E-Link Gateway Commissioning and Troubleshooting

Introduction

The Johnson Controls® Equipment Link (E-Link) Gateway is an economical and versatile communications device that provides a connection between YORK® equipment, such as chillers and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), and open standard protocols. Specifically, the E-Link Gateway provides access to BACnet® Multidrop Serial Bus/Token Passing (MS/TP), N2, Modbus® RTU, and LONWORKS® FTT10 Building Automation System (BAS) protocols. The E-Link Gateway has been designed with the same physical dimensions and power requirements as the MicroGateway, enabling it to be used in many instances as a direct replacement part.

IMPORTANT: The E-Link Gateway does not support the ISN, American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), or YORKTalk I protocols.

Product Overview

The E-Link Gateway has four serial ports, one of which can host an optional LONWORKS FTT10 ProtoCessor module. Ports 1 and 4 are designated for BAS networking, and Port 2 is used to connect to the equipment. Port 3 provides access for auxiliary monitoring and control.

To simplify installation and setup, the E-Link Gateway is pre-configured with a series of chiller and rooftop profiles that you can choose by selecting the correct DIP switch settings.

The E-Link Gateway is available as a stand-alone circuit board or as a circuit board mounted within a metal enclosure.

Product Code Numbers

The E-Link Gateway consists of two boards: the IPU-II (processor module) mounted on the System Interface Module (SIM). Do not separate these boards in the field.

The circuit board measures 102 x 152 mm (4 x 6 in.) and the enclosure dimensions are 152 x 279 x 63 mm (6 x 11 x 2-1/2 in.).

The E-Link Gateway can be powered from the following voltage sources:

• 12 VDC (circuit board)
• 24 VAC (circuit board)
• 110 VAC (in an enclosure)
• 220 VAC (in an enclosure)

Functional Overview

The E-Link Gateway is available as a stand-alone circuit board or as a circuit board mounted within a metal enclosure.

Port Configuration

The E-Link Gateway offers four communication ports. Each port is Quick Start configurable to support the protocols listed.

The E-Link Gateway's ports support specific driver technologies.

Software Revision Control

The E-Link Gateway software consists of two primary parts: the Firmware (ELF) and the Application (CNF). Both are delivered from the factory as a Johnson Combined File (JCF).

The JCF is factory loaded and cannot be reloaded in the field. Each part of the JCF, with the exception of REDBOOT, can be reloaded individually.

The Firmware file uses an ELF extension, whereas the Application uses a CNF extension.

Firmware file naming convention: FIRMWARE REV: PPPP.FFFF.MMMM.BBBB-CCC

Application file naming convention: APPLICATION REVISION: TTT.MMMM.BBB

Application Types

System Diagnostics and User Interface

Figure 2 shows an example of the output seen after logging on to an E-Link Gateway and selecting System Diagnostics. The actual Firmware revision and Application revision relate to the current release.

Figure 2: Terminal View of System Diagnostics

The Quick Start feature provides a simple method of configuring an E-Link Gateway for a specific type of equipment and output protocol. No external devices (laptops) are required.

When activating a LONWORKS FTT10 Quick Start, cycle the power on the E-Link Gateway to activate the Quick Start and the LONWORKS FTT10 ProtoCessor.

Field Maintenance

Implement a field edit if you need to correct an E-Link Gateway's Quick Start script. Two Quick Starts have been reserved for this purpose.

User Access

Use a computer with a VT-100 interface to view, track, debug, make changes, or access the operation of the E-Link Gateway. To invoke this function, set Way 8 of the MAC address switch to ON and connect a computer with a VT-100 emulation program to Port 3.

User Reports

Certain parameters require adjustments on site. Users with a VT-100 interface on Port 3 can edit parameters. Any edits made are saved to flash memory when you exit the User Report or the User Report times out.

Loading New Firmware and Application

To reload the E-Link Gateway's Firmware and Application, establish a VT-100 terminal session and use an X-modem utility to transfer the file. Microsoft® Windows® Operating System-based computers have X-modem capabilities within the HyperTerminal® Application.

Applications

The E-Link Gateway's Applications are designed to provide connectivity to established YORK® chillers using YORK Talk II and III. Native BACnet and Modbus RTU equipment can also use the E-Link Gateway for N2 and LONWORKS FTT10 communications. An example is the YPAL rooftop unit.

BAS Networks

An E-Link Gateway can connect to a BAS network after being Quick Started. The E-Link Gateway acts as a server, and the BAS system must initiate requests.

MS/TP

The E-Link Gateway supports dynamic device binding. The BAS integrator requires the Device Object address for device binding. This literal address allows the BAS system to connect to the E-Link Gateway using an automatic discovery process (WHO-IS, I-AM exchange).

Device Object Address and Protocol Addressing

The E-Link Gateway's Device Object address is generated automatically by adding 5,000 to the MAC address switch setting. Integrators may require a specific Device Object address, which can be site-configured using User Report 1.

N2 and Modbus RTU

For N2 and Modbus RTU, the E-Link Gateway is identified by its MAC address, which can be set between 1 and 127 using switches. Changes to MAC address switches are updated live.

LONWORKS FTT10

Press the service pin on the ProtoCessor to identify the E-Link Gateway on the LONWORKS FTT10 network. For NAE-based systems, the XIF resource file simplifies device discovery.

Equipment Point Maps provide BAS-accessible data. These maps are available on the Johnson Controls Portal and define parameters, variable addresses, and data descriptions.

Different protocols use variables differently: BACnet uses MSV, AV, and BV objects; N2 uses ADI, ADF, and BD objects; Modbus RTU uses registers; and LONWORKS FTT10 uses SNVT.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 show examples of Point Maps available on the Johnson Controls Portal.

Equipment Communication and Protocols

When applied with BACnet enabled equipment (YPAL), the Acquisition Feature (F65) reads the Present Value (PV) of resident objects. Analog and Digital Transfers (F28 and F29) write data.

For Modbus RTU-enabled equipment, the Modbus RTU Feature (F66) polls the equipment for data and writes data.

Figure 7 shows three major client features used in the E-Link Gateway, and Table 5 outlines normalizing variables and output protocols.

Equipment Communication

Figure 7: Client Features

Table 5: Normalizing Variables and Output Protocols

Equipment Profiles

Equipment profiles are collections of data points that provide BAS system access to equipment functionality when exposed on a network.

E-Link Gateway Application Features

The E-Link Gateway allows for flexible configuration of equipment profiles using factory-designated resources. These profiles are stored as E-Link Gateway Applications and can be restored via X-modem transfer. The Application revision number reflects the profile's state.

Figure 8: Features

Table 6: Features

Accessing the E-Link Gateway

Establish communications by connecting a computer to Port 3 through an RS-485 converter. Set the protocol on Port 3 to Terminal mode by setting the T-switch (Way 8) of the MAC switch to ON.

Figure 9: MAC Address Switch

VT-100 emulation programs, such as HyperTerminal, can be used to access the Applications.

Terminal Emulation Settings

Configure the terminal emulation software with the following settings:

• Baud rate = 57,600
• Parity = None
• Data format = 8 bits, 1 stop bit
• Set terminal for Half Duplex mode
• Set for a linefeed after a carriage return

System Levels and Commands

A system of hierarchical levels offers access to the FSP. There are four primary system levels: Advisory, Feature, Section, and Page/Data Entry.

All commands are in lowercase. Uppercase characters are reserved for text entry.

Logging On

Activate the terminal program and establish a session with the E-Link Gateway using the 'logon' or 'login' command. You will be prompted for a password. The default password is 5555.

Table 7: Password Access Levels

Sessions can be terminated using 'logout' or 'logoff' commands, or by a period of inactivity (20 minutes).

Help Command

The 'help' command accesses the E-Link Gateway's help screen.

General Navigation Commands

The Terminal interface uses generic commands to access hierarchically presented data, addressed by Feature, Section, and Page.

Figure 10: Terminal Commands

Feature Command

Use 'fnn' to enter a specific feature number, or 'f' to advance to the next feature.

Section Command

Use 'snnn' to enter a specific section number, or 's' to advance to the next section.

Page Command

Use 'pnn' to enter a specific page number, or 'p' to advance to the next page.

Enter Command

Use 'e' to begin editing a field. Data entry prompts include text, real/integer values, point addresses, and menu selections.

Figure 13: Editing Sequence

Menu Command

Use 'm' to cycle through menu enumerations.

Copy Commands

Use 'copy f67snnn' or 'copy f68snnn' to copy Quick Start sections.

X-modem Firmware and Database Transfer

Firmware and Application files can be reloaded using the 'xmodem firmware' or 'xmodem database' commands via a VT-100 terminal session. The HyperTerminal software facilitates file transfer.

Figure 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 illustrate the X-modem transfer process.

Troubleshooting

LEDs are crucial for visual troubleshooting. The Status LED indicates operating conditions, while port LEDs show electrical activity.

Table 11: Status LED (Red) Flash Rate Indicators

Table 54: Troubleshooting Guide