1.1.6 Local Alarms
If a controller that supports the Omega Plus Protocol is in alarm, the A1 or A2 indicator on the controllerÕs Òfront panelÓ on the main display will appear to be lit (red), matching the behavior of the A1 and A2 indicators on the controller faceplate. The process value on the CN8-SW graphic display will also change color from magenta (normal) to red (alarm).
As a bonus, the CN8-SW supports Òlocal alarmsÓ. These two process alarms can be configured in CN8-SW for each controller on the network, including controllers that do not provide an alarm function of their own, and controllers that support the original Omega Protocol.2 If a controllerÕs PV exceeds (high alarm) or falls below (low alarm) the configured local alarm limit, the alarm indicators on the main graphic display will ÒlightÓ and the PV will change to red.
1.2Hardware and Software Requirements
1.2.1 CN8-SW Computer
The computer used to run the CN8-SW software must meet the following requirements:
∙486SX or better processor
∙1 MB of disk space for CN8-SW software (plus additional space for log files)
∙Windows 95 or Windows 98
∙Available COM (serial) port or RS-485 port. Communication between the PC and an RS-485 network can be accomplished using a COM port and an RS-232-to-RS-485 converter. Communication with a single controller using a COM port for an RS-232 link does not require a converter, but does require an adapter.
1.2.2Controllers
Any controller that uses the Omega Plus Protocol, and has an appropriate communication option card can communicate with the CN8-SW computer.
∙One-to-one communication with the CN8-SW computer requires an RS-232 or RS-485 card.
∙To be part of a multi-drop network, the controller must have an RS-485 option card installed.
2At the time of publication, the following controllers support the Omega Plus Protocol: Series CN8500 (1/16 DIN, 1/8 DIN and _ DIN). If you have a question about the protocol supported by a new model,
please call your Omega sales / service representative at: 1-800-826-6342 in the U.S.A. and Canada and (95) 800-TC-OMEGASMin Mexico and Latin America.
