Alternative use for DCS

Cool 

Have any videos? 

vthokies2007-2011 posted:

Have any videos? 

Not yet, Sun is out and things are finally drying out and we are super busy with harvest right now.

That's a really neat idea and it also works! Pretty cool way to use a DCS system.

As long as you don't see the dreaded Engine Not Found while heavy machinery is working!

In a more serious vein, not to rain on your parade, but...

I do suggest a panic switch that's not part of the DCS solution to kill power independently, the DCS system is not really up to the reliability that I'd want in an industrial control environment.  I'm also curious about the capability to remotely start heavy machinery, isn't there a little concern that you should be seeing what you're starting before the machinery starts moving?

gunrunnerjohn posted:

As long as you don't see the dreaded Engine Not Found while heavy machinery is working!

In a more serious vein, not to rain on your parade, but...

I do suggest a panic switch that's not part of the DCS solution to kill power independently, the DCS system is not really up to the reliability that I'd want in an industrial control environment.  I'm also curious about the capability to remotely start heavy machinery, isn't there a little concern that you should be seeing what you're starting before the machinery starts moving?

Yeah that did come to mind and that is what started this.

The main motor at the top of the grain leg ( a MONSTER 15 HP three phase motor) is about 130 feet above the control room with the other cross auger motors not too far away. When you are at the top of the grain leg or on any of the cross walks, there is no way to control anything... until now. For the last 50 years we've been starting these motors with no way of knowing something was wrong unless you could hear it. Diagnostics was always a two man operation with two-way radios. All of the original controls (and panic buttons) still function normally and the master "off " switch will for sure still turn everything off by cutting the 24 volt relay power. 

If I am at the top of the leg I can get down in about 10 minutes to turn something off. But now it can be done instantaneously from my tablet / phone. There are probable better ways to do this but everything we found was expensive, hard to program, and the app interface was terrible. with no macro support.

Basically, we added the ability for the person at the top of the facility, to stand next to the motor he is starting and actually see what is happening with the ability to have full control while being there.

Sounds like a solution you can live with.  I figured you probably considered this stuff, but it was worth mentioning.

H1000, I would also add some good surge protect to both the main panel that is supplying power to the outlet your MTH stuff is plugged into and to the outlet itself. I'm sure that outlet feels those big motors starting and stopping.