I own a 1756-L83E PLC along with a PowerFlex 755 VFD. While working on a project, I noticed that the VFD's clock status shows it as not synchronized to the master clock, leading to the date and time resetting when the drive is powered off. I am curious about how to sync the VFD to the PLC, but I haven't found an option to enable this feature. Currently, the only options I have are to set the date and time from the workstation or to change it manually. It's frustrating to see all my VFDs revert to the default date of 1970 after a power reset.
Lovell has noted that all of his Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) start performing a disco dance routine after a power reset in 1970. For more information on Unix time, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time.
To ensure that the PF755 maintains the correct date and time after a power cycle, it is necessary to add a CR1220 battery to the primary circuit board. This will help the device retain its settings and avoid any date/time discrepancies during power interruptions.
It's frustrating that even though the drive is connected via Ethernet, it's not possible to update data on the VFD's date/time tags or utilize tools like the Logix 5000 time sync.
In a disappointing turn of events, tonydmm2 expressed frustration over the inability to write data to VFD's date/time tags despite using an Ethernet drive. The Logix 5000 time sync tool should logically work for this purpose, but it seems ineffective. Fortunately, there is a solution available for this issue. You have the option to write the date/time by following Tech Note QA16340.
I recently observed that the PLC functions as the time master, but the drives are not synchronized with it. Which specific time master are they trying to sync with?
You're right, it can be extremely frustrating when the clock doesn't sync properly. For the 1756-L83E PLC and PowerFlex 755 VFD setup, there's no direct feature to automatically sync both clocks. However, an effective workaround for this is to use the PLC to write date and time to the VFD whenever it powers up. Establish an explicit message from the PLC to the VFD over your Ethernet network. You will need to write the current time and date from the PLC to registers in the VFD. This way, every time your system powers up, it will set the VFD to the same time as the PLC. It's not perfect, but it should help avoid having your VFD reset back to the 1970s each time.
The issue you're experiencing with the VFD clock reverting to 1970 after power resets does sound quite frustrating. Unfortunately, as far as I'm aware, there's no direct 'sync' option between PowerFlex 755 and PLC 1756-L83E. However, you might implement a workaround by writing a logic in your PLC to push the current time to your VFD. One possible tip is to utilize the PLC's internal clock and Ethernet/IP communication to update the VFD. You'll want to do this in a way that ensures the clock updates at either power up or at regular intervals, as needed. I hope this helps, and I'd be interested to hear if anyone else on this forum has better solutions!
It seems like you're stumped by a common issue with the PowerFlex drives. Typically, to sync the clock of the VFD with your PLC, you'd need to implement a time synchronization protocol such as SNTP, assuming that your 1756-L83E PLC supports it. However, to my knowledge, the PowerFlex 755 doesn't support such protocols. So you might have to resort to syncing the time manually whenever the drive is powered on, or perhaps consider writing some code that sends the current date and time from the PLC to the VFD when communication is established. It may not be the most elegant solution, but it could provide a valuable workaround for the issue you're experiencing.
It sounds like you're facing a common issue with syncing the VFD's clock to your PLC. Have you checked the communication settings between the PLC and the VFD? Sometimes, establishing proper communication over Ethernet/IP or ControlNet can help you utilize the time synchronization features available in both devices. Also, you might want to look into whether the PowerFlex 755 has a parameter for “NTP” or if it can receive time updates directly from the PLC. If all else fails, an external time server or using your workstation to set the time might be your best bet until you can find a more integrated solution. Good luck with your project!
It sounds like you're dealing with a common issue when integrating VFDs with PLCs. For the PowerFlex 755, you may want to check the communication settings between the PLC and the drive; make sure they're configured correctly for synchronization. Often, the synchronization feature isn’t explicitly labeled. Instead, it might be part of the control or communication setup. You could also try looking into the RSLogix 5000 configurations for any parameters that enable clock synchronization, or check the manual for specific instructions regarding network time synchronization. Additionally, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to Rockwell Automation support—they often have practical solutions for these connectivity quirks!
It sounds like you're running into a common issue when integrating a PLC with a VFD. To get your PowerFlex 755 VFD synchronized with the 1756-L83E PLC, you might want to look into using the ControlLogix programming environment to send a time sync command to the VFD. Some users have found success using the “Date/Time” parameter settings, but you’ll need to confirm that the necessary firmware is up to date. If your setup allows it, consider implementing an option to periodically send the current time from the PLC to the VFD to keep it in sync, especially after any power-offs. It can be frustrating, but once you get it sorted, it’ll definitely save you time on those manual resets!
It sounds like a bit of a hassle with the PowerFlex 755! To synchronize the VFD's clock with your PLC, you might want to check if there's an option to configure clock settings via Ethernet/IP or the drive's parameter settings. Sometimes, you may need to enable a specific parameter for time synchronization or use a function block in the PLC program to periodically send the date and time to the VFD. Also, make sure both devices are on the same network and can communicate properly. If all else fails, checking the latest firmware updates for either device might also resolve the issue, as newer firmware can offer improved features or fixes. Good luck!
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Answer: - To sync the clock of the PowerFlex 755 VFD with a PLC, you may need to use a synchronization feature or establish communication between the devices to update the date and time automatically.
Answer: - The clock status may show as not synchronized if the VFD is not configured to receive clock updates from the PLC or if there are communication issues between the devices.
Answer: - You can prevent the date and time from resetting on the VFD by ensuring that it is synchronized with the PLC's clock or by using a backup power source to maintain the clock settings during power cycles.
Answer: - Check the user manuals of both the PLC and VFD to see if there are specific settings or instructions on enabling automatic clock synchronization between the devices. You may also consider using a time sync protocol such as SNTP or NTP for accurate timekeeping.
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