Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

"Leblanc, Gregory via Tech-talk" <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov> · Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:19:31 +0000

Hi folks!

I'm trying to get a basic control implemented for our new Heinzinger PCU 50-300 supplies.  These supplies operate best using RS-422, and I've got EPICS talking to a Keysight 4-port USB to RS-422 adapter.  I'm going to skip over the .proto file, since it seems to be working (I'll try to get something uploaded somewhere once I finish testing).  I've got a .db file with the following two entries:

record(ai, "$(P)$(R)GetCurrent") {
    field(DESC, "Read output current")
    field(DTYP, "stream")
    field(INP, "@devPCU50_300.proto getCurrent $(PORT) $(A)")
    field(EGU, "mA")
    field(SCAN, "1 second")
    # field(SCAN, "Passive")
    field(PINI, "YES")
}

record(ao, "$(P)$(R)SetCurrent") {
    field(DESC, "Write output current")
    field(DTYP, "stream")
    field(EGU, "mA")
    # field(SCAN, "1 second")
    field(SCAN, "Passive")
    field(OUT, "@devPCU50_300.proto setCurrent(%d) $(PORT) $(A)")
    field(PINI, "YES")
    field(VAL, "0")
    field(FLNK, "$(P)$(R)GetCurrent")
}

These power supplies expect commands in mA, and return results in mA, so I made my Phoebus display (bob file and screenshot attached) using mA, and it works OK.  But given that these supplies have an output current of 300A, 300,000 mA looks silly and is hard to read.  Is there a preferred method of tackling this problem?  Since there are "hints" as to the units in the records, it seems like someone has probably run into this before, but I didn't find anything when I searched.  Any advice greatly appreciated!
     Greg

--
Gregory Leblanc
Accelerator Engineer
Edwards Accelerator Lab - Ohio University
123 University Terrace
Athens, OH 45701 USA
leblanc at ohio.edu
M: (401) 52-OUAL1 or (401) 526-8251

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System