CP0291 runtime & automation studio 3.0.90

Ask Questions B&R Software & Runtime
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1

Hello,

I am fairly new to programming BnR controllers. So I wanted to start a small project to familiarize myself with the environment.

Here is what my equipment consists of:

- x20XP0291 CPU mounted on the x20BB22 base

- x20PS9500 power card

- 2 input/output cards

I should mention that I am using Automation Studio 3.0.90 (a friend gave me a license to get started).

I am trying to transfer the runtime to my CPU, but I can’t seem to do it. Here are the steps I followed. I would like to know if they are correct.

I connected the PX9500 to my PC via a serial/USB adapter. I connected the TxD and RxD of the PS9500 to the RxD and TxD of a 9-pin COM port, which I then connected via an RS232 USB adapter (I have already used this adapter to program an Omron and it worked).

First, I created a new project and encountered my first error: I couldn’t automatically detect my CPU. I got around this by manually selecting the CPU from the Automation Studio list.

Then, when I go to Online > Transfer Automation Runtime, the procedure does not complete. Do I need to download an update for Automation Studio 3.0.90? If I understand correctly, I need the CP340_JO296 runtime for this CPU, is that right?

I also cannot connect when I go to Online > Settings > Serial.

I made sure to set the USB port to COM1 with the following device settings:

Bits per second: 9600

Data bit: 8

Parity: Even

Stop bits: 1

Flow control: none

I replicated this configuration in the Automation Studio settings (except for the data bit, which I don’t know what it corresponds to in the software).

I also made sure to set the CPU nodes to 0x00.

Have I done something wrong? Could you please give me some guidance? Is there a guide outlining the procedure to follow for this version of Automation Studio or this PLC?

Many thanks to those who take the time to read and respond to my message.

2

Hi,

you wrote X20XP0291, but this seems to be a typo :wink:
Which PLC you’re using, is it a X20CP0291 or a X20XC0291?

Independent of the PLC type, here’s some general information about the mode / node switches and serial connection.

Setting the CPU nodes to 0x00 activates the operating system bootloader.
That means, that only the functionality “transfer automation runtime” is possible, but for example the hardware online detection will not work in this bootraploader mode, also other online functionality is not available.

The default settings für serial interface on B&R PLCs are:
57600 Baud, 8 Databits, 1 Stoppbit, Parity Even
(normally, it’s not needed to set those parameters additionally in Windows, because those settings in the device manager are overwritten by software using the serial interface.)

So I would propose first:

  • in mode 0x00, please try again with the serial settings to start “transfer automation runtime”
  • or, set the mode to a setting which is not 0x00 and not 0xFF, and try to establish a online connection with the settings above to see if Automation Studio reports something that is not “offline” (normally, PLCs already have a operating system installed, so the bootstrap mode is only needed if no connection can be established at all - if a connection is possible also in normal mode, a operating system transfer is also possible without boot mode)

Here’s some more information to some of your questions:

  • The Operating System has to match with the PLC. The named CP340_J0296 is for a different PLC (a 3CP340), and cannot be used with a X20CP0291 PLC.
    I’m not 100% sure about the last runtime version available for X20CP0291, but it was something around 2.30 or so, maybe F2.33 or so I can’
  • using the legacy Automation Studio 3.0.90 should be ok for this kind of PLC, as it’s a legacy hardware. the last version of Automation Studio 3.0.90 was 3.0.90.37 UP19
    • at the moment, this version can still be downloaded at the B&R website, and can be operated without a lincense key (this was done in 2017 when AS 3.0.90 was discontinued, to still give some possiblities to maintain legacy / discontinoued hardware)

Best regards!

3

Thank you very much for your reply.

Yes, it is indeed an X20CP0291 (typo).

I tried what you suggested, but I wasn’t able to get it to work. I got a PC running Windows XP with a COM port to eliminate the USB adapter. When I try to identify the hardware or connect via AS, I get the error: “Unable to load hardware from target! Target not online or wrong state.”

I also tried transferring the runtime, but I get the error: “Operation failed.”

I think the connections are correct (TxD, RxD, and GND), so I don’t understand where the error could be coming from.

Best regards

4

Hi,

if you’re in boot mode (mode switch setting 0x00), it’s normal that you can’t identify the hardware because that does not work in boot mode. But transferring the operating system should work.

How does the serial cableing exactly looks like?
Have you connected a 9Pin Sub-D female connector to the pins of the X20PS9500 and plugged this female sub-d connector directly into the RS232 connector of the PC?
Or is there a additional cable in between, and if yes, which type of serial cable is it, direct (“straight through”) or null-modem (“RX - TX crossed”)?

I’m just asking to understand where exactly RX and TX are crossed (and if maybe accidently RX and TX are crossed twice, which happened to me somewhen in the past using the wrong cable in between).

Best regards!

5

Hi,

I first tried to identify it outside of boot mode, but when that didn’t work, I switched to boot mode to try to transfer the runtime, but that didn’t work either.

Here is the wiring I did:

PS9500 RX → 9-pin Sub-D TX

PS9500 TX → 9-pin Sub-D RX

PS9500 GND → 9-pin Sub-D pin 5

The 9-pin Sub-D connector is directly connected to the RS232 COM port on my PC.

I am running AS 3.0.90 SP14 and the only runtime available is version D2.33. Do I need to download an update for this CPU?

Best regards

6

Hi,

okay, cableing sounds good so far.
Honestly spoken, I’m running out of ideas what to try next.
If switching mode away from 0x00, for example 0x01, how do the LEDs on the PLC and on the PS9500 look like, which LEDs are on, which color, any LEDs blinking? (please wait some seconds after powering on, some blinking / flashing while booting is normal).

Additionally not in boot mode, you could try some “probing” for the serial parameters like described in this post:

I don’t think that an update is neccessary, runtime D2.33 should be fine.
But sure, you could try using AS 3.0.90.37 which was the last version and still can be downloaded from the B&R website:
https://www.br-automation.com/en/downloads/software/automation-studio/automation-studio-3090/automation-studio-v3090/

Best regards!

7

Thank you for all your help.

I finally managed to communicate by installing AS 3.0.90 SP19.