Choose the software, controllers, I/O, and more for your application, with help from our new interactive demo about SNAP PAC System components.

You'll find answers to questions like these:

Topics: optonews, PACs, I/O, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-11-04

Let's say you have four pumps available, and you don't run them all at once. When it's time to start one, you want to choose the one with the least wear. 

You can decide which one to start by comparing the total amount of time each pump has run. That's a job for a totalizer.

Topics: Tips, optonews, PACs, I/O, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-10-21

Whether your Modbus equipment uses Serial RTU, Serial ASCII, or Modbus/TCP protocol, our latest Modbus Integration Kit has you covered. 

The kit makes it easier to integrate your Modbus equipment with SNAP PAC controllers running PAC Control strategies. 

Topics: optonews, PACs, New products, Integrators, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-10-07, Modbus

A SNAP PAC controller communicates over Ethernet. Is it OK if two PCs are trying to communicate with the PAC at the same time, or will they interfere with each other? 

This was the question in a recent OptoForum post, and it got a quick answer: yes, it's OK.

Whether it's a standalone S-series or a rack-mounted R-series PAC, you can have many devices simultaneously requesting data from and sending data to a SNAP PAC.

Topics: Tips, optonews, PACs, Integrators, Networking, OptoNews 2015-10-07

See groov and the SNAP PAC System in action at two trade shows in early October:

• Smart Industry 2015, October 5-7 in Chicago, Illinois
• Unlimited Electro, October 6-7 in Tijuana, Mexico

Topics: groov, PLCs, IoT, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, OptoNews 2015-09-23

When you turn on an output, do you set a flag and then check it to see the output's status before turning the output on again? 

Or do you just turn it on without checking?

Is setting a flag a good way to speed up the program and avoid tying up the network with unnecessary communications to I/O?

Or does it just add a lot of extra variables and decision blocks that make debugging and maintenance harder?

Topics: Discrete control, Tips, optonews, PACs, I/O, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-09-23

Just a couple of reminders about upcoming events in your area: 

• Hands-on SNAP PAC System training September 22-24 in Amherst, New Hampshire
• SORT Technology Showcase September 22 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Topics: groov, optonews, PACs, Events & conferences, Training, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-09-09

In the last OptoNews we talked about using date and time in PAC Control. (If you haven't seen the post, be sure to check out its links to useful resources.)

Meanwhile, Opto 22 customer Philip Spigelmire was busy writing a scheduling subroutine for his HVAC system. His subroutine handles:

Topics: Energy management, Tips, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, Building management, OptoNews 2015-09-09

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The Case for Intelligent I/O Systems.

The automation PC is located in the control room, and the dump valve is on the other side of the tank farm wired to a remote I/O cabinet, all connected over an Ethernet network.

The IT guys are working on the network, and they say it may take a few days to track down the intermittent cable. But hey, in the meantime, they say that it mostly works…

That answer might be sufficient for watching YouTube, but it is just not going to cut it for controlling that valve.

What do you do?

Topics: Discrete control, PLCs, Remote monitoring, Tips, IoT, PACs, OEM, I/O

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