FOUNDATION Fieldbus technology and the DeltaV System > Fieldbus device configuration procedures

Create a fieldbus device placeholder

Device description support files must be installed before you can add a device to the segment or create a device placeholder. The DeltaV system includes built-in support for a number of fieldbus devices from different device manufacturers. The files necessary to support these devices are included in the DeltaV install image and are available in the DeltaV Explorer library (DeltaV_System/Library/Fieldbus Devices). If a fieldbus device is not included in the DeltaV install image, you must install a set of device support files for that device. Many device files that have been tested with the DeltaV system are available from the main DeltaV website under Resources. If the device files that you require are not available on the website, contact the device manufacturer.

About device placeholders

A device placeholder is an electronic representation of a device that exists in the DeltaV database with no associated physical device. You can use a placeholder to configure block parameters offline and have your control strategy in place prior to attaching the device to the segment. When you are ready, you can attach the device to the segment and use the DeltaV system to reconcile any differences between the placeholder and the device when you commission the device.

Note

The use of placeholders is optional and depends on the size and requirements of your fieldbus application. However, it is recommended that you use placeholders for large applications. If you do not want to use placeholders, you can attach your devices directly to the segment.

  1. Click Start → DeltaV Engineering → DeltaV Explorer to open DeltaV Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the fieldbus ports. The ports are under the H1 fieldbus card. The card is under the I/O subsystem.
  3. Right-click the port to which you want to attach the device placeholder and select New Fieldbus Device. The Fieldbus Device Properties dialog opens.
  4. Enter the appropriate information about the device in the dialog. The DeltaV system selects an address. You can customize this field, but it is not necessary. Select the device type and revision based on the type of device you want to add. The device properties must match the properties of the device you will commission later. Remember that DeltaV Explorer has extensive online help. Click the Help button on this dialog for help on any of the fields.

    fieldbus devices often provide error detection for a variety of device conditions. Select the Alarms and Displays tab in the Fieldbus Device Properties dialog to enable Device Alarms to be reported by the device.

    Note

    The Alarms and Displays tab is only shown when supported by the DeltaV hardware. Device alerts are supported by Series 2 H1 cards.

    Each device can also be configured with a primary control display and faceplate. DeltaV software includes a standard device faceplate.

  5. Click OK to add the device placeholder to the segment. The device appears as a decommissioned device on the segment.
  6. When device alarms are enabled, alarms become visible in the right pane in DeltaV Explorer when you select the fieldbus Device Alarms icon for the device. Select an alarm and right-click Properties to enable or disable it or to change the alarm's priority.
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