Hello,
there is a problem with 4PP220.1505-75 Rev R0 year of manufacture approximately 2005-2006
it issues a error at startup VCBOOT.BR is missing
This panel has an Automation Runtime, without a bios.
According to my research, the problem is precisely in the software part of the panel, since I inserted a working project from another panel of the same type, and it did not start.
The equipment did not turn on for a long time (2-3 years), the battery may have run out (they installed a new one during the tests), they tried to reboot 10 times.
The manual does not contain information on updating the software part of the panel, only for the bios version.
I found this file in the Automation Studio V2.7.0.25 files VCBOOT.BR (BrAutomation\As27000en\As\VC\Firmware\V3.35.4\SG4) this is one of the files related to Visual Components SG4. But I do not know how to add it to the panel.
Please help, it is very necessary to restore the operation of the equipment.
Hi,
as the PP200 is a discontinued legacy hardware, I strongly recommend to contact your local B&R support / sales contact, if neccessary via the manufacturer of the machine, because it’ll be very hard to analyse the root cause without having access to the hardware itself.
From the error message, it could be possible that the PP200 was used as a so called Visual Components Remote Terminal. The only reason I personally know that “VCBOOT.BR is missing” error message was coming up was a too old OnBoard AR - but in your picture I can see that the Onoard AR 2.82 is used, which was the latest version. Additionally, if a too old OnBoard AR was the root cause, it would never have worked in past - so I can’t imagine that this is the reason.
So, the most important question is:
do you know if this PP is used as VC Remote Terminal, or is it used as full-featured PLC?
Because if it’s not used as VC Remote Terminal, I assume that the hardware is broken and the plugged CF card is not longer recognized by the hardware (and the “VCBOOT.BR missing” message is just a subsequent error thrown by the OnBoard AR because of the CF card was not recognized).
Best regards!
Yes, I know that PP worked as a full-featured PLC, there is a 2003 series and PP controls the machine via EX470 (CAN bus controller)
Do you think there is a chance that there is an OnBoard AR failure, and is it possible to update OnBoard AR to get a good result?
If i use Automation Studio Onboard AR Upgrade V2.5.2.exe
Hi,
the OnboardAR V2.82 is a Automation Runtime that is directly flashed into the hardware. This OnboardAR has very limited functionality, and does not run the PLC application at all. It’s only responsible for example to get the hardware up and running and to enable a few functions like transferring a operating system to a CF card - so it’s something similar to a BIOS, but technically it’s not a BIOS, and normally there’s no need to upgrade it / it can’t be upgraded to other versions available which aren’t OnBoard AR versions .
So upgrading the OnboardAR is a special topic, and it can’t be upgraded to a full-featured AR;
The full-featured Operating System (for example Q2.96), and all the PLC code is stored inside and running from the CF card inside the panel. That means, transferring a AR like Q2.96 will install it (and overwrite) the CF card in the PP…
.. .so as I know updating the OnBoard AR is not possible, as V2.82 was the last version availabe, and I don’t think it would change the behavior. As you tried a 2nd CF card from another machine, the boot behavior of the PP should be different if the CF was detected - even if the porject would not fit to 100%, I expected a message on the screen like “boot mode: service” or “boot mode: diagnosis”, but not the one from your picture.
For me, it really looks like that the PP does not detect the CF card and operates as if there is no CF card plugged in at all.
But, honestly spoken, it’s more then 15 years when I used this hardware, so maybe I’m wrong, I can’t swear…
Best regards!
