Local Connectivities in Field Information Manager

ABB Field Information Manager Learning Center

Field Information Manager supports various local connectivities.
Local Communication Servers allow connections to devices by using a supported local modem.

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HART isHRT FDI Communication Server

The HART isHRT FDI Communication Server allows connections to HART field devices by using a supported local HART modem.

Supported HART modems

  • ABB NDA121-NX USB (Ex ia)
  • ABB NHA121-NO USB
  • Thorsis isHRT USB
  • Thorsis isHRT USBeX
  • Thorsis H@RT BluePack

Other modems require a manual modem driver installation. The supported baud rates are: 1200, 9600, 19200, 38400, 115200.

PROFIBUS isPro FDI Communication Server

The PROFIBUS isPro FDI Communication Server allows connections to PROFIBUS devices by using a supported local PROFIBUS modem.

Supported PROFIBUS modems

  • Thorsis isPro USBx12
  • Thorsis isPro USBv4

UMC USB Serial Communication Server

The UMC USB Serial Communication Servers allows connections to UMC field devices using a supported local UMC modem.

HART modem with a 24V source

Describe how to connect the HART modem with a 24V source.
HartModem24V

  1. Connect the HART field device with the 24V source.
  2. Pay attention and connect a 240 Ohm resistor between 24V source and the field device.
  3. The FIM has already installed the Thorsis (ifak system) modem drivers during the installation. But any other modems from other vendors require a driver software which can usually downloaded via the internet. Before you continue with the next step please ensure that the driver for your modem is installed.
  4. Connect the HART modem to the computer where FIM is running on.
  5. Connect the HART modem adapters to the field device as pictured in the image.
  6. Please ensure that the ifak Communication Server settings in the FIM tool are set to Primary Master.

HART modem with a field device that is connected to an IO

Describe how to connect the HART modem to a field device which is part of a control system and usually connected to an input/output channel of a IO.
HartModemOnIo

  1. The FIM has already installed the Thorsis (ifak system) modem drivers during the installation. But any other modems from other vendors require a driver software that can usually downloaded via internet. Before you continue with the next step please ensure that the driver for your modem is installed.
  2. Connect the HART modem to the computer where FIM is running on.
  3. Connect the HART modem adapters to the field device as pictured in the image.
  4. Please ensure that the Thorsis (ifak system) Communication Server settings in the FIM tool are set to Secondary Master which is usually not the default.

Actuator device with HART modem on 24V source

Describes how to connect an actuator to a HART modem on 24 V source.
HartModemWithActuator

Usually actuator field devices (like ABB TZIDC, ABB EDP) require a permanent current. As an adhoc solution you can use a transmitter device (like ABB TTH300) that is connected in series to the actuator field device. Please ensure that the transmitter has a HART channel number that is different to the actuator device. As example, if the actuator has the channel number 0, then please use the channel number 1 for the transmitter. In addition please ensure, that the HART modem is set to multi drop mode and that the highest scan address is set to a range that contains both channel addresses, like highest scan address = 1 for the example as pictured.

Search for a device with running a HART diagnostic scan

Use this guideance if you have connected a field device to the HART modem and the Field Information Manager cannot find the connected device.

  1. Start the Field Information Manager
  2. Select the Communication Server Tile from the Topology Tree and open the Context Menu.
  3. Select the DIAGNOSTIC item.
  4. Select the button Start scan
  5. The HART Communication Server will run a diagnostic scan going through all available parameters. During the diagnostic scan each identified device is listed right away and the result shows the required setup for running that device. The user can stop the diagnostic scan at any time if necessary.

ThorsisDiagnosticScan

Restart the HART Communication Server

Use this guidance if a message describes that the Field Information Manager cannot connect to the Communication Server.
Please note that restarting the computer node is preferred, and that restarting the Communication Server should be used in case that a computer node restart is impossible for the moment.

  1. Close the Field Information Manager.
  2. Open the Windows operating system Control Panel.
  3. Open Administrative Tools and then Services.
  4. Search for isHart CommunicationServer.
  5. Open the Context Menu for isHart CommunicationServer and select Restart.
  6. After some seconds, the Communication Server has been restarted.
  7. Start the Field Information Manager.

HART modem communication issues after standby

Some HART modems require a reset of the computer connection after the computer was started out of standby mode. To reset the modem please unplug the USB connection to the computer an re-plug again. Then after a few seconds the modem is back in operation.

Serial port emulator software causes Auto Scanning problems

In some situations a serial port emulator software might cause that the Auto Scanning is not working correctly. Please remove the serial port emulator software in that case and reboot the computer node afterwards.
A serial port emulator software allows creating virtual COM ports and gives you possibility to emulate serial port behavior. Most often the software is used in combination with a HART device simulator software.

Burst mode issues with H@rt BluePack modem

The H@rt BluePack is a versatile interface that supports wireless (Bluetooth) and wired (USB) access to a HART network. 
With Field Information Manager version 1.3 it's not possible to use the H@rt BluePack modem with a HART device running in burst mode as long as the H@rt BluePack is connected via USB.
If the H@rt BluePack modem is connected wireless (Bluetooth), then the issue is not showing up.
HART_Bluetooth_Interface

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