PA Series PowerStation User Guide 06692100

User Manual: PA Series

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Page Count: 76

Manual Overview and Support Services
Introducing the PA PowerStation
Installing the PA PowerStation
Maintaining and Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation
System Configuration Files
- System Configuration Files
  - CONFIG.SYS File
  - AUTOEXEC.BAT File

CTC Parker Automation Phone:513-831-2340

50 W. TechneCenter Drive, Milford, Ohio 45150 Technical Support: 513-248-1714

A3-06692-100

PA Series User Guide

publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval

system, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or

otherwise, without the prior written consent of CTC Parker Automation.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, CTC

Parker Automation and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the informa-

tion contained herein. All product and company names are trademarks of their

respective companies and licenses.

The following products are copyright their respective owners: Microsoft,

Microsoft Windows, Datalight ROM-DOS, SanDisk, SanDisk ImageMate, IBM,

Lantastic, and Gunk.

Product Warranty Information

CTC Parker Automation provides top quality products through rigid testing and the

highest quality control standards. However, should a problem occur with your

hardware or with the software protection key, CTC’s standard product warranty

covers these items for 15 months from the date of shipment from CTC. Exceptions

appear below:

• PowerStation backlight bulbs have a 90-day warranty.

• Third-party products, such as bus cards, carry the manufacturer’s specified

warranty.

• For all displays, image retention (burn-in) is not covered by warranty.

• Software revisions that occur within 60 days after purchase are available

under warranty upon request. Please review the Interact License Agree-

ment for additional software warranty information.

Should you have any questions about your application or need technical assistance,

please call CTC’s Product Technical Support department at 513-248-1714, 8:00

a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. You may call this same number after hours for

emergency assistance. See Customer Support Services on page 5 of this manual for

more information about CTC’s support products and services.

Table of Contents

PA PowerStation User Guide i

Chapter 1 Manual Overview and Support Services . . . . . . . 1

Using this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Documentation Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Software Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Installing the PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Downloading Applications and Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Documentation Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ISO Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Customer Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Product Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Technical Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chapter 2 Introducing the PA PowerStation. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Display Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PA05S 5" Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PA06S 6" Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PA08S & PA08T 8" Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

PA10T 10" Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Physical Specifications9

Environmental Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Electrical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Testing Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Faceplate Chemical Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Available Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Serial Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Table of Contents

ii PA PowerStation User Guide

Settings and Pinouts for COM1 and COM2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Transferring Files from a PC to the PA PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . .18

Connecting a Serial Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Connecting to a Serial Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Keyboard/Mouse Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Connecting a PS/2 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Ethernet Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

CompactFlash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Drive Definition and Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Memory Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Replacement Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

CompactFlash Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

SDRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Touchscreen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Backlight Bulb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Replaceable Fuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Optional Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

AC Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Chapter 3 Installing the PA PowerStation. . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Selecting a Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Class I, Division 2 Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Environmental Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Touchscreen Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Electrical Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Field Terminal Wiring Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Temperature Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Enclosure Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table of Contents

PA PowerStation User Guide iii

AC Power Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Preparing for Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Creating the Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Create a Cutout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Preparing a Location for the AC Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Installing the PA PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Mounting the PA PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting Up

the PA PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Chapter 4 Maintaining and Troubleshooting the PA

PowerStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Installing and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Electrostatic Discharge Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

BIOS Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Removing the CTC Splash Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Maintaining the Touchscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Cleaning the Touchscreen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Calibrating the Touchscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Using the MachineShop Shell Calibration Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Adjusting the Contrast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Adjusting the Contrast (For STN Units Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Using the Compact Flash Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Replacing the Compact Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Reinstalling the PowerStation Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Restoring a CompactFlash Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Writing to the CompactFlash Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Reformatting the CompactFlash Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Modifying the AUTOEXEC.BAT File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Table of Contents

iv PA PowerStation User Guide

Configuring the Ethernet Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Resolving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Resolving Problems when Starting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Resolving Problems with the Touchscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Resolving Problems after Start Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Replacing the SDRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

System Configuration Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

System Configuration Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

CONFIG.SYS File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

AUTOEXEC.BAT File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Chapter 1

Manual Overview and

Support Services

Thank you for purchasing a PA PowerStation. The PA

PowerStation is a rugged, compact PC that is designed to be used

as an industrial operator interface.

The PA PowerStation is available in five display configurations:

5", 6", 7.7", 8", and 10". It also has an all-in-one PC board with a

Serial port and an Ethernet port. The PA PowerStation’s PC

architecture allows you to run CTC’s MachineShop software.

Please take time to review this manual and the other

documentation included with the PA PowerStation before

operating the unit.

Chapter Contents

Using this Manual 2

Documentation Components 3

Software Components 3

Getting Started 3

Documentation Standards 4

Customer Support Services 5

Using this Manual Chapter 1: Manual Overview and Support Services

2PA PowerStation User Guide

Using this

Manual

This manual is designed to help you set up and use your PA

PowerStation. The manual lists the PowerStation’s specifications and

describes its replacement and optional components. It also explains

how to install the unit, how to maintain the unit in good condition, and

how to solve common problems that may occur in operation.

This manual is divided into the following chapters:

Chapter 1 — Manual Overview and Support Services: Presents an

overview of this manual, the other documentation and software

provided with the PA PowerStation, and the steps necessary to get

your PowerStation up and running. This chapter also describes CTC’s

customer support services.

Chapter 2 — Introducing the PA PowerStation: Describes the PA

PowerStation’s specifications and the ports available to connect the

PowerStation to other devices and to a power source. This chapter also

describes the PowerStation’s drive definitions and the unit’s

replacement and optional components.

Chapter 3 — Installing the PA PowerStation: Explains how to

install the PA PowerStation in a control enclosure and how to start up

the unit.

Chapter 4 — Maintaining and Troubleshooting the PA

PowerStation: Explains how to install replacement parts, how to

maintain the PA PowerStation, and how to solve problems that may

occur during operation.

Appendix A—System Configuration Files: This section includes a

complete listing of the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

PA PowerStation User Guide 3

Chapter 1: Manual Overview and Support Services Documentation Components

Documentation

Components

The PA PowerStation documentation set contains all the information

you need to configure, install, and use the PA PowerStation. The PA

PowerStation documentation set is described below.

Release Notes - This document is provided whenever there is

important information about the PA PowerStation that does not appear

in this manual. Be sure to read any available release notes before

installing or operating the unit.

PowerStation PA Series User Guide - This is the document you are

reading. It provides detailed information about the PA PowerStation

and describes how to configure, install, and use the unit. Please read

this manual in its entirety before operating the unit.

PA PowerStation Template - This document is a full-size template of

the PA PowerStation that you can use to prepare the location where you

want to install the unit.

Software

Components

CTC pre-loads each PA PowerStation with Datalight’s ROM-DOS

operating system, the MachineShop Shell, and necessary utilities so

that you can run the PowerStation immediately upon its arrival at your

facility. CTC also provides backup copies of PowerStation and

MachineShop software on the MachineShop Installation CD shipped

with the PowerStation.

Getting Started Now that you have opened the PA PowerStation package, you are

ready to unpack the unit, develop an application, and install the

PowerStation in a permanent location. This section provides an

overview of these activities. Additional information is available in the

remaining chapters of this manual.

Before You Begin Before you begin operating the PA PowerStation, please complete the

following steps:

1. Unpack the PowerStation, and verify that you have received all the

components you ordered.

2. Fill out the product registration card, and return it to CTC.

3. Backup the CTC software that was pre-installed on your unit using

the Windows File Manager/Explorer or the ROM-DOS Diskcopy

command.

Documentation Standards Chapter 1: Manual Overview and Support Services

4PA PowerStation User Guide

Installing the

PowerStation When you finish unpacking the PowerStation and developing an

application, you are ready to install the unit in a permanent location.

See Chapter 3 Installing the PA PowerStation on page 33 for

complete installation instructions.

Downloading

Applications and

Projects

The PA PowerStation is a runtime-only system, which means that you

must develop your applications and projects on a development PC and

download the application to the PowerStation.

Note Throughout this manual, all references to “development PC” or

“development system” refer to the computer you use to develop

applications.

See the documentation that came with your development software for

information about how to develop your applications or projects and

download them to the PowerStation.

Documentation

Standards

As you read this manual, you will notice that it uses the following

documentation standards:

1. Important terms are shown in bold.

2. Text to be entered from the keyboard is shown in Courier font.

3. Buttons, menu titles, and keyboard keys are shown in Initial Caps.

4. Indented paragraphs denote one of the following:

•Note - Describes alternative approaches or issues you should

be aware of while using a particular function.

•Important - Contains information that you need to pay

particular attention to while reading. Follow this information

to save development time and minimize problems.

•Warning - Contains information on safety issues. Follow this

information to prevent equipment damage or personal injury.

PA PowerStation User Guide 5

Chapter 1: Manual Overview and Support Services Customer Support Services

ISO Symbols This symbol is the International Standards Organization (ISO) symbol

for Caution (ISO 3864 No. B.3.1). This symbol denotes information

that could affect operation of the PowerStation if the information is not

properly followed.

This symbol is the ISO symbol for Caution—risk of electrical shock

(ISO 3864 No B.3.6). This symbol denotes information that could

cause personal injury from electrical shock or damage to equipment if

the information is not properly followed.

Customer

Support

Services

CTC welcomes your thoughts and suggestions on our products and

services. You can contact CTC by telephone, email, or fax. You can

also visit CTC on the World Wide Web to learn the latest about our

hardware, software, and customer support services.

• Telephone: 513-831-2340

• Fax: 513-831-5042

• E-mail: sales@ctcusa.com or support@ctcusa.com

• World Wide Web: http://www.ctcusa.com

CTC recognizes that every customer and every application has

different support needs, so CTC offers a variety of support services

designed to meet these needs. CTC offers two types of customer

support services:

• Product Technical Support

• Technical Training

Product Technical

Support The Product Technical Support department welcomes any question

that might arise as you develop or run your applications. We offer

complimentary support for all customers, including end users, original

equipment manufacturers (OEM), system integrators, or distributors.

If you have a question about the PA PowerStation, be sure to complete

the following steps:

1. Check any release notes shipped with the unit. These notes provide

important information about the PowerStation.

2. Consult the PowerStation documentation and other printed

materials included with the PowerStation.

Customer Support Services Chapter 1: Manual Overview and Support Services

6PA PowerStation User Guide

3. Review Chapter 4 of this manual, Maintaining and

Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation on page 39.

If you cannot find a solution using one of the above sources, contact

our Product Technical Support department at 513-248-1714, 8:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. You can call this same number after hours

for emergency assistance.

Technical Training CTC offers training on all of our products, either at CTC in our state-

of-the-art training facility, or at your site.

You can contact the Training Coordinator by telephone or e-mail:

• Telephone: 1-800-233-3329

• E-mail: training@ctcusa.com

You can view a current technical training schedule at our website,

http://www.ctcusa.com

Chapter 2

Introducing the PA

PowerStation

The PA PowerStation is designed to give you an operator interface

solution that is powerful, cost-effective, and very easy to use.

In this chapter, you will learn about the PA PowerStation’s

specifications, available connectors, and its drive definitions and

memory. The chapter also describes the PowerStation’s

replacement and optional components.

Chapter Contents

Specifications 8

Available Connectors 14

Drive Definition and Memory 24

Replacement Components 25

Optional Components 26

Specifications Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

8PA PowerStation User Guide

Specifications This section describes important specifications for the PA

PowerStation. Please familiarize yourself with these specifications

before operating the unit.

Display

Specifications Display specifications include the type of monitor, size, resolution,

and other display properties. These specifications are shown in the

following tables. There is one table for each display size: 5", 6", 8",

and 10".

PA05S 5" Color

PA06S 6" Color

Property Description

Type Passive Color STN

Display Diagonal

Size 4.7”

Resolution QVGA (320 x 240)

Brightness 160 NITS

Viewing Angle U/D = 20/30 deg

L/R = 50/50 deg

Bulb Life 54,000 hours

Adjustments External Rear Contrast

Table 2-1: 5" Color Display

Property Description

Type Passive Color STN

Display Diagonal

Size 5.7"

Resolution QVGA (320 x 240)

Brightness 350 NITS

Viewing Angle U/D = 20-35 deg

L/R = 50/50 deg

Bulb Life 75,000 hours

Adjustments External Rear Contrast

Table 2-2: 6" Color Display

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Specifications

PA PowerStation User Guide 9

PA08S & PA08T 8" Color

PA10T 10" Color

Physical

Specifications Physical specifications include the PowerStation’s CPU, memory

specifications, display types, storage capacity, and other physical

characteristics. These specifications are shown in Physical

Property PA08S Description PA08T Description

Type Passive Color STN Active Color TFT

Display Diago-

nal Size 7.7" 8.0"

Resolution VGA (640 x 480) VGA (640 x 480)

Brightness 120 NITS 285 NITS

Viewing Angle U/D = 30/50 deg

L/R = 50/50 deg

U/D = 65/55 deg

L/R = 65/65 deg

Bulb Life 40,000 hours 20,000 hours

Adjustments External Rear Contrast n/a

Table 2-3: 8" Color Display

Property Description

Type Active Color TFT

Display Diagonal

Size 10.4"

Resolution VGA (640 x 480)

Brightness 200 NITS

Viewing Angle U/D = 40/70 deg

L/R = 45/45 deg

Bulb Life 50,000 hours

Adjustments n/a

Table 2-4: 10" Color Display

Specifications Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

10 PA PowerStation User Guide

Specifications.

Environmental

Specifications Even though the PA PowerStation is built to withstand harsh

environments, limit the PowerStation’s exposure to adverse conditions

such as dust, oil, moisture, and corrosive vapors to minimize

maintenance and repair costs.

Category Specifications

Operating Sys-

tem Datalight ROM-DOS

CPU 200 MHz X86 instruction set compatible proces-

sor

Memory 32MB PC100/PC133 SDRAM

144 Pin SODIMM Socket

BIOS Award 256KB Flash

Storage 32MB CompactFlash, Type 2 Socket

I/O Ports • 2 9-pin serial ports (16550 compatible)

• 1 9-pin RS232

• 1 9-pin RS232/422/485 (configurable)

• 1 RJ45 Ethernet connector; Intel 82551ER 10/

100 Base-T controller

Dimensions

H x W x D For the 5” and 6”:

• 6.0”H x 7.4”W x 2.3”D

For the 8”:

• 7.6”H x 10.2”W x 2.2”D

For the 10”:

• 11.0”H x 13.8”W x 3.2”D

Weight For the 5” and 6”:

•2.1 lbs

For the 8”:

•4.1 lbs

For the 10”:

•8.4 lbs.

Keyboard 1 PS/2 miniDIN

Mouse 1 PS/2 miniDIN

Touchscreen Analog Resistive

Audible Piezoelectric Beeper

Table 2-5: Physical Specifications

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Specifications

PA PowerStation User Guide 11

Remember that the temperature within a protective enclosure is

generally higher than the external temperature. Thus, if the PA

PowerStation is operating inside an enclosure at temperature levels

above its rated ambient temperature, you must cool the enclosure.The

PowerStation conforms to the environmental specifications listed in

Environmental Specifications Chart.

Electrical

Specifications The PA PowerStation’s power supply automatically detects the input

voltage level and adjusts accordingly. However, always use reliable

sources of power, and isolate all communication cables from AC

power lines to enhance noise immunity.

If possible, locate the PA PowerStation away from machinery that

produces intense electrical noise (arc welders, etc.). Otherwise, isolate

the input power to the PowerStation from the equipment generating

electrical noise.

The PA PowerStation’s electrical specifications appear in Electrical

Category Specifications

Operating

Temperature 32 to 122oF (0 to 50oC) ambient

(air temp. outside of backshell)

Storage

Temperature -4 to 140oF (-20 to 60oC)

Relative Humidity 0% to 95% non-condensing

Shock Rating • 10g peak; 11ms (operating)

• 30g peak; 11ms (non-operat-

ing)

Operating Vibration • 5-500Hz: 1G RMS random

Faceplate

Design NEMA 4/4X Environment

Warning: The PowerStation is rated

NEMA 4 only if it is installed in a NEMA 4-

rated enclosure.

Table 2-6: Environmental Specifications Chart

Specifications Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

12 PA PowerStation User Guide

Specifications Chart.

Caution Do not apply AC power to the unit or damage may occur.

Testing

Specifications The PA PowerStation conforms to the testing specifications listed in

Testing Specifications Chart.

Category Specifications

Input voltage 12/24 VDC @ 18W

(Range: min 11 VDC, max 28 VDC)

Table 2-7: Electrical Specifications Chart

Test Specification

Showering arc NEMA showering arc

Surge withstanding capaci-

tance EN61000-4-5

ESD requirements EN61000-4-2

Operating temperature IEC 68-2-1

Electrical fast transient EN61000-4-4

Operating vibration IEC 68-2-6

Mechanical shock IEC 68-2-27

Random vibration MIL-STD-8100

Table 2-8: Testing Specifications Chart

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Specifications

PA PowerStation User Guide 13

Faceplate Chemical

Resistance The touchscreen of the PA PowerStation is resistant to the chemicals

listed in Chemical Resistance Chart.

Important Sustained exposure to brake fluid or Gunk® brand degreaser

can cause damage to monitor materials.

All PA PowerStation surfaces exposed outside your enclosure are

resistive to the following chemicals:

Touchscreen Chemical Resistance

Acetone Sulfuric Acid 10% Motor oil

MEK Hydrochloric Acid

10% Gasoline

Toluene Acetic Acid 10% Machine oil

Methylene Chlo-

ride Phosphoric Acid Salad oil

Isopropyl

Alcohol

Sodium Hydroxide

10% Silicone

Xylene Carbon Tetrachlo-

ride Silicone

grease G31

Hexane Potassium Hydrox-

ide Kerosene

Butyl Cellosolve Ammonia Water

10% Gas oil

Cyclohexanone Sodium Chloride

26% Silicone oil

Trichloroethylene Zinc Chloride 81% Engine oil

Ethanol Cottonseed Oil Cleanser

Methanol Glycerin

Nitric Acid 10% Grease

Table 2-9: Chemical Resistance Chart

• Commercial glass cleaners • Silicone based lubricant

• Motor oil • Alcohol (ethyl, methyl)

• Ammonia (10% dilute solu-

tion) • Automatic transmission

fluid

• Diesel fuel • Hydraulic fluid

• Gasoline (leaded, unlead-

ed)

Available Connectors Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

14 PA PowerStation User Guide

Available

Connectors

All PA PowerStations have two serial ports, two PS/2 keyboard/mouse

ports, an Ethernet port, and a Compact Flash connector. See the PA

PowerStation CD for dimensional drawings and a diagram to locate

the components.

Serial Ports The PA PowerStation has two serial ports that you can use to

communicate with external devices at baud rates of up to 115 Kbaud.

The COM1 port supports RS-232, while COM2 supports RS-232, RS-

422, and RS-485 communication standards.

The communication standard you select for COM2 depends upon the

distance between the PA PowerStation and the controller, as well as

the communication standards that the controller supports. Use a

standard DB9 connector for communicating with this port.

Note If you are using RS-232 communications, the length of the

serial cable should not exceed 50 feet (15 meters).

RS-422 and RS-485 communications offer greater noise immunity

than RS-232. These standards increase the maximum cable length to

4,000 feet (1,200 meters).

RS-422 communications are full-duplex (send and receive

simultaneously), while RS-485 communications are half-duplex (send

or receive).

For either configuration, be careful not to connect any wires to unused

connector pins. If you are using CTC’s MachineShop software,

information on the specific connection required for the Interact drivers

you will use is located in the Help file associated with the driver.

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Available Connectors

PA PowerStation User Guide 15

Settings and Pinouts for COM1 and COM2

If you need to make a cable for communicating with COM1, COM1

Pinouts shows the pinouts and signal information for this port.

Pin# Signal

1 DCD, data carrier detect

2 RXD, received data

3 TXD, transmitted data

4 DTR, data terminal ready

5 Signal ground

6DSR

7 RTS, request to send

8 CTS, clear to send

9RI

Table 2-10: COM1 Pinouts

Available Connectors Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

16 PA PowerStation User Guide

If you need to make a cable for communicating with COM2, COM2

Pinouts shows the pinouts and signal information for this port.

If you need to make a cable for communicating with COM2, you may

need to set the DIP switch settings.

COM2 is set to the RS-485 protocol by default. To change COM2 to

the RS-232 or RS-422 protocol, you must change the COM2 DIP

switch settings.

The DIP switch for COM2 is located on the side of the PA

Pin# RS-232

Signal RS-422

Signal RS-485

Signal

1 DCD, data

carrier detect TXD-, trans-

mitted data - TXD-, trans-

mitted data -

2RXD, re-

ceived data TXD+, trans-

mitted data + TXD+, trans-

mitted data +

3 TXD, trans-

mitted data RXD+, re-

ceived data

RXD+, re-

ceived data

4 DTR, data

terminal

ready

RXD-, re-

ceived data - RXD-, re-

ceived data -

5Signal

ground Signal

ground

6 DSR, data

set ready DSR, data

set ready

7RTS, re-

quest to

send

RTS, re-

quest to

send

RTS, re-

quest to

send

8 CTS, clear to

send CTS, clear to

send

9RIRIRI

Table 2-11: COM2 Pinouts

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Available Connectors

PA PowerStation User Guide 17

PowerStation Unit, as shown in Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1COM2 Dip Switch Cutout and Settings

Figure 3-2 displays the settings for the COM2 port. A similar diagram

is located on the side of the PA PowerStation next to the DIP switch

cutout.

Figure 3-2Dip Switch Settings

To change the DIP switch settings, complete the following steps:

1. Choose the appropriate DIP switch settings from the diagram

displayed on the back of the PA PowerStation or from Figure 3-2.

2. Using a pointed instrument such as a pen or pencil, flip the

Dip SwitchesDip Switch Settings

Switch SW1 Switch SW3

• The gray boxes represent the tip of the switch.

• The upper half of the switch is the on position, and

the lower half of the switch is the off position.

Available Connectors Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

18 PA PowerStation User Guide

switches to the appropriate settings through the viewing window.

Figure 3-3 displays the pinouts and cable settings required for

communicating with COM1 or COM2 using the RS-232, RS-422 or

the RS-485 protocol.

Important Be careful not to connect any wires to unused connector pins.

Transferring Files from a PC to the PA PowerStation

You can transfer files from a PC to the PA PowerStation in one of three

ways—through the Ethernet, the Compact Flash, or a Serial Transfer.

If you plan to use a Serial Transfer, you will need a null modem cable.

To construct your own cables, refer to Figure 3-4 for the appropriate

settings. Then continue with step 1 below:

Figure 3-4Serial Transfer Cable Diagram

RS-232 RS-422 RS-485

Figure 3-3Pinouts and Cable Settings

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Available Connectors

PA PowerStation User Guide 19

1. Connect a null modem serial cable to an available serial port on

the IBM-PC.

2. Connect the other end of the cable to the serial port on the PA

PowerStation.

Connecting a Serial Mouse

If you need to connect a serial mouse to the serial port on the PA

PowerStation, you must check the settings to ensure that a COM port

is not already configured as a Download only port. If the COM port

that you want to use for the mouse is already assigned for Download,

complete the following steps:

1. Select Settings from the MachineShop Shell Main Menu.

2. Select Direct Serial from the Settings menu.

3. Select Port.

4. Select the COM port that you want to use as the Download port.

Or, you can select Disable to prevent any COM port from being

used as a COM port.

5. If the Serial Mouse is not already connected to the PA

PowerStation, connect it now.

6. Reboot the workstation.

Available Connectors Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

20 PA PowerStation User Guide

Connecting to a Serial Printer

When connecting a serial printer to the PA PowerStation, you will

need to prepare the serial port for the printer. First you will need to

adjust the mode settings to the settings on the printer. See To Adjust the

Mode Settingsbelow.

If you plan to print to a serial port that was configured for

downloading, you will need to reconfigure the serial port. See To Print

to a Port Configured for Downloading on page 21.

To Adjust the Mode Settings

To connect a serial printer to the PA PowerStation, you must change

the mode settings for one of the serial ports to match those of your

printer. The easiest way to change these settings is to use

MODE.COM. MODE.COM can modify the following options:

baud: 110, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600

parity: N - none, O - odd, E - even

databits: either 7 or 8

stopbits: either 1 or 2

CTC includes MODE.COM on the PA PowerStation’s Compact Flash

card and the ROM-DOS installation CD shipped with your

PowerStation.

Figure 3-5 illustrates the appropriate settings for the PA PowerStation

COM Port and the Serial Printer Connector with hardware

handshaking and without hardware handshaking.

Figure 3-5Serial Printer Cable Diagram

Use Figure 3-5 as a reference when connecting a serial printer to the

PA PowerStation. Then complete the following steps:

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Available Connectors

PA PowerStation User Guide 21

1. From the Windows desktop, open the Startup directory within

Interact project:

C:\Machshop\Projects\Interact\*Project Name*\Startup\

Important Be sure to replace the pound sign with the appropriate port

number when completing the next step.

2. Within the Startup folder, create a new AUTOEXEC.BAT file

with the following line.

MODE COM#:baud,parity,databits,stopbits

Example If you are communicating at 9600, NONE, 8, and 1, use:

MODE COM1: 9600,N,8,1

3. Launch the MachineShop Toolbar.

Note When you download the project containing

AUTOEXEC.BAT and MODE.COM from your

development system to the PowerStation, MachineShop

transfers the AUTOEXEC.BAT file you created in step 2 and

MODE.COM into the \STARTUP directory specified by the

INTERACT_STARTUP environment variable. This

environment variable resides in the PowerStation’s

AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

4. Download the project.

Note When MachineShop finishes the download, a prompt will

display asking whether you want to restart the computer.

When you restart, MODE.COM will configure the COM port to

the required baud rate.

5. Restart the PowerStation.

To Print to a Port Configured for Downloading

If you plan to print to a port that is configured for downloading, you

will need to reconfigure the port before you can print to it. To

reconfigure the port, complete the following steps:

1. Disable downloading for that port.

Available Connectors Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

22 PA PowerStation User Guide

2. Restart the PA PowerStation.

Note Restarting the PowerStation allows MODE.COM to reset the

communication settings for that port.

3. Select Settings from the Main Menu.

4. Choose TCP/IP from the selections displayed.

5. Select Net Setup from the menu.

Important The configuration may already be set to Download Only. If not,

continue with step 6. Otherwise, skip to step 8.

6. Depending on how your PA PowerStation is configured, select the

appropriate Net (Net 1, Net 2, or Net 3).

7. Choose Download Only from the options displayed.

8. Continue to Back out until you reach a prompt that indicates the

TCP/IP configuration has changed and asks whether you want to

Reboot.

9. Choose Yes to reboot the PA PowerStation. This will save your

changes.

Keyboard/Mouse

Port The PA PowerStation’s CPU board includes a keyboard port that

accepts any IBM AT-compatible keyboard, including 84-key standard

keyboards and 101-key enhanced keyboards.

Connecting a PS/2 Mouse

If you prefer to use a mouse instead of the touchscreen, CTC

recommends that you only use a Microsoft PS/2-style mouse,

specifically an 802.3 Microsoft-compatible mouse.

CTC has found that some Microsoft-compatible PS/2 mice do not

work correctly with the PA PowerStation. In addition, connecting any

mouse directly to the keyboard port will cause the mouse to

malfunction.

Ethernet Port The PA PowerStation has an Ethernet RJ45 port with an Intel

82551ER 10/100 Mbps base-T controller that allows you to connect

the PowerStation to a Local Area Network.

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Available Connectors

PA PowerStation User Guide 23

See Ethernet Pinouts.

CompactFlash The PA PowerStation comes with a Compact Flash (CF) card. The CF

is used as a removable hard drive that is recognized as drive C and

provides non-volatile memory storage. A CF is frequently used to

supplement or replace a hard drive because of its durability. The CF is

well-suited for rugged environments where the PowerStation may

vibrate or shake. Although the CF is removable, it is used as an IDE

drive, which means you cannot remove it while the PowerStation is

switched on.

CTC recommends that you purchase at least one additional CF card to

serve as a backup for your primary CF card. You may decide to own

several cards to store different projects. You can purchase additional

CF cards through CTC.

Caution Do not remove or insert the CF card when the unit is powered

on or data on the card could be corrupted.

Pin# Signal

1TX+

2TX-

3RX+

4N/C

5N/C

6RX-

7N/C

8N/C

Table 2-12: Ethernet Pinouts

Drive Definition and Memory Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

24 PA PowerStation User Guide

Drive Definition

and Memory

The PA PowerStation has one drive, C, which is a Compact Flash Card

(Read/Write) of size 32MB. This drive is the system start drive and

Project disk. It stores the project, system files, MachineShop, and

applications. Download files to this drive.

Memory Guidelines If you are using MachineShop to develop your HMI applications, refer

to these memory guidelines when you develop projects. There are two

memory storage types, System SDRAM and Compact Flash. The

capacity and use of the System SDRAM is 32MB.

The capacity and use of the Compact Flash is 32MB flash memory. Of

this 8MB can store APM, PTM, and AMM, as well as four additional

runtime models, two drivers, and approximately 30 screens. Extra

modules require more storage (four modules/MB).

Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation Replacement Components

PA PowerStation User Guide 25

Replacement

Components

The PA PowerStation is designed to be a simple yet reliable unit to

maintain. However, if you need to purchase replacement components

for the PowerStation, CTC carries a complete line of replacement

components.

CompactFlash Card If you need additional storage capacity for the PA PowerStation, you

can purchase additional Compact Flash cards from CTC. CTC

recommends that you purchase at least one additional flash card to

serve as a backup for your primary CF. See Using the Compact Flash

Card on page 47 for instructions on how to replace and reformat CF

cards.

SDRAM If you need to upgrade or replace the PA PowerStation’s SDRAM,

CTC carries replacement SDRAM (SODIMM). The PA PowerStation

comes with a 32MB 144-pin SODIMM for SDRAM, but you can

replace that module with a 64MB or 128MB 144-pin SDRAM for

greater capacity. To replace the SDRAM, see Replacing the SDRAM

on page 61.

Note 16M of the SDRAM is used for video memory. The amount of

memory reported is the size of the SDRAM minus 16M. For

example, if you have 32M of SDRAM, only 16M is reported.

Both PC100 and PC133 speeds are supported. A jumper must be set to

match the speed of the version that you purchased.

Touchscreen Occasionally, you may find that you need to replace the PA

PowerStation’s touchscreen, depending upon the environment in

which you are operating the PowerStation. Replacement kits for the

10" model are available through CTC. The 10" model is the only

model that has a field-replaceable Touchscreen kit. See Customer

Support Services on page 5 to order the kit.

Backlight Bulb You may replace the backlight bulb on the 7.7" and 10" PA

PowerStation monitors. You cannot replace the backlight bulb on the

5", 6", and 8" monitors.

You can also send the PowerStation to CTC’s repair center. See

Customer Support Services on page 5.

Replaceable Fuse The PA PowerStation has a protective fuse that can be replaced by

qualified personnel. See Replacing the Fuse on page 41 for complete

instructions.

Optional Components Chapter 2: Introducing the PA PowerStation

26 PA PowerStation User Guide

Optional

Components

CTC has an optional component that you may want to purchase for the

PA PowerStation—an AC Power Supply.

AC Power Supply The PA PowerStation uses DC power to save space and limit the

amount of heat generated by the unit. However, if you require the

PowerStation to use AC power, you can purchase an AC Power Supply

kit that includes an AC Power Supply and a power cord.

You can also purchase mounting brackets for the Power Supply. See

Preparing a Location for the AC Power Supply on page 32 for

instructions on how to mount the AC Power Supply.

Caution Do not apply AC power to the unit or damage could occur.

Chapter 3

Installing the PA

PowerStation

You are now ready to install the PA PowerStation in a permanent

location. This chapter will help you select an appropriate location

for the unit. It also provides instructions for creating a cutout for

the unit, and describes how to install and start up the unit.

Chapter Contents

Selecting a Location 28

Preparing for Installation 31

Installing the PA PowerStation 33

Starting Up the PA PowerStation 37

Selecting a Location Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

28 PA PowerStation User Guide

Selecting a

Location

The first step when installing the PA PowerStation is to select an

appropriate location for the unit. This is the most important aspect of

the installation process because the location you select can affect the

PowerStation’s performance, ease-of-use, and life-expectancy. This

section provides some guidelines that you should follow when

selecting a location for the PowerStation.

Class I, Division 2

Guidelines If you purchased a Class I, Division 2-compliant PA PowerStation,

you must always follow these guidelines to maintain a safe operating

environment:

1. Suitable for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, and D

hazardous locations only.

2. Warning: Explosion Hazard—DO NOT connect or disconnect

cables while power is applied unless area is known to be

nonhazardous. Keyboard and Mouse Ports are for system set-up

and diagnostics and are NOT intended for permanent connection.

3. Warning: Explosion Hazard—CLASS 1 DIV 2 approval

requires Power Switch restraints in hazardous environments.

Nonincendive for CLASS 1, GROUPS A, B, C, and D hazardous

locations. Temperature code: T5.

4. Make sure that the PA PowerStation’s on/off switch is secured in

the on position using the supplied bracket.

5. When performing field wiring, always use copper wire with 60C

or 60/75C insulation and a tightening torque of 7.0 lb./in. (0.79 N-

m).

Environmental

Guidelines The environment is the area where the PA PowerStation will be

located. In general, you should select a place that limits the unit’s

exposure to adverse conditions such as dust, oil, moisture, and

corrosive vapors.

Touchscreen Considerations

The PA PowerStation’s touchscreen is designed to meet the NEMA 4

rating. You should mount the PowerStation in an enclosure that

supports this rating in order to provide further protection.

The PA PowerStation’s touchscreen is resistant to a variety of

chemicals. See Faceplate Chemical Resistance on page 13 for a list of

these chemicals. Make sure that the touchscreen is not exposed to

Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation Selecting a Location

PA PowerStation User Guide 29

chemicals other than those listed in Faceplate Chemical Resistance on

page 13.

Electrical Guidelines To minimize unwanted electrical interference, select a location away

from machinery that produces intense electrical noise. If you cannot

do this, isolate input power to the unit and separate all data

communication cables used with the unit from AC power lines.

See Electrical Specifications on page 11 for a list of the PA

PowerStation’s electrical specifications. Make sure that your power

source is compatible with the PowerStation before starting the unit.

Field Terminal Wiring Requirements

In order to comply with UL 508 and 1604 requirements, use copper

wire with 60C or 60/75C insulation and a tightening torque of 7.0 lb/

in. (0.79 N-m) when connecting field terminal wiring to the

PowerStation.

Temperature

Guidelines You can safely operate the PA PowerStation within the temperature

range specified in Environmental Specifications on page 10. However,

if you are using a protective enclosure, remember that the temperature

within an enclosure is generally higher than the external temperature.

If the PowerStation is operating inside an enclosure at temperature

levels above its rated ambient temperature, you must cool the

enclosure.

Enclosure

Guidelines Select an enclosure that is large enough to allow free airflow in and

around the unit. You should allow a minimum of 2 inches between the

enclosure and the top, bottom, and sides of the PA PowerStation.

Also, make sure that the surface of the enclosure on which the PA

PowerStation is mounted is flat and free of raised or depressed areas.

AC Power

Guidelines You will need to read the AC Power Guidelines only if you intend to

operate the PA PowerStation using AC power. If you intend to operate

the PowerStation using DC power, skip to Preparing for Installation

on page 31.

The PA PowerStation ordinarily uses DC power. However, you can

operate the PowerStation with AC power by using an optional AC

Power Supply available from CTC. If you purchased the optional AC

Power Supply, you must select a location that provides protection

from dust, oil, moisture, and corrosive vapors. If your enclosure is

Selecting a Location Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

30 PA PowerStation User Guide

large enough, you can mount the Power Supply in the enclosure with

the unit.

Caution Do not apply AC power to the unit or damage may occur.

Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation Preparing for Installation

PA PowerStation User Guide 31

Preparing for

Installation

Once you select a location for the PA PowerStation, you will need to

create a cutout for the unit.

If you plan to operate the PA PowerStation using AC power, and you

purchased CTC’s optional AC Power Supply, you will need to prepare

a location for the Power Supply also.

Procedures for creating the cutout and preparing a location for the AC

Power Supply are described below. If you already have an appropriate

cutout and are using DC power, continue with Installing the PA

PowerStation on page 33.

Creating the Cutout The PA PowerStation comes with a template that is designed to

simplify the task of creating a cutout for the unit. Be sure to follow the

cutout dimensions on the template precisely so that the PowerStation

will properly seal in its enclosure.

Create a Cutout

To create the cutout, complete the following steps:

1. Attach the template securely to the mounting surface.

2. Cut out the shaded area on the template referred to as the "Panel

Cutout Area." To maintain the flatness of the mounting surface,

CTC recommends that if you punch out the mounting hole, you

should maintain proper surface flatness and edge quality.

The cutout dimensions for the PA PowerStation are shown in the

following table:

3. Debur the edges of the cutout area, removing dirt and debris that

might come in contact with the unit.

4. More information is available on the CD that comes with the PA

PowerStation. Be sure to refer to the dimensional drawings found

on the CD when creating your cutout.

PA Model Cutout Height Cutout Width

PA05S

PA06S

4.91" 6.20"

PA08S

PA08T

6.08" 8.67"

PA10T 9.86" 12.60"

Preparing for Installation Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

32 PA PowerStation User Guide

Preparing a Location

for the AC Power

Supply

You will need to read Preparing a Location for the AC Power Supply

only if you intend to operate the PA PowerStation using AC power. If

you plan to use DC power, proceed to Installing the PA PowerStation

on page 33.

If you plan to operate the PA PowerStation with AC power, and you

purchased CTC’s optional AC Power Supply and the mounting kit, use

the template that came with the mounting kit to prepare a location for

the power supply. You can prepare a location for the power supply

inside or outside the enclosure where the PowerStation is installed.

Note If you decide to mount the Power Supply in an enclosure, mount

it on the bottom or the side of the enclosure to provide the best

convection cooling.

Prepare the Power Supply Mounting Surface

To prepare the mounting surface, complete the following steps:

1. Securely attach the template to the mounting surface.

2. Drill and debur four 0.17” (4.3mm) holes.

Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation Installing the PA PowerStation

PA PowerStation User Guide 33

Installing the PA

PowerStation

Once you prepared the location for the PA PowerStation, you can

install the unit. Installation will involve mounting the PowerStation

and if you are using CTC’s optional AC Power Supply, mounting the

power supply. Both procedures are described below.

Mounting the PA

PowerStation The PA PowerStation is designed to be mounted using 4 - 6 screws.

These screws are secured to the unit with metal clips. For your

convenience, CTC includes all necessary mounting hardware with the

unit.

Mount the PowerStation

Note Necessary mounting clamps and screws are shipped with your

system.

To mount the unit, complete the following steps:

1. Prepare the power source for the unit by sliding the positive and

negative wires into the appropriate slots on the power connector.

See Figure 3-6.

Figure 3-6 Power Connector and Positive/Negative wires

2. Connect the ground cable from the power connector to an earth

ground.

3. Gently insert the PA PowerStation into the cutout from the front.

4. Attach the 4-6 mounting clamps, with their screws, to the back of

the unit in the spaces provided.

Note The number of clamps depends on the model. The shape of the

prongs at the bottom of each clamp also depends on the model.

The 5", 6", and 8" models use a T-shape clamp, and the 10"

models use an L-shape clamp.

Ground wire

Negative wire

Positive wire

Power

connector

Installing the PA PowerStation Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

34 PA PowerStation User Guide

Clamp shape and location on the 5" and 6" units:

Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation Installing the PA PowerStation

PA PowerStation User Guide 35

Clamp shape and location on the 10" units:

5. Insert the slamps into the larger portion of the slots, and then slide

them toward the outside of the unit.

6. Tighten each of the mounting screws against the front of the

enclosure using a torque of 6 lb/in for 5" and 6" units. Use 7 lb/in

for the 8" units.

Important Tighten the nuts in a crosswise sequence to ensure a good seal

and to prevent damage to the unit.

Installing the PA PowerStation Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

36 PA PowerStation User Guide

7. Attach the power connector that you prepared in steps 1 and 2 to

the back of the unit.

Caution Over-tightening the screw/clamp assemblies may damage the

PA PowerStation. Under-tightening may not guarantee a

NEMA 4 seal.

Note Tightening the screw/clamp assemblies may not insure that the

gasket seal is totally depressed by the bezel. It may be possible

to see a small edge of the gasket between the bezel and the

enclosure.

Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation Starting Up the PA PowerStation

PA PowerStation User Guide 37

Starting Up

the PA

PowerStation

Once the PA PowerStation has been mounted, you are ready to start up

the unit. This procedure is described below.

Before connecting a power cord to your unit, make sure that you have

read and understood Environmental Specifications on page 10 and the

Testing Specifications on page 12 of this manual. Also, be sure to

follow the guidelines listed below:

•For permanently connected equipment, incorporate a readily

accessible disconnect device in the fixed wiring.

Important Proper installation of this PowerStation model for use in

European Union countries requires the use of a harmonized

power cord (the power cord must be identified with the <HAR>

symbol). Make sure that the PowerStation is connected to the

main supply only with a harmonized power cord.

1. Ensure the power on/off switch is in the off position.

2. Connect the power cord to your voltage source. Voltage input to

the unit should be within the range specified in the Environmental

Specifications on page 10.

Note Be sure to make DC connections.

3. Connect the power cord plug to the PA PowerStation.

4. Turn the PA PowerStation on.

The PowerStation will automatically load the MachineShop Shell

or an Interact application, if the Shell is configured to start

Interact automatically.

You are now ready to download a project to the PA PowerStation. If

you’re using MachineShop software, refer to the MachineShop

Getting Started Guide for information about downloading projects.

Starting Up the PA PowerStation Chapter 3: Installing the PA PowerStation

38 PA PowerStation User Guide

Chapter 4

Maintaining and

Troubleshooting the PA

PowerStation

The PA PowerStation is designed to provide years of trouble-free

operation even in the harshest environments. However, you may

occasionally need to perform routine maintenance on some of the

PowerStation’s components.

This chapter provides instructions on PA PowerStation

maintenance, as well as steps for troubleshooting problems that

may occur in operation.

Chapter Contents

Installing and Replacing Parts 40

BIOS Setup 42

Maintaining the Touchscreen 43

Using the Compact Flash Card 47

Modifying the AUTOEXEC.BAT File 51

Configuring the Ethernet Interface 53

Resolving Problems 55

Replacing the SDRAM 61

Installing and Replacing Parts Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

40 PA PowerStation User Guide

Installing and

Replacing Parts

This section includes instructions for performing internal maintenance

on the PA PowerStation. To prevent injury to yourself or damage to the

PowerStation, you will need to carefully read and understand the

procedures described in this section. This section will show you how

to perform the following operation:

•Replacing the Fuse on page 41

Before you begin, this section describes electrostatic discharge (ESD)

precautions that you should take whenever you work inside the PA

PowerStation.

Warning For safety reasons, only qualified service personnel should open

the PowerStation.

Electrostatic

Discharge

Precautions

Modern integrated electronic devices, especially CPUs and memory

chips, are extremely sensitive to electrostatic discharges (ESD) and

fields. Before you disassemble the PA PowerStation, follow these

simple precautions to protect you and the PowerStation from harmful

ESD.

• To avoid electric shock, always disconnect power from the

PowerStation before opening or disassembling the unit. Do not

touch any components on the CPU card or other cards while the

PowerStation is on.

• Disconnect power before making any hardware configuration

changes. A sudden static discharge as you connect a jumper or

touch any internal parts may damage sensitive electronic

components.

• Only handle internal components in an ESD-safe location, using

appropriate grounding methods.

• Wear a grounding wrist strap for continuous protection.

• Always ground yourself to remove any static charge before you

touch the CPU card.

• Be particularly careful not to touch the chip connectors.

• Keep any card or SDRAM module in its anti-static packaging

when it is not installed in the PowerStation. Place it on a static

dissipative mat when you are working on it.

Once you have read and understand the ESD safety precautions, you

are ready to continue with the appropriate instructions.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Installing and Replacing Parts

PA PowerStation User Guide 41

Replacing the Fuse The PA PowerStation has a protective fuse that you can replace by

opening up the back cover. An ohm meter is required to see whether

the fuse is open or closed.

To replace the fuse, complete the following steps:

1. Turn off the PA PowerStation.

2. Disconnect the PowerStation from its power source.

3. Remove the back cover of the unit.

4. Locate the fuse on the board according to the picture below.

Figure 4-1 Replaceable Fuse

5. Use an ohm meter to see if the fuse is open or closed.

a. If open, use a pair of needlenose pliers to lift the fuse from the

fuse holder.

b. If closed, the fuse is okay and there is no need to replace it.

6. To replace the fuse, use a Littelfuse Nano SMF Very Fast-Acting

Type fuse. The part number is R451 002.

Note This is a 2 amp fuse.

Caution Using a fuse that is rated differently than indicated here can

cause damage or fire to occur.

7. Insert the new fuse into the fuse holder and reassemble the unit.

Fuse

BIOS Setup Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

42 PA PowerStation User Guide

BIOS Setup The PA PowerStation is limited in BIOS configuration changes that the

user can perform. The BIOS setup window lets you remove the CTC

splash screen only. If you want to reset this BIOS setting, press the

Delete key while the system is starting up to display the BIOS setup

window.

Note Accessing the BIOS settings requires a keyboard.

To access the BIOS settings, complete the following steps:

1. Shut down the system.

2. Connect a keyboard to the system.

3. Restart the system.

4. While the system is starting, press the Delete key on the keyboard.

5. The BIOS Setup Utility screen appears.

Removing the CTC

Splash Screen To remove the CTC splash screen, complete the following steps:

1. Press the Page Up key to toggle the Boot-time Diagnostic Screen

setting to [Disabled].

2. Press the Right arrow key to highlight Exit and then press Enter.

3. Press Enter again to save your changes and exit.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Maintaining the Touchscreen

PA PowerStation User Guide 43

Maintaining the

Touchscreen

The touchscreen for the PA PowerStation is durable and able to

operate smoothly in harsh environments where strong chemicals exist.

However, from time to time you may need to perform general

maintenance on the touchscreen. This section provides step by step

instructions on how to complete the the following tasks:

Cleaning the

Touchscreen Occasionally, you may wish to clean the PA PowerStation’s

touchscreen. Clean the touchscreen using warm, soapy water and a

cloth. You may also use a non-abrasive cleaner. See Faceplate

Chemical Resistance on page 13 for a list of substances the screen can

resist with no visible effect.

Do not use any harsh material or powder, such as steel wool or

abrasive cleansers, to clean the touchscreen surface. The surface is

sensitive to scraping, sharp blows, and punctures. Therefore, keep

screwdrivers or other sharp objects away from the touchscreen

surface.

Warning Do not clean the touchscreen while Interact is in Run mode.

Clean the unit when it is switched off to avoid inadvertently

activating an Interact device (button, slide, etc.).

Calibrating the

Touchscreen The PA PowerStation’s touchscreen is calibrated before leaving CTC.

However, you may need to calibrate the touchscreen for one of several

reasons:

• when you use the PA PowerStation for the first time

• when you replace the touchscreen

• when the position of the cursor does not match the location where

the user touches the screen

Maintaining the Touchscreen Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

44 PA PowerStation User Guide

Using the MachineShop Shell Calibration Utility

The MachineShop Shell comes with a calibration utility that allows

you to calibrate the touchscreen in DOS mode.

Enter the Calibration Mode

In the following steps, you will enter the calibration utility in

MachineShop Shell. To enter the calibration utility, complete the

following steps:

1. On the MachineShop Shell Main Menu, press the Settings button.

See Figure 4-2.

Figure 4-2 Settings Submenu

2. On the Settings submenu, press the PWRSTA button. The

PowerStation Settings menu will appear as shown in Figure 4-3.

Figure 4-3 PowerStation Settings Menu

3. Press Calibrate Touchscreen.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Maintaining the Touchscreen

PA PowerStation User Guide 45

The calibration routine will run automatically.

4. Use your finger to touch the + on the screen.

5. Repeat the previous step two more times. Each time you touch the

+ you will hear a faint beep to indicate that the touch has been

accepted.

After the third time, your touchscreen will be calibrated.

Important If you calibrated the touchscreen and the cursor moves

vertically when your finger moves horizontally on the screen or

vice versa, the touchscreen cable may not be connected to the

motherboard properly. Call a CTC customer support

representative. See Customer Support Services on page 5.

Adjusting the

Contrast You may adjust the contrast on the PA PowerStation. The contrast is

a property of the LCD.

Note The Brightness property is fixed and cannot be adjusted.

This property can be adjusted on the STN display only. So before you

begin, you will need to determine whether you own an STN or a TFT

display. To distinguish between the two types of displays, locate the

model number on the back of the PA PowerStation unit and compare

the third digit in the model number with the third digit in Table 4-1:

Display Type to determine the type of display you own.

Model No. View Size

PA-05S/06S/08S-

1XX STN Display - Quarter VGA

Table 4-1: Display Type

Maintaining the Touchscreen Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

46 PA PowerStation User Guide

• If your PA Series has an STN display, continue with Adjusting the

Contrast (For STN Units Only).

• If you have a TFT display, you cannot adjust the contrast.

Adjusting the Contrast (For STN Units Only)

To adjust the contrast on an STN display, complete the following steps:

1. Find the contrast adjustment on the back of the PowerStation. See

Figure 4-4.

Figure 4-4 Contrast Adjustment

2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, turn the screw to adjust the contrast

to the desired level. This is a very small adjustment.

PA-08T/10T-1XX TFT Display - Full VGA

Model No. View Size

Table 4-1: Display Type

Contrast

Adjustment

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Using the Compact Flash Card

PA PowerStation User Guide 47

Using the

Compact Flash

Card

The PA PowerStation uses a removable Compact Flash (CF) card for

storage purposes. You can remove the CF card, update the application

files on the CF card from a PC, and then reinstall the CF card in the

PowerStation.

CTC recommends that you purchase at least one additional CF card to

serve as a backup for your primary CF card. You may wish to have

several cards to store different projects. You can purchase additional

CF cards from CTC.

Replacing the

Compact Flash At some point, you will probably need to remove the CF card from the

PA PowerStation flash socket for one reason or another. To do so,

complete the following steps:

1. Turn off the PA PowerStation.

Caution The PowerStation must be turned off when inserting or

removing the CF card to avoid corrupting data.

2. Locate the ejector next to the CF socket.

Figure 4-5 Compact Flash Ejector

3. Push the ejector button to pop the CF card out.

4. Remove the CF card.

5. Carefully insert the new card with the connector on the card

aligning with the pins inside the socket.

6. Push the CF into the slot until the card is securely seated in the

socket. Do not force!

Important The CompactFlash has an arrow near one edge that always lines

up with a matching arrow on the label of the PA PowerStation.

Insert the CompactFlash so the arrows line up and the card seats

properly. Do not force the CompactFlash in the wrong way.

Compact Flash

Ejector

Using the Compact Flash Card Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

48 PA PowerStation User Guide

Reinstalling the

PowerStation

Utilities

The PA PowerStation is shipped with the operating system and

software, which is installed on the CompactFlash card that comes with

your system.

Backup copies of your software are provided on the PA PowerStation

CD that ships with your system. If any of the software on your system

becomes lost or corrupted, you can reinstall it from this distribution

disk.

Restoring a CompactFlash Card

Because you use a CompactFlash (CF) card as the startup drive in a PA

PowerStation, you should create a bootable CF card for the system

from a blank or used card. This procedure will fix a ROM-DOS Shell

CompactFlash card and let you do the following:

• Reinstall the PowerStation Utilities onto a CF card

• Prepare a new CF card for use

You can easily reformat a CompactFlash card by using CTC’s

Flashback Utility, which restores the ROM-DOS operating system and

PA PowerStation operating files to a CF card in one operation.

When you use Flashback, the following software will be replaced on

your CompactFlash card:

• Operating system

•System drivers

• MachineShop Shell

Writing to the CompactFlash Card

To write to the CompactFlash card, you will need one of the following:

• A personal computer running Windows with a CD-ROM drive

and a SanDisk ImageMate or any CompactFlash card PC reader/

writer. A SanDisk ImageMate is a CompactFlash reader/writer

that connects to the personal computer through a USB port. You

can order a SanDisk ImageMate (model number IMG-2000) from

your local Parker distributor.

• A laptop computer running Windows with a CD-ROM drive and a

PCMCIA-to-CompactFlash adapter. The PCMCIA-to-

CompactFlash adapter lets you read from or write to a

CompactFlash card through your laptop’s PCMCIA slot. You can

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Using the Compact Flash Card

PA PowerStation User Guide 49

order a PCMCIA-to-CompactFlash adapter (model number FLH-

ADPT-2000) from your local Parker distributor.

Reformatting the CompactFlash Card

Warning Manually formatting a CompactFlash card in Windows NT and

2000 before using Flashback could possibly make the CF card

unusable.

Warning Removing the CompactFlash card: During a disk transfer

procedure, do not remove the CF card before issuing a Stop or

shutting down the USB port service. Otherwise the last part of

the data will not transfer to the CF card.

To reformat a CF card for a PA PowerStation, complete the following

steps on a personal computer or laptop:

1. Insert the CompactFlash card into the CompactFlash card PC

reader/writer or the PCMCIA slot.

2. Insert the PA PowerStation CD into the CD-ROM drive.

3. Use Windows Explorer to locate the file FlashUtil.exe from the

Utilities directory on the CD-ROM drive.

4. Double-click FlashUtil.exe.

The Flashback Utility dialog box appears. (The NTe version is

shown below.)

Using the Compact Flash Card Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

50 PA PowerStation User Guide

Note Make sure that you are using at least revision 104 of the

Flashback Utility, which allows the formatting of the CF card

even if the boot sector of the CF card is unreadable to ROM-

DOS.

Reformatting a CompactFlash card using Flashback will erase

your projects from the CF card. You will need to download your

projects to the CF card again. After using Flashback, you may also

need to recalibrate your PA PowerStation display. For instructions,

see Calibrating the Touchscreen on page 43.

5. Click the down arrow for the destination drive and choose the

correct drive letter that was assigned to the CF.

6. Press the Restore Image button.

Note The Flashback Utility will first format the compact flash, and

then copy ROM-DOS, the Shell, and the utilities to the compact

flash.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Modifying the AUTOEXEC.BAT File

PA PowerStation User Guide 51

Modifying the

AUTOEXEC.BAT

File

The lines shown in the following table must appear in the PA

PowerStation’s AUTOEXEC.BAT file for the unit to operate

properly. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file that CTC supplies includes these

lines and is located in the \CTC directory on the PowerStation’s

Compact Flash card in a file called AUTOEXEC.CTC.

Please make sure that the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your PA

PowerStation’s CF card includes the command lines shown in the left-

hand column of AUTOEXEC.BAT File.

Command Line Parameters Description

PATH C: \; C: \DOS; C: \CTC Sets up the default

DOS path.

LH C:\CTC\BIOSTSR Loads special

functions.

C:\CTC\PACTRL -A -S

IF ERRORLEVEL 108 GO TO

ERROR

Verifies this

CompactFlash is

running on a

PowerStation.

CD \CTC

IF EXIST C: \CTC\MOUSE.INI DEL

C: \CTC\MOUSE.INI

Required for the

MachineShop Shell to

detect a mouse in

some situations.

LH C: \CTC\MOUSE

:ITSA

If a mouse is

connected, installs the

mouse and creates a

new MOUSE.INI file.

SET TOUCH_PATH=C:

\HAMMOUSE

CALL %TOUCH_PATH% \TS.BAT

Initializes the

touchscreen drivers.

*SET INTERACT=C: \INTERACT Sets the Interact path.

*SET INTERACT_FILES=C:

\INTERACT\APPFILES Sets the application

path for Interact.

*SET INTERACT_STARTUP=

C: \STARTUP Sets up Interact

startup variables.

CD \NET

LH C: \NET\TCPIP Loads network drivers

--Novell and/or TCPIP

stack.

IF NOT EXIST C:

\STARTUP\NUL.EXT MD C:

\STARTUP

CD \STARTUP

IF EXIST C: \STARTUP\

AUTOEXEC.BAT CALL C:

\STARTUP\AUTOEXEC.BAT

Calls the second

AUTOEXECBAT file if

the line is contained

within a project file.

Table 4-2: AUTOEXEC.BAT File

Modifying the AUTOEXEC.BAT File Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

52 PA PowerStation User Guide

* Denotes a command line that is unnecessary on units without Interact.

For a complete listing of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, see Appendix A.

CD \CTC

PSU Starts the

MachineShop Shell.

Command Line Parameters Description

Table 4-2: AUTOEXEC.BAT File

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Configuring the Ethernet Interface

PA PowerStation User Guide 53

Configuring the

Ethernet

Interface

The \NET directory of the PA PowerStation’s CompactFlash contains

a configuration utility and all drivers necessary to configure the

Ethernet interface on the PowerStation. Backup copies of these files

are included on the MachineShop Shell Installation Disk. A list of the

files appears in \NET Directory Files.

Note The MachineShop Shell Installation Disk is part of the Runtime

Workstation Disk Set, which you can create from the

MachineShop Installation CD shipped with your PowerStation.

See the MachineShop Installation Booklet for instructions on

how to create this disk.

File Name Description

NET.BAT A sample batch file you can use to run

NetBIOS.

NET.CFG Stores the interrupts and memory for

the network drivers. The default

PowerStation configuration reserves

the following interrupts and I/O

addresses. You cannot use these for

the Ethernet interface.

• COM1: Int 4, I/O 3F8

• COM2: Int 3, I/O 2F8

• Touchscreen: Int 11, I/O 3E8

NETX.EXE The Novell Netware shell program

that makes the final connection with

the server.

*LSL.COM A Novell driver that enables the

workstation to communicate with

different protocols.

*IPXODI.COM A Novell driver that supports the IPX

protocol and other protocols over the

same network.

Plug and Play Pro

100 The Plug and Play interface: 82557

E100BODI This driver allows the PowerStation to

communicate over a local area

network.

*NETBIOS.EXE Used by Interact to communicate

over a network.

RSET8019.EXE Configures interrupts and I/O

addresses for the network.

TCPIP.EXE Used by the PowerStation for TCP/IP

communications.

Table 4-3: \NET Directory Files

Configuring the Ethernet Interface Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

54 PA PowerStation User Guide

* Denotes files that can be downloaded from Novell’s FTP site.

Interact will also communicate over any network or operating system

that supports NetBIOS protocols. Examples include Lantastic,

TCP/IP, Microsoft, and IBM.

If you need assistance with NetBIOS and networking, consult your

network administrator or a certified network technician.

TCPIP.INI Stores settings for TCP/IP

communications.

File Name Description

Table 4-3: \NET Directory Files

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Resolving Problems

PA PowerStation User Guide 55

Resolving

Problems

This section provides some basic troubleshooting steps to help you

identify and correct problems you may have with the PA

PowerStation. Each problem is described and followed with one or

more possible solutions. Begin with the first solution and continue

until you have solved the problem or tried all of the solutions.

If the problem persists, look through the other problems listed in this

section to determine if additional symptoms exist that might require

action. If you cannot solve the problem, or if you encounter a problem

that is not documented in this section, contact your CTC equipment

supplier or CTC Product Technical Support department at (513) 248-

1714.

Use Table 4-4: Troubleshooting Guide to find resolutions to basic

problems that may occur.

General

Problem Specific Issue Page

Resolving

Problems when

Starting Up

The LED Power indicator on the

back of the unit does not light 56

The startup halts with the Award

(System Info) screen displayed 57

The AUTOEXEC.BAT file and/

or CONFIG.SYS file does not

execute properly

Resolving

Problems with

the Touchscreen

After startup, the touchscreen

doesn’t work properly, the

calibration is incorrect, or the

touchscreen makes a chirping

noise

After calibrating the

touchscreen, either the

touchscreen doesn’t work

properly or the cursor doesn’t

follow your finger

Resolving

Problems after

Start Up

The display appears to be blank

or very dim 58

The ROM-DOS prompt "C:\" is

displayed instead of the

MachineShop Shell Main Menu

A PS/2 mouse doesn’t work 59

A serial mouse doesn’t work 60

A keyboard doesn’t work 60

The Ethernet port doesn’t work 60

Table 4-4: Troubleshooting Guide

Resolving Problems Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

56 PA PowerStation User Guide

Resolving Problems

when Starting Up Some of the most common problems that users encounter with PCs

occur when they start up their systems. This section describes some

problems that may occur in the PA PowerStation during startup and

solutions for these problems.

The LED Power indicator on the back of the unit does not light

1. Check to see whether the power switch is in the On position, and

the PA PowerStation is operating correctly.

a. If the PA PowerStation appears to be operating properly, the

LED indicator may be defective. Contact your CTC equipment

supplier or CTC’s Product Technical Support department for

assistance.

b. If the PA PowerStation does not appear to be operating

properly, restart the PowerStation.

2. Check the DC power line to determine whether the DC voltage is

either 12VDC or 24VDC.

3. Check the power connector to determine whether the leads are

properly connected and not reversed. The positive line should

connect to the positive terminal, the negative lead should connect

to the negative terminal, and the ground lead should connect to the

ground terminal.

4. Check to see if you have a blown fuse. To replace the fuse, see

Replacing the Fuse on page 41.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Resolving Problems

PA PowerStation User Guide 57

The startup halts with the Award (System Info) screen displayed

1. Check for a loose CF card.

Restart the PA PowerStation.

The AUTOEXEC.BAT file and/or CONFIG.SYS file does not

execute properly

Some startup problems are caused by a corrupted or modified

AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file. CTC includes backup

copies of these files in the \CTC directory on your PowerStation’s

CompactFlash Disk and on the PowerStation Start Disk. These files

are called AUTOEXEC.CTC and CONFIG.CTC.

For a complete listing of the AUTOEXEC.BAT and the

CONFIG.SYS files, see Appendix A.

If you suspect a problem with either the PA PowerStation’s

AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files, use the ROM-DOS Copy

command to create a backup copy of your current file and overwrite

the suspect file with the appropriate backup file. For example, if the

AUTOEXEC.BAT file becomes suspect, type the following

commands at the ROM-DOS prompt:

copy autoexec.bat autoexec.old

copy \ctc\autoexec.ctc autoexec.bat

1. Press Exit on the MachineShop Shell menu.

2. Run ROM-DOS Edit by typing NED and then the file name that

you want to edit.

Important You cannot load the touchscreen driver and a serial mouse

driver such as MOUSE.COM simultaneously. The PA

PowerStation will only load the driver that is specified first in

the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Resolving Problems

with the

Touchscreen

This section describes the problems that may occur with the

touchscreen and the subsequent solutions to these problems.

After startup, the touchscreen doesn’t work properly, the

calibration is incorrect, or the touchscreen makes a chirping noise

1. If the PA PowerStation is operating correctly otherwise, restart the

unit.

Resolving Problems Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

58 PA PowerStation User Guide

2. The touchscreen calibration might be in error. See Calibrating the

Touchscreen on page 43 of this manual for instructions on how to

calibrate the touchscreen.

3. Check the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. See the AUTOEXEC.BAT

section of this chapter for information about the command lines

that should appear in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

a. Verify that the touchscreen drivers are loaded. Look for the

following lines in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

SET TOUCH_PATH=C: \HAMMOUSE

CALL %TOUCH_PATH% \TS.BAT

b. Verify that a serial mouse driver such as MOUSE.COM is not

loading before the touchscreen driver. Look for the following

line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

C:\MOUSE.COM

c. Remove the line if it is found anywhere other than where it is

shown in the default AUTOEXEC.CTC listing. See Appendix

After calibrating the touchscreen, either the touchscreen doesn’t

work properly or the cursor doesn’t follow your finger

1. If using a serial mouse, make sure the serial port (COM2 only) is

configured for RS-232.

2. The internal touchscreen cable connection may be loose,

disconnected, or improperly connected. Call customer service. See

Customer Support Services on page 5 of this manual.

3. If all of the above remedies do not work, you may need to replace

the touchscreen. Replacement Touchscreen kits are available

through CTC.

Resolving Problems after Start Up

This section describes problems that may occur after startup and details

the solutions to these problems.

The display appears to be blank or very dim

1. Check to see if the power switch is in the on position, and the LED

Power indicator on the back of the PA PowerStation is lit.

a. If you have an STN display and the PA PowerStation is

operating properly, adjust the contrast on the display. See

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Resolving Problems

PA PowerStation User Guide 59

Adjusting the Contrast on page 45.

b. If the PA PowerStation is not operating properly, restart the

unit.

2. If the screen still appears to be blank or very dim, and the unit has

been in operation continuously for a long time, replace the

backlight bulb. Replacement backlight bulb kits are available

through CTC for the 7.7" and 10" models. You may not replace

the backlight bulb on the 5", 6", and 8" models.

The ROM-DOS prompt "C:\" is displayed instead of the

MachineShop Shell Main Menu

1. If the PA PowerStation appears to be operating correctly

otherwise, restart the unit.

2. Make sure that the MachineShop Shell software is being loaded.

a. Verify that the following lines appear in the

AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

b. Verify that the lines do not have the word “REM” in front of

them:

CD \CTC

PSU

3. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file may be corrupted or may have been

modified. See Appendix A for information about the command

lines that should appear in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

A PS/2 mouse doesn’t work

Make sure that you are using a Microsoft PS/2 mouse, specifically an

802.3 Microsoft-compatible mouse. Some PS/2-style mice that claim

to be Microsoft compatible will not work correctly with the PA

PowerStation. Do not use a serial mouse with a serial-to-PS/2 port

adapter.

Resolving Problems Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

60 PA PowerStation User Guide

A serial mouse doesn’t work

See Connecting a Serial Mouse on page 19 for instructions on how to

configure the PowerStation to accept a serial mouse.

A keyboard doesn’t work

1. Check the keyboard. Make sure that you are using an AT or a PS/

2 style keyboard, not an XT-style.

2. If you are using a PS/2 style keyboard, the keyboard should be

plugged into the keyboard port.

3. If you are using an AT style keyboard, make sure the Y cable is

attached to the keyboard port.

4. Try using a new Y adapter cable.

5. Try using a new keyboard.

The Ethernet port doesn’t work

1. Make sure the Ethernet cable is plugged in.

2. Make sure that the networking software is loading properly. Verify

that the following lines appear in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and at

least one of the two lines do not have the word “REM” in front of

it as appropriate:

CALL C:\NET\NET.BAT

LH C:\NET\TCPIP.EXE

See Appendix A for information about the command lines that

should appear in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

3. Make sure that you properly configured the networking software.

See Configuring the Ethernet Interface on page 53 of this manual

for a list of the drivers that configure your Ethernet interface.

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Replacing the SDRAM

PA PowerStation User Guide 61

Replacing the

SDRAM

To replace the SDRAM, complete the following steps. This procedure

requires opening up the back of the unit as well as removing the circuit

board. Be sure to follow the standard Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)

precautions.

Before you begin, turn off the power to the unit. Disconnect all cables.

Eject the CompactFlash card. Take off the clamps. And finally, place

the unit face down on an ESD mat.

Now you are ready to begin disassembling the unit.

1. Remove the screws from the back of the unit.

• For the 5" and 6" units, remove the 4 Phillips screws.

• For the 8" unit, remove the 6 Phillips screws.

• For the 10" unit, remove 6 Phillips screws. There are two on

each side and two on the bottom.

2. Disconnect the inverter cable and the video cable. See the

following picture.

3. To disconnect the inverter cable, slide it free of its connector.

4. To disconnect the video cable, lift it free of its connector.

5. Disconnect the ribbon connector. See the following picture.

Inverter cable Video cable

Replacing the SDRAM Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

62 PA PowerStation User Guide

6. To disconnect the ribbon, put your thumbs on the drawer tabs on

each side of the connector and slide the tabs out. In the above

picture, the tabs slide out to the right.

7. Remove the circuit board.

• For the 5" and 6", remove 4 stand-offs on the board.

• For the 8" and 10", remove 4 Phillips screws.

8. Lift the circuit board and turn it over to reveal the SDRAM. See the

following picture.

9. Push the ears out that hold the SDRAM in place.

10. With the bottom edge of the SDRAM still attached to the board, lift

the top edge of the SDRAM up to a 45 degree angle.

11. Slide it free.

12. Slide the new SDRAM into place at a 45 degree angle.

13. Press it down against the board, pushing the top edge of the

SDRAM until you hear the ears click into place.

SDRAM

Ribbon

connector

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation Replacing the SDRAM

PA PowerStation User Guide 63

14. Reattach the circuit board.

15. Reconnect the ribbon and push the drawer tabs back into place.

16. Reconnect the video cable and push the ears on the connector back

into place.

17. Reconnect the inverter cable.

18. Reattach the back of the unit.

19. Power on the unit.

Replacing the SDRAM Chapter 4: Troubleshooting the PA PowerStation

64 PA PowerStation User Guide

Appendix A

System Configuration Files

Appendix A specifies the contents of two configuration files,

CONFIG.CTC and AUTOEXEC.CTC. Use this information to

modify or correct the files CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT

on the PA PowerStation.

Chapter Contents

System Configuration Files 66

System Configuration Files Appendices

66 PA Series PowerStation User Guide

System Configuration Files

CTC Parker includes backup copies of the CONFIG.SYS File and AUTOEXEC.BAT File in the

\CTC directory on your PowerStation’s Compact Flash disk and on the PowerStation Start disk.

These files are called CONFIG.CTC and AUTOEXEC.CTC.

CONFIG.SYS File

SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM /E:1024 /P

FILES=30

BUFFERS=30

STACKS=9,256

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS

DOS=HIGH,UMB

REM

REM !!! NOTE !!!

REM EMM386 can be used to free up more conventional memory for use by

REM Interact, by allowing TSRs to be loaded high. Just remove the word

REM 'REM' in front of the appropriate command, and adjust the

REM parameters as required for your system's configuration.

REM

REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS

REM

REM IMPORTANT: Always include the NOEMS switch when using

REM EMM386 with Interact.

REM

Appendices System Configuration Files

PA Series PowerStation User Guide 67

AUTOEXEC.BAT File

@ECHO OFF

REM *********************************************************************

REM PA PowerStation Autoexec.bat

REM MachineShop Suite 1.05

REM *********************************************************************

PROMPT $p$g

PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\CTC

SET TEMP=C:\DOS

REM *********************************************************************

REM Touchscreen configuration options

REM *********************************************************************

SET TOUCH_ADDR=3E8

SET TOUCH_IRQ=11