User`s guide

4-4 Using the PCLTA-20 Adapter
Chapter 6 of the
LonBuilder User’s Guide
2
describes how to define and install nodes
in a development network using the LonBuilder Network Manager. A prerequisite to
creating application node target hardware and node specifications is to define the
channel that will be included in the network as defined under
Defining Channels
in
Chapter 10 of the
LonBuilder User's Guide
2
. Be sure to correctly set the minimum
clock rate field. If this field is set incorrectly, excessive collisions will occur. If a
channel includes nodes with a slower clock rate or less accurate clocks, the channel
definition must meet this lowest common denominator for optimal performance.
Additionally, if the priority configured for the PCLTA-20 adapter is different from
the default, then the
Number of Priority Slots
needs to be set correctly.
Create a hardware properties definition for a custom node to represent the
PCLTA-20-based node. Set the input clock rate to 10MHz and then create a
hardware definition for the custom node specifying these hardware properties. If an
incorrect clock rate is specified in the hardware properties, the PCLTA-20 adapter
may be rendered unusable and will need to be reset. This may occur, for example, if
the
default_hw_props
option is specified. To install the PCLTA-20 adapter in a
LonBuilder network using the service pin, open the network driver (for example, by
using the installed Control Panel) and use the command to send a service pin
message.
When installing the PCLTA-20-based node, the channel definition must match the
transceiver built into the PCLTA-20 adapter (model 74401, 74402, 74403, 74404) or
the SMX transceiver affixed to the adapter (model 74405). If the channel definition
and transceiver do not match, the PCLTA-20 adapter could lose its ability to
communicate on the network.
WARNING: DO NOT respond “Yes” to the prompt: Do you want to install
communications parameters? unless the channel and hardware definitions are
compatible with the transceiver and 10MHz input clock on the PCLTA-20 adapter.
Doing so may cause loss of communications with the adapter.
When defining the application image, the
App Image Origin
field should be set to
Interface File
. The
App Image Name
should be set to the name of an interface
file, created as described under
Binding to a Host Node
in chapter 3 of the
L
ON
W
ORKS
Host Application Programmer’s Guide
4
.
If the PCLTA-20 adapter is accidentally configured with the wrong communications
parameters, resetting the adapter will reload the correct parameters upon reset. The
adapter may be reset using the Reset command in the PCLTA-20 Control Panel’s
Diagnostics dialog box.
Installing with Other Network Tools
If the PCLTA-20 adapter is not used as an NSI, the PCLTA-20-based node can be installed on a
network with any L
ON
W
ORKS
network tool, e.g., older LonManager API-based tools. Consult
the network tool’s documentation for installation instructions.