Re: Televac MM200 questions

["James P. Withrow via Tech-talk" <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov>]

Marty -

Thanks for the info. I had given some thought to the EEPROM idea; may check into it further. 

On a side note, how are the MX200s? Have there been any issues using them with EPICS? 

-Jim

—-

Jim Withrow, Research Support Specialist - jwithrow at cornell.edu

NE-CAT, Cornell University - https://necat.chem.cornell.edu

Advanced Photon Source, Sector 24

9700 S. Cass Avenue, Building 436 E001

Lemont, IL 60439

On May 4, 2026, at 05:46, Smith, Martin <mls at anl.gov> wrote:



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Hi Jim,

While I don't recall any specific issues with the 2.18 version of firmware, I do know that we did have some issues with version 2.34

and found that version 2.13 was a stable one. It has been a long time since I have looked at these devices as I think we are mostly

using MX200s now. You could copy the EEPROM from a 2.18 device and reprogram the one you are having issues with.

Marty Smith

ANL / APS Controls Group

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From: Tech-talk <tech-talk-bounces at aps.anl.gov> on behalf of James P. Withrow via Tech-talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov>
Sent: Sunday, May 3, 2026 1:48 PM
To: EPICS Tech Talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov>
Subject: Televac MM200 questions

 

Hello all - 

I'm in the process of moving instrumentation on our beamline to EPICS-based solutions instead of bespoke hardware/software combinations. I've recently moved the vacuum readouts (Televac MM200) and ion pumps (Digitel MPC) to IOCs using the synApps 'vac' module. This solution works perfectly for both the gauges and the pumps - with the exception of one set of Televac gauges. The set of gauges which works is using firmware rev. 2.13, while the one having issues is on 2.18. The latter set will run normally for 20-30 seconds, and then appear to hang. Once the vac module times out, it attempts to send its next query which confuses the gauge (returns 'R?') but then starts working again. 

Has anyone else encountered this issue and are there any possible tuning options for the serial communications? 

Thank you in advance, 

-Jim

Jim Withrow, Research Support Specialist - jwithrow at cornell.edu

NE-CAT, Cornell University - https://necat.chem.cornell.edu

Advanced Photon Source, Sector 24

9700 S. Cass Avenue, Building 436 E001

Lemont, IL 60439