Power panel 500 touchscreen dead can i use a mouse and keyboard

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1

Hello All,

I have an older power panel 500 with the 10.4 touchscreen. The touchscreen was damaged with a ball point pen. Some of it works but is difficult.

I want to know if it is possible to use a mouse with this unit?

I can install a driver if needed. There is no replacement readily available and my machine is down.

I look forward to hearing from someone, anyone

Thank you

Richard

2

If the panel is running Windows, it’s absolutely possible. If it is running just Automation Runtime with VC4, I don’t recall for sure, it might. I can’t recall if VC4 supports the mouse pointer is the issue.

If it is running Automation Runtime with VC4, it might also be possible to connect via VNC and you can use a mouse pointer in VNC for sure.

3

Thanks Matt,
It is only running automation studio (90% sure)
VNC?
Sorry for the ignorance but this is not my area of expertise. I am a customer of Vega and they used the pp500. They are unable to supply with same and upgrade is over 15k and 4 weeks out. I have not been happy with the support.
I am just trying to get a workaround to be able to run my machine and with the damage to the touchscreen it has not been possible.
I have found other pp500 for sale and I am investigating this option now for replacement. That does not help with the now.
What is VNC?
Do I have to have automation studio on the connected computer?
I thank you for your help.
Best Regards,
Richard

4

VNC is a protocol to transmit keyboard and mouse commands to a remote connection and receive screens back. Think remote desktop for windows. B&R PLC’s have supported for a while. But it is something that must be enabled in the application, it’s not enabled by default. You can download free clients from like RealVNC, TightVNC, UltraVNC, etc.

Automation Studio is the development environment for the software, Automation Runtime which runs on the B&R PLCs.

You would not need Automation Studio, but Vega would need to have it enabled in the software project/application on the PP500.

Automation Runtime doesn’t support a lot USB devices, outside of mass storage devices and keyboards. It might support mice. If you plug one in and then see a cursor, the mouse is supported. You won’t hurt the PLC by plugging in a USB mouse.

If the PLC you found online has the exact same model number, you may be able to use it. I would contact either Vega or your local B&R regional office.