Specifications

Sicon-8 Technical Manual CircuitWerkes, Inc.
48
About how the Sicon-8 handles alarms:
If an action alarm and a critical (dial-out) alarm occur simultaneously, the Sicon-8 will not attempt to automatically correct the action
alarm condition but instead will initiate the appropriate outbound call. The action alarm is simply saved to the stack in that case. If two
action alarms occur simultaneously, the Sicon-8 will attempt to correct the lowest numbered alarm first, then the higher number, if it still
exists. Also, if any alarm condition already exists, even if it has been previously acknowledged, while the Sicon-8 is attempting a
corrective action, it will stop or never start the action, but will not attempt to initiate a dial-out unless a new critical alarm occurs. Any
new alarm, either action or critical, is placed on the new stack for review at the next inbound call. If a condition triggers an alarm, then
returns to normal, followed by another failure, two alarms for the same channel will be registered. Each time a potential alarm
condition re-occurs, a new alarm event will be saved to the stack. If the additional alarm occurs after the previous alarm has dialed
out, then the “new” alarm will also trigger outbound dialing. If a critical alarm occurs while the Sicon-8 is dialing for a different critical
alarm, only the first alarm will call out. The additional alarm or alarms will be placed on the stack, but will not add their numbers to the
dialing queue.
Setup: Enter the alarm type 1-6 as follows:
1 = Metering low action alarm (does not call, but can activate a relay)
2 = Metering high action alarm (does not call, but can activate a relay)
3 = Metering low critical alarm (dials out & stops any automatic action of action alarms)
4 = Metering high critical alarm (dials out & stops any automatic action of action alarms)
5 = Status action alarm (does not call, but can activate a relay)
6 = Status critical alarm (dials out & stops any automatic action of action alarms)
For metering alarms 1-4 you must now enter the alarm limit value. Asterisk (*) set a decimal and a Pound (#) must be used to end
the value. The Sicon-8 speaks the value that you entered back to you. Press 1 to confirm or 0 to re-enter.
For Status input alarms (5-6) 0 = alarm is activated when the input is grounded. 1 = alarm is activated when the input is open.
Note: The channel polarity can be reversed in the firmware (using function 72 above) which also inverts the alarm.
For all action alarms you must specify a relay channel, raise (*) function or lower(#) function, and the desired duration of the contact
closure in seconds. You may enter fractions of a second by using the asterisk (*). End the time setup with the #. To de-activate
relay operation enter a zero (0) instead of a relay channel number. Action alarms are fixed in order of occurrence.
For all critical alarms, you specify the two digit telephone dialer memory location that contains the telephone number you wish to dial.
You may specify up to five dialing sequences. Enter a # when finished.
Example #1 – To set up a high metering action alarm on the current channel, the sequence might go like this:
You enter DTMF 73. Sicon beeps. You enter 2. Sicon beeps. You enter a number like 10*50# which corresponds to 10.5kW. The
Sicon-8 speaks the value that you entered back. Press 1 to confirm or 0 to re-enter. The Sicon-8 beeps. Enter 01 (the channel you
will activate, in this case channel 1). Enter # (the lower relay command). Enter 3*5 (for 3.5 seconds). The Sicon-8 confirms the time
value by speaking “3-point-5” back to you. Confirm by entering a 1 or re-enter the value by pushing a 0. If the meter detects a high
action alarm condition, the Sicon will now close channel one’s relay for 3.5 seconds. It will take a reading to see if the condition still
exists. If it does still exist, the Sicon will then try twice more to correct the problem. The full programming sequence for this example
is: 73,2,10*50#,1,01,3*5#,1.
Example #2 – Set the current channel’s status input as a critical alarm:
Enter DTMF 73. Sicon beeps. You enter 6. Sicon beeps. Enter 0 (this alarm will activate if its input is grounded). Sicon beeps.
Enter 01 (this assumes you want to use the telephone number that you have stored in memory 01. You can use 01 thru 20). Sicon
beeps twice indicating that you have successfully programmed the alarm. The complete programming sequence for this example is:
73,6,0, 01#. To add additional dialer numbers the sequence might be: 73,6,0, 01,02,03#. The alarm could also be activated when
ungrounded by entering a 1 after the 6 instead of a 0.
HINT:
When setting low limit alarms, be aware that a zero input to the Sicon-8 can result in readings that fluctuate slightly
above and even below zero, especially when the hardware has been calibrated for high powered outputs & especially where the
sample voltages are small like a 0-5V sample output. If you have your alarm set to trip at zero, the Sicon-8 may continually call
you due to repeatedly rising above the alarm threshold only to fluctuate back down again which sets a new alarm event each
time. For most users, we strongly suggest setting the alarms at some number reasonably above zero, but below any normal
operating level for your equipment. If you have a transmitter, or other equipment, that requires extreme fluctuations in output, it
may be necessary to send samples to two metering inputs, one calibrated for normal powers and one for very low power. The
low or off-the-air metering alarms can then be set using only the very low power meter. This should prevent most repeats.