Black box for cycle-synchronous logging of PLC data

Many companies decide to optimise their processes primarily because they want to enhance the availability of their plants. In particular for very complex plants, this requires exact data logging over extended periods, and archiving of process data, signals and the operating status of machinery and production equipment in synchronism with the cycles of the programmable logic controller (PLC). These data can also be used for troubleshooting and documenting operating characteristics.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are generally not designed for archiving large sets of data also for long periods of time. The fault memory of the PLC, for instance, stores the date, time and type of an error, but not the operating status of the complete plant or machine at that time.

The black box of BMA Automation is an external storage medium that guarantees absolutely reliable and uninterrupted signal logging for many years. In various applications, the BMA Automation black box has proved to be a successful data logging and archiving tool in plants such as extraction plants in the sugar industry.

Stored data can also serve as unimpeachable evidence when trying to establish the cause of a defect. Since third parties have no access to the logged data, the data are protected against tampering. The black box is basically an industrial PC, which, because of its small size, can easily be accommodated inside a switchgear cubicle alongside the process PLC. MPI, Profibus or Industrial Ethernet (TCP/IP) are available for communication between the black box and the PLC. The black box is an autonomous unit. All it needs is a power supply and a connection to the PLC.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protects it against power failure. The box is supplied with special software to ensure that the logged data are available even while the system is still in logging mode.

Benefits