PM8000 DCF FIle for standard meter type

[swil]

There is a standard meter framework in place on a site. It is running in a PM8000 with FAC1 Revision 3.0.0 and FAC1 Template 8000 V2.2.0.0.0.

I have a dcf file and will have no issues replicating the configuration to meters with the same firmware and template versions.

But what happens when applying this dcf file when it becomes older and:

1. New meters are shipped with firmware upgrades, e.g. a minor or major revision?

2. Template upgrades occur (are these just overwritten by the 'old' dcf file?)

[Tom_Stevenson · Accepted solution]

Hi

Updated templates are not always part of a new release as you are observing with V3.0.0 firmware (which continued to use the V2.2.0.0.0), but the V3.1.0 firmware release had an updated V3.1.0.0.0 framework companion which had some fixes in it.

So new PM8000s ship with V3.1.0 firmware and a V3.1.0.0.0 framework.  If you were to apply a V2.2.0.0.0 framework or template to it, in most cases it should work, however, it may not have all the latest features or fixes.

Tom

[Tom_Stevenson]

Just a reminder as well that as of V3.1.0, factory frameworks are provided in framework (.fwn) format, not .dcf.

Tom

[Charles_Murison]

Hello @swil ,

To expand on Tom's reply in the vast majority of cases newer firmware is able to support older frameworks. This is not explicitly tested for each release. There may be a future version of firmware that does not support module X (see sunsetting post in the forum), if your old template had this module you may not be able to post this onto a new firmware. Tools used to post the framework may or may not be smart enough to avoid trying to send those modules to the meter during paste.

There is also the possibility that some setting did not exist in the old firmware version that is required in the new firmware. There is a default settings that will be chosen but depending on what was in the old template this could the template to either not paste or paste but not have all modules online at the end.

I would like to say again that these are extreme edge cases and usually involve highly customized frameworks. As long as the frameworks are not too old, you should be able to paste older frameworks onto newer firmware. But as noted by Tom, the newer firmware sometimes has fixes inside the template that will not been seen if you use an older template. 

In general I recommend A) Keeping a backup of any customized template, and if possible and reasonable, document the changes made so that these changes can be applied to future templates.

Regards,

Charles

[swil]

Thanks @Tom_Stevenson .

Can entire PM8000 meters with firmware greater than V2.0 be copied by selecting the entire meter and saving it as a fwn file? (then lock pasting in the next meter - ignoring 'edge cases' referred to by Charles where module types are retired.

If .dcf files aren't released, will those using only ION Setup (not designer) be able to apply .fwn files to meters from V3.1 firmware onwards?

[Tom_Stevenson]

Fwn files work with ION Designer and ION Setup, so there are no compatibility issues (https://community.se.com/t5/Metering-Power-Quality/PowerOfION-ION-Frameworks-Part-1-Framework-File-F...)

PME has V2.2.0.0.0 framework (.fwn) files included with it too, so there is no need to create fwn files.

Tom