Reminder: When used in conjunction with Perception Server, you have to be of
“Supervisor” status or above to make any changes to device properties.
When a device is selected in the Asset Explorer (E.g., a Transfix 1.6), a ‘Properties’
tab is available in the right hand part of the Perception Desktop screen, as shown in Figure 29 on the next page.
The Properties tab is used to configure the device.
Perception Desktop – User Guide 32 v1.00 2013-12-18 Figure 29: Device Properties
The Properties tab contains a number of sections, which are explained below:
Identity
The Identity section details the identity of the device
Figure 30: Device Identity Confirmation
The Identity section contains two read-only fields:
Device Type: The device type is defined by the type of asset added using the Asset Explorer (see Adding Assets on page 22).
Serial Number: The serial number is populated when the first download is performed from the device
Perception Desktop – User Guide 33 v1.00 2013-12-18
Communications
The Communications section allows the communication method to be defined and configured.
Figure 31: Device Communications Configuration
Note: When used in conjunction with Perception Server, you specify the communications with the device here as the Perception Desktop is the controlling application. The Perception Server carries out the actual data download, but Perception Desktop specifies all of the parameters.
The communications section contains the three header fields shown in Figure 31, regardless of the type of device. Dependent upon your selection in the “Media” field, other configuration entry fields may be displayed:
Media: Media defines what type of connection will be used to connect to the device. Available options are:
o “Network”
Network adds two more options to the Communications section:
Hostname (or IP address): The devices host name or IP address.
MODBUS/TCP Port: The MODBUS/TCP port defines what port is used when connecting using the host name or IP address (default value is 502).
o “Modem”
Modem adds one more option to the Communications section:
Phone Number: The phone number of the modem in the device.
o “Serial”
Serial adds eight more options to the Communications section:
Slave Address: The address of the device on a multi-drop network.
Protocol: The MODBUS protocol to use to communicate with the device.
Perception Desktop – User Guide 34 v1.00 2013-12-18
COM Port: The local COM port to use when connecting to the device.
Baud Rate: The maximum speed at which the device talks.
Data bits: The number of data bits in each character being sent.
Parity: Turn on error correction.
Stop Bits: Use the hardware to detect stop bits (end of messages), and re-synchronize the character stream.
Flow Control: Allow the transmission of data to be paused / resumed.
Protocol: If a Hydran M2 or Intellix MO150 device is selected an additional
protocol field appears on the properties worksheet. This field is used to select the protocol method used to communicate with the device. Perception Desktop supports both DNP3 and Modbus protocols.
Connection Timeout: This field defines the time to wait before reporting a connection timeout. Enter a value in seconds.
Note: A default value is created in this field when you select the “Media” type.
Password: The password of the device.
Auto-Download
When used in conjunction with Perception Server Auto-Download options
become available in the device properties. If you are connected to a local database, then you can only carry out manual downloads, see page 38.
The Auto-Download section allows the connection to, and downloading from devices to be automatically scheduled. The schedule settings are unique to the device it is configured for, allowing for a staggered download schedule to be implemented.
Figure 32: Device Auto-Download
Enabled: A check box that enables/disables the scheduling of downloads from the device.
Schedule: Defines the download schedule, which can be defined by specific days and specific times. The terminology used is “Unix Cron”. The key field descriptors are:
If the “*” option is chosen, then an “every” has been chosen.
If “0” option is chosen, then that is at “at the top of”
Perception Desktop – User Guide 35 v1.00 2013-12-18
For examples, see Table 1 overleaf:
Mins Hours Week
Days Would result in a download at
30 08 * 08:30 every day
0 * Mon On the hour, every hour on Mondays 0 0 Wed At 0:00 on every Wednesday
0 * * On the hour, every hour, every day of the week.
Table 1: Cron Examples
Next Scheduled Time: Time of the next scheduled download.
Auto-Export
When used in conjunction with Perception Server, the Auto-Export option
becomes available in the device properties. You can enable the auto export to occur at scheduled intervals. The Perception Server export table is empty by default which results in the default Perception export format. To define a custom CSV format, you must define the export table with appropriate mappings for the data using the Perception Server Configuration Tool. See exporting data on page 41. The data is automatically exported to the following location:
C:\Windows\ProgramData\GE_Energy\Perception
Note: Use the shortcut “%programdata%”to access C:\Windows\ProgramData.
When used in conjunction with Perception Server, e-mail notification options become available in the device properties.
Note: This is device specific, so if you need to be on the distribution email list for a number of devices, you should complete this field for all of the devices,
required individually.
Figure 33: Device Auto-Export
Figure 34: Device Email
Perception Desktop – User Guide 36 v1.00 2013-12-18
The Notification E-Mail Address defines the email address of the person who receives condition alerts or communication issue notification emails for that device. To add more than one e-mail address to the list, separate the
addresses with “;“. If on subsequent data downloads the condition of the device changes or Perception Server fails to communicate with the device, an automatic email is generated and sent to the recipients specified in this field.
The Expert E-mail Address (if enabled in Perception Server) defines the email address of the person who receives enhanced alarm notification emails. The e-mail is a comprehensive account of a transformer’s details so that any expert within or outside the organisation has all the necessary detail at hand.
This includes transformer nameplate details, triggered alarm information for High High, Low Low, Digital Alarms and ROC alarms. It also includes ambient temperature, top oil temperature and load currents information. A CSV attachment with data records for the device in alarm is also included.
Device Connection
The Device Connection section displays the state of automated downloads to the user.
Figure 35: Device Connection
State: Displays the current state of the connection to the device, E.g.:
o Connecting, o Connected, o Downloading…
o Disconnected.
Progress: A progress bar shows the overall progress of a download, if one is in progress.
Response: Textual error message showing the last communications error that has occurred. This may be from a previous communications session.
Last download time: Updated with the last download time.