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.
Find me on:

Recent Posts

OptoNews: Updates for PAC Project, groov, E1/E2

Posted by Jean Femia on Oct 12, 2016 3:13:08 PM

Three new updates have recently been released:

Read More

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, I/O, PAC Project, Optomux, Firmware, PAC Control, PAC Manager, OptoNews 2016-10-12

OptoNews: New IIoT real-world case study and presentation video

Posted by Jean Femia on Oct 12, 2016 3:12:10 PM

If you're into technology, you may already have a smart thermostat or refrigerator or lights in your home. That's fun and sometimes even useful.

But what's the real value of the Internet of Things?

Read More

Topics: Energy management, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, Events & conferences, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-10-12, IIoT

OptoNews: Connecting industrial devices to IBM Watson IoT

Posted by Jean Femia on Oct 12, 2016 3:10:04 PM

You've heard about our Opto 22 SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers with their built-in RESTful API (application program interface).

The REST API gives you secure access to all the I/O point and variable data in the PAC.

Read More

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, REST API, RESTful server, REST, OptoNews 2016-10-12, IIoT

OptoNews Tip: The useful Send Communication Handle Command

Posted by Jean Femia on Oct 12, 2016 3:09:19 PM

The PAC Control command "Send Communication Handle Command" is a flexible and useful command to know.  

It sends a command that accomplishes a specific purpose for the type of communication handle you're using. For example, you might use it with a File or FTP comm handle to work with files on a SNAP PAC controller. 

Read More

Topics: Tips, optonews, PAC Control, OptoNews 2016-10-12

OptoNews: New video case study - Vista delivers water through technology

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 28, 2016 4:27:19 PM

Vista Irrigation District, near San Diego in Southern California, is no stranger to change. 

For nearly 100 years the district has provided reliable water to farm and residential customers—through population growth, drought years, and changes in land use.

Read More

Topics: Case studies, Videos, Water & wastewater, optonews, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-09-28

OptoNews: New Opto iPAC/aPAC mobile app release (R1.50)

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 28, 2016 4:26:18 PM

Do you use Opto iPAC or Opto aPAC on your phone or tablet to commission and troubleshoot Opto 22 systems? With these mobile apps, you can:

  • Automatically discover Opto 22 systems on your network
  • Change point status or variable values from your phone, wirelessly
  • Create watch lists to monitor
Read More

Topics: Updates, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Integrators, I/O, mobile, OptoNews 2016-09-28

OptoNews: World of Technology & Science coming to Utrecht

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 28, 2016 4:25:14 PM

Join us in Utrecht, Netherlands, next week and explore the World of Technology & Science (WOTS) Exhibition. This is the technological venue for everyone in the industrial, science, and healthcare fields.

OptoDistributor Mulder-Hardenberg will welcome you there at stand 10F051 and demonstrate: 

Read More

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, API, REST API, RESTful server, REST, OptoNews 2016-09-28

OptoNews Tip: PID loop with a long dead loop time

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 28, 2016 4:24:57 PM

OptoForum member tohox recently posted a question about using PID control loops on a SNAP-PAC-R1 rack-mounted controller.

The issue? A really long dead loop time. 

"The time delta between the moment the strategy opens a given loop's valve [and] starts the pump+furnace and the moment a temperature increase is measured can sometimes be on the order of an hour," tohox notes.

Read More

Topics: Energy management, Tips, optonews, PACs, I/O, Building management, Modbus, PID loop control, OptoNews 2016-09-28

OptoNews: New IoT resources page answers your questions

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 14, 2016 4:08:08 PM

What is the Internet of Things (IoT) and what is it good for?

Is anybody actually using it yet for real applications?

Here's a page of resources to answer some of your questions: The Internet of Things.

Read More

Topics: Energy management, Videos, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, OptoNews 2016-09-14

OptoNews: New face for SNAP I/O modules

Posted by Jean Femia on Sep 14, 2016 4:07:11 PM

When you buy a new SNAP I/O module today, you may find that the printing on it looks a little different from ones you already have.

Don't be concerned; there's no difference in how the module functions.

Read More

Topics: optonews, I/O, OptoNews 2016-09-14

    Subscribe to Email Updates

    Recent Posts

    Posts by Topic

    see all