Comfort  Automation/ Security System Forums Home
Home Search search Menu menu Not logged in - Login | Register

Dynalite Communications problem
 Moderated by: admin
 New Topic   Reply   Printer Friendly 
 Rate Topic 
AuthorPost
 Posted: Monday Oct 9th, 2006 07:43 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
1st Post
Scott James
Member


Joined: Tuesday Aug 8th, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 30
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hi,

 

I have a Comfort system with a Dynalite interface. It has been connected for a while and was working just fine. But now it is not? The only thing I can see that has changed is the version of comfigurator. Since a recent download it has stopped working.  I am now using V2.1.0

When I send a liner preset from Comfort, this is the response that Dynalite is receiving.

 

09 Oct 2006 at 15:31:52.091 03 -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms

09 Oct 2006 at 15:31:52.094 ff 00 65 00 00 ff 56 --   <-- 7 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms

09 Oct 2006 at 15:31:52.116 0d -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 21ms

 

Any Ideas, do you think it could be a new bug in Comfigurator. (some values seem to be out by 1) Ie area.

 

Regards,

 

Scott James



 Posted: Monday Oct 9th, 2006 03:37 pm
   PM  Quote  Reply 
2nd Post
garym999
Member


Joined: Saturday Aug 19th, 2006
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Posts: 214
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I have been using 2.1 with Dynalite just fine.

Is there any chance that the number of UCMs have been screwed in Configuration/Modules & Settings or Names/UCMs?

I ask because it looks as though you are not getting valid Dynalite messages. When properly constructed they should always be 8 bytes long.

In my configuration I actually have a UCM01 connected to a DNG232 as opposed to a dedicated Dynalite UCM. In Names/UCM I say that my UCM01 is a Dynalite module and then I get access to the Dynalite messages in the responses window. That way I can have 2-way comms if needed.

 



 Posted: Monday Oct 9th, 2006 10:22 pm
   PM  Quote  Reply 
3rd Post
Scott James
Member


Joined: Tuesday Aug 8th, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 30
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hmmmmmmm, interesting!!!

I have a spare UCM, I'll give that a try!

Thanks.



 Posted: Tuesday Oct 10th, 2006 04:07 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
4th Post
Ian Clarke
Member
 

Joined: Wednesday May 3rd, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 60
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hello,

are you saying that the DNG232 can accept Dynalite 8 bytes responses into its serial port, and also send ascii strings out the same port by using the task engine in the DNG232.   I was hopeing that this was possible but was informed by Dynalite that it was not.  Hense I though the DNG232 had two modes,( Configured by software). One allowed the high level ASCII commands, the other the 8 Byte dynalite commands,  but not both at the some time.

If what you say is possible, then useing th DNG232, will allow us to use the Comfigurator Response Wizard interface to Dynalyte to generate Dynalite commands, and allow allow the DNG232 to send ascii commands back to Comfort to run responses when the DNG232 detects a specific bit pattern on the dynalite side of the inteface.  If this is possible can you please send me some screen shots of how you have configured the DNG232.

Regards  Ian  Clarke 



 Posted: Tuesday Oct 10th, 2006 06:58 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
5th Post
garym999
Member


Joined: Saturday Aug 19th, 2006
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Posts: 214
Status: 
Offline

  back to top


The first reason for going with the DNG was that Dynalite over here were not happy having a non isolated device (UCM) connected to the Network. So the DNG provides that via opto isolation.

The limitations you mention may be there. In our application we have not implemented 2 way comms yet. But certainly Comfort is sending the DyNet commands direct to the network through the DNG.

In principle I do not see why it wouldn't work as all you are doing is using the task engine to send the text out and starting the task by detecting DyNet events which is all very normal. The task will first need to logon on to comfort and then send it's data such as lamp status or lux levels etc. I think the documentation is on here for that.

Perhaps Scott can do some testing on the bench? If I get some spare time when I'm next onsite with that client I'll take a look.



 Posted: Tuesday Oct 10th, 2006 07:23 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
6th Post
Ian Clarke
Member
 

Joined: Wednesday May 3rd, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 60
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hello Gary,

what you say does make sense, and I agree about the benefit of the isolation.  If  DNG323 can read dynet commands, then that task engine should be able to send out what ever it likes,  hopefully.  I have a dynalite DNG232 here as well and can test it.

If this works,  then we have a good two way solution.  

Thanks  Gary



 Posted: Tuesday Oct 10th, 2006 07:33 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
7th Post
garym999
Member


Joined: Saturday Aug 19th, 2006
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Posts: 214
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Oh and of course a few pennies can be saved by deploying a UCX01 instead as you will not need the comfigurator licence for this port.:D



 Posted: Tuesday Oct 10th, 2006 01:02 pm
   PM  Quote  Reply 
8th Post
slychiu
Administrator


Joined: Saturday Apr 29th, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 5493
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Ian
There is an application note for using the DNG232 on the website http://www.cytech-technology.com/manuals.html
This was announced on the forum some time back
http://www.comfortforums.com/forum39/168.html


I have moved this topic from Comfigurator to Lighting Interfaces where Dynalite issues are discussed. This will make it easier for other who search our content in future
A redirect wil be left in the other forum so if you are follwing an old link you will find the topic

Last edited on Friday Aug 3rd, 2007 05:00 am by slychiu



 Posted: Wednesday Oct 11th, 2006 12:20 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
9th Post
adlim
Member


Joined: Wednesday May 3rd, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 210
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hi,

I guess the question is more on the settings for the DNG232's operations. If the DNG232 is set to the DyNet mode, it will definitely accept the Dynalite 8 bytes commands. With a previous conversation with Ian, who did check it out with Dynalite, the DNG232 may not be able to send commands out via RS232 to Comfort in this case, i.e. the DNG232 only supports commands being sent from Comfort to Dynalite in this case.

On the other hand, if the DNG232 is changed to another mode which is bidirectional, the DNG232 does not accept the Dynalite 8 bytes commands, rather it accepts a series of text strings to be used as the command strings, i.e. the commands generated by Comfigurator (Dynalite 8 bytes commands) will not be recognised.

Is there another setting to be changed that would cater for both, i.e. sending out Dynalite 8 byte commands to the DNG232 and being able to send serial commands out via the DNG232?

Just to add on, the application note was written based on the assumption that the ascii text string had to be sent to Dynalite to the DNG232 instead of the 8 byte commands.

Regards



 Posted: Friday Oct 20th, 2006 01:42 pm
   PM  Quote  Reply 
10th Post
Ian Clarke
Member
 

Joined: Wednesday May 3rd, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 60
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hello Scott,

I tested the UCM/485 controlling Dyalite from a file generated with Comfigurator 2.1.0. No Problem, works as it is expected.   I have also worked out why the DLIGHT2 was telling you that you have a bad byte.

The problem is generated when Jumper G on SW8 ( RS485 AUX) is not shorted.  When this jumper is NOT shorted the automatic start of text character (03 Hex)  and end of text character (Carriage return OD Hex) that is generated by the UCM is  NOT disabled.  Thus the UCM wraps the Dynalite command with 03 and 0D characters. The dynalite dimmer handled this OK as the lights did exactly what they were supposed to do.  The reacted in exactly the same way independent of wether the Preset command came from the Dynalite switch or the Comfort UCM/485 Dynalite interface.

If looks like the DLIGHT2 software cannot handle these extra characters.

If I short jumper G on SW8 all looks OK on the DLIGHT2 monitor.

 

The following is an extract of the DLIGHT2 log file, showing the log with and without the jumper in place.

This explains what you are seeing in the DLIGHT2 monitor screen.  It does not explain why your commands are not working as my commands worked fine, even thought the DLIGHT2 software monitor could not read the commands being sent.

I think the UCM/485 Dynalite interface manual should be updated to give instructions to short jumper G on SW8 so that the diagnostic capability of the DLIGHT2 software will work. 

Hope this helps.

Regards  Ian Clarke 

Commenced Log Friday October 20 2006 at 10:50.05PM
Time now 22:50:05.242
Generated From Dynalite Switch
22:50:13.213 1c 02 01 00 00 00 ff e2  Area 2 Preset 1 (P1,B1) Fade= 0.02s
22:50:13.836 1c 02 01 01 00 00 ff e1  Area 2 Preset 2 (P2,B1) Fade= 0.02s
22:50:14.482 1c 02 01 02 00 00 ff e0  Area 2 Preset 3 (P3,B1) Fade= 0.02s
22:50:15.326 1c 02 01 03 00 00 ff df  Area 2 Preset 4 (P4,B1) Fade= 0.02s
Generated From UCM/485 interface - "With SW8 Jumper G Open
22:51:21.902 03 -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:21.908 ff 00 65 00 00 ff 7e --   <-- 7 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:21.930 0d -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 21ms
22:51:23.662 03 -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:23.668 ff 01 65 00 00 ff 7d --   <-- 7 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:23.689 0d -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 21ms
22:51:25.310 03 -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:25.317 ff 02 65 00 00 ff 7c --   <-- 7 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms
22:51:25.339 0d -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 21ms
22:51:26.816 03 -- -- -- -- -- -- --   <-- 1 Bad Bytes. Timed out after 0ms

Generated From UCM/485 interface - "With SW8 Jumper G Shorted"
22:53:04.463 1c 02 00 65 00 00 ff 7e  Area 2 Preset 1  Fade= 0.00s
22:53:06.287 1c 02 01 65 00 00 ff 7d  Area 2 Preset 2  Fade= 0.00s
22:53:07.992 1c 02 02 65 00 00 ff 7c  Area 2 Preset 3  Fade= 0.00s
22:53:10.146 1c 02 03 65 00 00 ff 7b  Area 2 Preset 4  Fade= 0.00s
22:53:12.411 1c 68 00 65 00 00 ff 18  Area 104 Preset 1  Fade= 0.00s
22:54:23.939 1c 02 00 65 00 00 ff 7e  Area 2 Preset 1  Fade= 0.00s


End of post.

 

Attachment: DLIGHT2_UCM485_logfile.txt (Downloaded 2 times)



 Posted: Saturday Oct 21st, 2006 10:59 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
11th Post
Scott James
Member


Joined: Tuesday Aug 8th, 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 30
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

When you have the jumper off, it looks exactly the same as the errors I was getting. Hmmmmmmm very interesting!!!!   It's time I do some more testing!!

Thanks for all your help Ian!!

Regards,

Scott James



 Posted: Thursday Dec 14th, 2006 10:00 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
12th Post
NickG
Member
 

Joined: Saturday Dec 9th, 2006
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 29
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hi

I have been setting up a link from Comfort to Dynalite for a customer and have tried both the UCM485 and a UCX/DNG232 approach.

Using the UCM485 it works fine but I'm getting the same error messages on the monitor so thanks for the info about the jumper on G, I note that this is mentioned in the DNG232 article on the Cytech site but not in the manual for the UCM485, so this needs amending.

Could not get the DNG232 approach to work at all, D12 was flashing on the the UCX but no message was being received on the network. Questions:
  1. Do you need a special RS232 cable, I notice that both 9 pin D's are female, do we need a cross over cable?
  2. Couldn't see any setting on the DNG that would change it's mode, but was under the impression it should receive the normal Dynet commands out of the box, no one was available in tech support at Dynalite Europe yesterday so wasn't able to check this and this is my first experience with a DNG232, so any pointers here would be helpful?
Thanks in advance

Nick



 Posted: Thursday Dec 14th, 2006 10:30 am
   PM  Quote  Reply 
13th Post
adlim
Member


Joined: Wednesday May 3rd, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 210
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hi NickG,

Seems like the command works whether the SW8-G is inserted or not, despite the error on the DNG232.

As for the 2 queries:

1) Yes you do.

2) This would need to be amended using the DLight2 software



 Current time is 02:39 pm
Top




UltraBB 1.172 Copyright © 2007-2014 Data 1 Systems