Are you concerned about security?

Is Firefox your favorite browser?

If you answered yes to either question and are using a groov Box appliance, you'll want to get the latest groov Admin update.

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2015-08-26

Have a HART

Communicate with your smart HART® (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) devices with these two HART SNAP I/O modules—an input and an output. 

HART is the most widely used digital communications protocol in process automation, so you'll find plenty of devices you can monitor and talk to using these modules.

Both I/O modules have channel-to-channel isolation and carry a lifetime warranty. 

Topics: Energy management, Process control, optonews, I/O, HART, OptoNews 2015-08-26

Take a look at what Pioneer Energy is doing with waste flare gas from drilling sites. 

With Pioneer's Mobile Alkane Gas Separator (MAGS) installed on site, oil producers can add up to 30% to their revenue stream—from waste that would otherwise be burned off and lost.

Topics: Energy management, Case studies, Videos, Process control, Remote monitoring, optonews, Oil & gas, OptoNews 2015-08-26

Lately we've received some questions about one of the key concerns in control: controlling something at a specific point in time. 

• Maybe you want to turn on a pump at 6:00 a.m. every day
• Or start a process on Tuesday
• Or restart a count at midnight on the last day of each month

This tip pulls together some resources for control based on time, day, and date. 

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, Tips, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-08-26

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Do what when:

In last week’s blog we covered how to set the real time clock (RTC) in a PAC Controller with an accurate time server over the Internet using SNTP.

Now that our controller knows exactly what time it is, how do we turn on that pump at 6:00 a.m. on the dot?

Like most aspects of programming, there are a few different ways to achieve the same result, so join me in this week’s blog while we look at one way to manage real-time scheduling.

Topics: Energy management, Process control, groov, Internet of Things, Tips, IoT, PACs, PAC Project

Next time you buy a SNAP brain or SNAP PAC R-series controller, you may notice something new: an aluminum base plate instead of the older black or blue plastic one.

We're constantly looking for ways to improve our existing products (as well as designing new ones), and this change is one result.

While our SNAP brains and rack-mounted controllers were already very noise immune, the new addition of an aluminum base makes them even more immune to electrical noise. 

Topics: Updates, optonews, PACs, OptoNews 2015-08-12

A warm (!) welcome to Albireo Energy, a new OptoPartner focused on intelligent buildings and energy efficiency.

Albireo Energy helps building owners and managers all over the U.S. to improve efficiency, optimize safety and up time, and reduce operational costs—while improving comfort for building tenants.

Topics: Energy management, optonews, Integrators, OptoNews 2015-08-12, Building management

Here's an opportunity to learn how to increase manufacturing throughput, improve safety, and optimize your production through technology: the SORT Technology Showcase 2015.

You'll see the latest technical advancements from a variety of suppliers. Opto 22's Arun Sinha will demonstrate how easy it is to put your system on your smartphone or tablet with a groov mobile operator interface.

Topics: groov, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, I/O, OptoNews 2015-08-12

Do you use PAC Control? If so, you'll want to watch these handy tips in video format, all showing you step-by-step tips for Opto 22's control development software.

The videos are quick to watch and helpful no matter how long you've been using PAC Control.

Some examples...

Topics: Videos, Tips, optonews, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-08-12

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What time is it?

Do you know what time it is? Does your SNAP PAC controller know what time it is? Are they the same time? Who’s right?

In this week's blog we are going to talk about this big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.… No, not time travel, but actual time…. Specifically how to set your PAC Controller to the current time.

No reading ahead; remember, time flies like an arrow and fruit flies like a banana.

Topics: Internet of Things, PLCs, IoT, PACs, OEM, Networking, PAC Project