Trigger 128 point/cycle waveform captures on CM2

[Sepehr_Zarrabi]

The CM2xxx meter can capture 64 and 128 point/cycle waveforms. In SMS and PMCU software, the user can manually trigger both the high-resolution and the low-resolution waveforms. However, when using PME or ION Setup to initiate a Manual Waveform Trigger, the software only triggers the low-resolution waveform.

Our customer has migrated from SMS to PME and is now trying to trigger a manual waveform capture on their CM2000 meters so they can analyze the harmonic content to the 63rd harmonic but since PME (and ION Setup) only trigger the low-resolution waveform, he can only see up to the 31st harmonic. He is upset because he could do the high-resolution waveform using SMS and the "new software is a step backwards".

Is there a way to trigger the high-resolution waveform in the CM2 using a ModBus write command? Alternatively, can ION Setup (Robert Lee) be enhanced to trigger the high-resolution waveform?

Thank you !

[Robert_Lee]

I'm looking at what available options are listed for the CM2xxx and due to the fact that ION Setup doesn't allow you to view the actual waveforms yet, there was no reason to allow the user to manually trigger waveforms (this option should not be available for any of the CM products like the CM3/CM4 even) so I don't know where he's manually triggering anything via ION Setup.

But to answer your question, if there is a Modbus command to do it, it can be likely added using something like Notepad.  However, I don't see a point in doing that if ION Setup (or even PME) isn't able to upload the waveform (assuming PME is only uploading one type of waveform (4-Cycle Waveform Capture? vs. Extended Event Capture?).

Strange that a customer is upset that new software isn't supporting 20+ year old products (mind you ION Setup is almost 20 years old as well).

[Sepehr_Zarrabi]

As far as viewing the waveforms, PME can display both 64 and 128 sample/cycle wfc from CM2xxx. The "glitch" is that we have no way of triggering a 128 sample/cycle waveform without using PMCU. Once the high-res waveform is triggered in the meter, PME can download it and show it just fine.

If we can find a way to trigger it using ModBus write, I could even create a batch file and send ModBus commands using DOS.

From a Sales side, we sometimes force SMS migration onto our customers. Some of them are perfectly happy using SMS but we tell them that we won't support them and they must move to PME. When they lose functionality they used to have, it is their opportunity to get back at us 🙂

Thanks for your help !

[Robert_Lee]

Looking at my CM2 documentation, I find these available commands:

Unfortunately the documentation does not describe what the Channel Format needs to be set to.

The ideal thing would be for the customer to use WireShark (assuming PMCU is communicating via TCP) to capture the TCP traffic to the CM2 and forward that to me so I can determine which of the commands are being used (and what it is sending) in order to generate changes to the CM2 setup file in ION Setup to add some reset/control options.

As for PME, its likely you will have to contact Anirban to determine which of the above commands PME is issue to perform the low resolution capture and ask if there is a way to add something for the high resolution one.

[Sepehr_Zarrabi]

Enrique Narez​ has done some testing and it seems like all that is required is to write 4913 to register 7700. I am not sure how easy it would be to achieve this in ION Setup? Thank you!

[Robert_Lee · Accepted solution]

You would use notepad (likely have to right click on the icon and select "Run as Administrator"), and open the SETUP.CFG file found in one of the CM2000 sub-folders (for which ever models you likely need to issue the write).

At the top of the file, modify the SetupScreens line by incrementing it by one.

Ex.

;CM2450 Setup

[SetupInfo]

SetupScreens=27

to

SetupScreens=28

Next, you would insert a line at the bottom of the [SetupInfo] section to add the new screen similar to the following:

Screen26=Reports

Screen27=Phasor Viewer

Screen28=Meter Resets

IOConfigRegister=42086,1

FeatureRegister=42081,1

Finally, you would go to the very bottom of the file and add something like the following (assuming the information you provided is correct):

[Meter Resets]

SetupType=7

SetupNum=1

StartAddress=47700

Registers=1

Setup1=1,Trigger WFC

Pkt1Format=4913

​Let me know if this works or not.

[EnriqueNarez]

Hello Robert,

I found that the actual register writes required are:

Register     Value

7700          4913

7701          1

7702          28120

How would we adjust that last part to take these register writes into account?

Thanks.

[Robert_Lee]

Assuming those values are static, you would use:

[Meter Resets]

SetupType=7

SetupNum=1

StartAddress=47700

Registers=3

Setup1=1,Trigger WFC

Pkt1Format=4913,1,28120