Control.com - Nerds in Control

There was a post last year from Bob regarding an upgrade to his G/T Mk V control system. One year on from that post I was wondering how has the <ITC> performed?

I am currently looking at possible replacements for 2 VERY old Texas PCs installed in 1992 with a Mk V (TMR) for our GE LM2500 G/T. The units 1 local and 1 remote (PCs) have never given any cause for concern or failures but the supply of ArcNet cards could become an issue, I know it's still possible to get spares but can only think this will dry up eventually, also the number of Technicians who are familiar with DOS is also becoming rare and this could also dry up as more and more Windows based systems or similar become available.

On this basis I consider now is the time to think about changes, and one of the options to be considered is the <ITC> SH.

We are based in the UK and I would be interested to hear comments from anyone with good or bad results also any alternatives used on a similar control system.

This site has proven to be very useful in Mk V information in the past and I'm sure will continue to be.

Many thanks in advance to all who take the time to contribute.

Sandy

Hi, Sandy

It is a surprise that actually I am looking at possible replacements for 4 old Texas PCs installed in 1995 with a Mk V TMR for our GE LM2500 GT.

My company decided to upgrade this control system.

Then we are togother face to the same problem.

Our machines are NUOVO PIGNONE equiped by LM2500 Gas Generator.
All the 4 PCs are at the control room just 100 m to the machnies.
No remote (PCs) at our station

I need your help, our only problem about the GT LM2500 is their vibration monitoring always indicates zero level.

I need if you can to tell me how your GG LM2500 is protected against vibration and it is configured.

If I will find any information useful for your case I will to send you all documents but not yet for the moments.

DAMENE Amar
NB : reply to my email : dameneamar@yahoo.fr

thanks in advance

We have an option of replacing the PC hardware as well as the ARCnet card with new Industrial Computers and Arcnet Card. Complete iDOS package will run as it is. PC Configuration is Pentium IV, 512 MB RAM, 80 BG HDD. We have supplied this solution to a couple of places and it is working well since the last year and a half.

Contact us at chetan at ssminfotech. com

Can you give more detailed information? How did you replace the IDOS package? Thanks in advance...

We have found hardware replacement with Industrial Computer and Arcnet Card. It is working fine. We also have alternative for Graphics portion of IDOS. We provide Wonderware SCADA for Graphics with more functionality then in iDOS, but we are not sure about other applications, i.e. Autocal, IO Config, DiagC, Runtime Rung Viewer, etc.

There is already a matured product in the market called TMOS, that can completely replace the I-DOS machine. It complies to all the I-DOS features including the programming and etc. Best of all, it is windows based with all the new features e.g. operator action logs, alarm and data historian. No need to waste time on development. On top of that it comes complete with an OPC server. Only need a few days to commission a full upgrade. The product is developed in Austria and it is quite popular in Europe and South East Asia. Let me know if you are interested. I can hook you up.

Rgds,
Rodman
rodman241 [at] yahoo.com

Its not an impossible task to build your own HMI system independent of any vendor. It takes working with your companies IS department, Eng group, and some outside vendors.

Get your cards from Contemporary Controls (The offer discount for bulk purchase), CC can also get you replacement Arc Net connectors, terminators (Usually 93 Ohm), and cable if you need it.

To make things easy put it on an XP platform, purchase the latest Cimplicity (Or move to Citect if you can get the screen developers) and TCI from Nuvo.

If you dont have screen development personal on staff source them out from a local vendor. I've had vendors tell me it can't be done but its doable if you have a few months development time. BTW a lot of the old boys in IT still know DOS you just have to pay more for an old boy usually.

Good luck

You can get HMI data direct from the MarkV via an OPC Server for MarkV (http://www.matrikonopc.com/opc-drivers/303/base-driver-details.aspx) and the aforementioned Contemporary Controls Arcnet interfaces(PCI20 or USB22).

Adriel Michaud
MatrikonOPC

Hello,

To replace IDOS, the difficult thing for us is to replace the function of the Logic Display and Forcing in XP.

How can I do this?

If it is too difficult for us, we will buy only that solution except for HMI.

How can I contact to Nuvo ?

Thanks.
email : yjdoo28@bnftech.com

Thanks everyone for your support, you're the best!!