 products.

Together we look forward to a new year filled with new opportunities.

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Topics: Videos, optonews, OptoNews 2015-12-16

OptoNews: Updated PAC firmware R9.4c released

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 16, 2015 4:55:06 PM

We've just released PAC firmware version R9.4c.

This updated firmware is for SNAP PAC controllers (S-series, R-series, and SoftPAC), SNAP PAC brains (Ethernet and serial), and G4EB2 and G4D32EB2 brains. 

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Topics: Updates, optonews, PACs, Firmware, OptoNews 2015-12-16

OptoNews: Last chance to vote your Engineers' Choice

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 16, 2015 4:54:18 PM

It's the end of the year, and that means that Control Engineering's Engineers' Choice Awards voting will close soon.

Vote now for groov 3.0 and for your other favorite products of the year.

With groov 3.0 you can build your own mobile operator interface—your own mobile app—for just about any automation system or equipment.

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Topics: groov, optonews, Awards and recognition, OptoNews 2015-12-16

OptoNews Tip: More power, more I/O for legacy systems

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 16, 2015 4:53:08 PM

Move up without changing racks or field wiring

Have you seen some of our newer high-density, high-speed, or multifunction I/O modules and wished you could use them in your legacy SNAP Ultimate or SNAP Ethernet I/O system? 

Have you wanted to build an easy-to-use groov mobile interface for your legacy system?

Or wanted to log a lot more data locally? 

If so, we have a tip for you: check out the SNAP-PAC-R1-B programmable automation controller

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Topics: Updates, Tips, optonews, PACs, New products, Migration, I/O, OptoNews 2015-12-16

OptoNews: Accuracy/Resolution hands-on demo

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:26:24 PM

In an earlier OptoNews we defined the terms accuracy and resolution as they apply to analog I/O modules. 

These specs help you choose the right module for the job, so you get the results you need.

Some applications require highly accurate values or very fine resolution, while others do not. Choosing the right module for your application will save you time and money.

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Topics: Process control, optonews, I/O, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews: Holiday Schedule 2015

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:25:24 PM

It's that holiday time again. How about a bright red groov Box as a present for yourself this year? 

Here's our holiday schedule for Opto 22's Headquarters and Manufacturing office, as well as information on shipping dates.

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Topics: optonews, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews: New blog series helps you troubleshoot

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:24:14 PM

How is going to your favorite website like getting data from your PAC to your groov Box, or from your PLC to your HMI? 

Opto 22 engineer Matt Newton's recent blog post answers that question and introduces you to the underpinnings of both the Internet and a whole lot of industrial automation communications.

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Topics: optonews, Networking, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews Tip: Analog totalizing—without the calculus

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:23:54 PM

Suppose you have an analog inputmaybe it's a flow meter, for example—and you want to know not only the current flow rate, but also the cumulative flow over time.

How many gallons went through that pipe over the last 24 hours, or over the last month? 

If you're using an Opto 22 analog input module and PAC Control, you're in luck. 

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Topics: Energy management, Process control, Tips, optonews, I/O, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews: New SNAP mechanical relay output has integrated transient suppression

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:27:11 PM

The new SNAP-OMR6T-C mechanical power relay output module offers four points to switch loads up to 6 amps at 250 VAC or 30 VDC.

AND it includes integrated transient suppression, while maintaining minimal leakage current. 

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Topics: Discrete control, optonews, New products, I/O, OptoNews 2015-11-18

OptoNews: Case study: M-Bus building systems data

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:26:07 PM

How do you get a variety of building systems and machinery to communicate with a central system controller, when they use different protocols? 

Swedish system integrator Processcomponent AB had to solve this problem when they installed an energy monitoring system in a large apartment building in Gothenburg. 

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Topics: Energy management, Case studies, Remote monitoring, optonews, Integrators, Building management, Modbus, OptoNews 2015-11-18, M-Bus

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