Xantrex Technology manual Remote Operation XDL 35-5TP only, Remote/Local Operation

Remote Operation (XDL 35-5TP only)

The instrument can be remotely controlled via its RS232, USB or GPIB interfaces. When using RS232 it can either be the only instrument connected to the controller or it can be part of an addressable RS232 chain which permits up to 32 instruments to be addressed from one RS232 port.

The USB interface operates internally through the instrument's RS232 interface. USB remote control consequently operates exactly as described for single-instrument RS232 use but via the USB connector. The instrument operates at the maximum Baud rate (19200) in USB mode. The virtual COM port on the controlling computer, which is set up using the driver software supplied, must be set to the same Baud rate. Application software on the computer can then access the instrument as if it is connected via the RS232 connector. The USB port cannot, however, be used as part of an addressable RS232 chain.

Some of the following sections are general and apply to all modes (single instrument RS232, USB, addressable RS232 chain and GPIB); others are clearly only relevant to a particular interface or mode. It is only necessary to read the general sections plus those specific to the intended remote control mode.

Remote command format and the remote commands themselves are detailed in the Remote Commands chapter.

Control Bus, Instrument Address and Baud Rate Selection

For successful operation each instrument connected to a GPIB bus or addressable RS232 chain must be assigned a unique address. For addressable RS232 all instruments in the chain must be set to the same Baud rate.

To change the interface settings the CONTROL mode must first be set to 2 (i.e. Output 2 only selected).

Press SHIFT, Bus Type to display the currently selected bus type. To change to another bus type scroll through the available types using the rotary control until the required type is displayed. Press OK to select the displayed type or ESCAPE to retain the previous selection.

Press SHIFT, Addr/Baud to display the currently selected instrument bus address. If the currently selected bus type is RS232 then pressing Addr/Baud again displays the currently selected Baud rate and repeated presses alternate between the two. To change the address scroll through the available addresses using the rotary control when the address is displayed. The address can be set between 1 and 31 inclusive and the same address is used for both GPIB and addressable RS232; the address setting is ignored in USB mode. To change the Baud rate scroll through the available rates using the rotary control when the Baud rate is displayed. Press OK to select the last displayed address and Baud rate or ESCAPE to retain the previous selections. Note that RS232 must be selected before the Baud rate can be selected; the Baud rate is fixed at maximum (19200) for USB.

Remote/Local Operation

At power-on the instrument will be in the local state with the REM indicator off. In this state all keyboard operations are possible. When the instrument is addressed to listen and a command is received the remote state will be entered and REM will be turned on. In this state the keyboard is locked out and remote commands only will be processed. The instrument may be returned to the local state by pressing the LOCAL key; however, the effect of this action will only remain until the instrument is addressed again or receives another character from the interface, when the remote state will once again be entered.

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