SUNAPSHOT
October 2009
In This Issue - Redundancy - Great Expectations - Automation Inventory - Employee Spotlight Upcoming Events Virginia Western Community College Technology Summit Roanoke, VA October 13, 2009 NCRWA Operator's Expo Concord, NC October 20-21, 2009 Rockwell Automation Automation Fair Anaheim, CA November 11, 2009 CSIA Executive Conference Seattle, WA April 29 - May 1, 2010 Contact Us www.sunapsys.com newsletter@sunapsys.com Sunapsys, Inc. 850 Third Street Vinton, VA 24179 (540) 904-6862	Redundancy We all know that modern-day electronics sometimes fail and this also applies to control equipment. For many high-availability systems failure can be a serious problem. One solution to this problem is to implement controller redundancy as shown in the figure below. This system is constructed with a primary and backup processor. Special logic circuitry selects which processor is controlling the system and which processor is the backup. When the primary CPU fails, the logic detects the failure and switches control to the backup CPU keeping the plant running. While this seems like a logical and well-designed system, there are four issues with this approach to redundancy: (Read more...) Great expectations and nothing less The following article is copyrighted by the Instrument Society of America September 2007 Whether project execution is internal by plant forces or external by a systems integrator, deliverables need to come about and support the project. Here are some we should expect: I/O list: Given an instrument list and a set of P&IDs, the systems integrator should produce an I/O list that has the computer addresses (both the hardware address and the software address) of each I/O point in the system. PLC program: The PLC program should be well organized and modular in design. Documentation should be clear with embedded comments and pertinent symbol names. Everyone should be in agreement as to the naming conventions early in the process. (Read more...) Automation Inventory Do you have an inventory of all your control equipment? How about current copies of drawings or PLC and HMI programs? If your automated system stops working, will you be able to find the software (and cables) required to troubleshoot the system? We hope you are able to answer "Yes" to all these questions. Access to these simple items is one of the most effective and least expensive insurance policies you can have. Having an organized inventory of your control equipment can save valuable time in the event of a system malfunction or failure. For those of you that have some doubt about the whereabouts of critical automation equipment information Sunapsys is available to perform an Automation Inventory. According to our client's needs an Inventory may include: Locating all of a plant's automation equipment Noting the make and model of each PLC and HMI Determining the software and cables required to connect to and program each PLC and HMI Making backup copies of existing programs Upon completion of the survey, Sunapsys provides the client with a set of binders containing electronic and printed copies of all information gathered. As part of the Inventory process, Sunapsys would create a report with an overview of the client’s automation systems. The report would include any suggestions for improvements, opportunities for systems integration, diagnostics recommended, etc. that Sunapsys feels would be beneficial to the client’s operations. The goal of the Automation Inventory is to give clients a better overview of the systems they currently have, as well as to assist them in optimizing automation to increase productivity, lower costs, or both. Employee Spotlight Mack McGhee, Chief Operating Officer for Sunapsys, has been with the company for over 9 years. His years of experience in industrial controls, database development, and software design utilizing Internet technologies and higher level programming for various industries have suited him well, as for the past several years Mr. McGhee has managed the day-to-day and strategic operations of Sunapsys. When not guiding Sunapsys, Mack enjoys hiking and camping with his wife and sons. Take a moment to drop Mack a line at mack.mcghee@sunapsys.com.