The Controlstar®

 > Detailed Specification

The Controlstar® is equipped with a 100mHz 32 bit processor, 16 Mb SDRAM, and 16 Mb of Flash. 

The firmware of the Controlstar® includes a mission critical real time PLC, and an advanced communications package which extends a standard TCP/IP stack for high integrity real time applications. The unit can be configured to operate via one or more ports, either directly over a RS232 circuit, Ethernet or PSTN land line modem, or as a Wireless Telemetry System via either GSM or GPRS modems; and a special radio interface is available for UHF and VHF solutions.

The full control capability uses the Controlstar® visual programming technology, which provides first class remote diagnostic facilities. Support for a full-distributed network of SCADA’s is embedded in the unit; this includes version controlled mimic displays, alarm handling, trending, and system status information. The system provides for multiple concurrent accesses by remote and/ or local SCADA’s.

This is an example of a panel and our bulkhead enclosure that our wireless telemetry system is installed in.

 This is the Controlstar unit itself, inside it will have either a GSM, GPRS or PSTN modem to allow for both wired and wireless telemetry and control.

Controlstar® is a single flexible unit:-

  • Replacing multiple devices
  • Reducing interface engineering
  • Reducing component count, and increased reliability
  • Lower Capex costs
  • A single licence free CAD package reduces training and maintenance costs
  • Remote diagnostics reduces commissioning and support costs

The Controlstar® is equipped with either an International approved modem, or a tri band GSM. For precise time or location measurement the unit has the provision for an internal GPS module. For site security and process surveillance a Controlstar® can link with approved Ethernet enabled cameras to provide a Still Frame Video (SFV) facility, this is fully integrated with the control system and supported by the SCADA.

The Controlstar® is configurable using ‘Fusion’ as an Internet Server providing basic SCADA facilities and offering worldwide viewing and control for the price of a local telephone call, this Internet server function can coexist in the same unit with the standard SCADA.

The Controlstar® can be optionally equipped with a single Field bus interface from a range of protocol controllers. These interfaces are in addition to the Controlstars® CAN port. The I/O of the connected Field bus is integrated with the Controlstar® programs and can be configured and programmed using plug-in extensions to the Fusion support program. Modules are available to support the following Field bus: -

  • Profibus DP (master and Slave)
  • Lonworks
  • Interbus S
  • Modbus+
  • Devicenet
  • Controlnet
  • Hart

The Controlstar® tolerates a wide range DC input (8-28V DC), and can be powered by a Solar panel. The Power supply includes a charger for either an internal Nickel Metal Hydride, or an external 12V sealed lead acid battery (maximum capacity of 14 Ah). The Controlstar® has an unregulated auxiliary output for powering associated electronics; it will also power a maximum of four attached Controlstar® I/O nodes via the CAN signal cable, these supported I/O nodes are battery backed by the unit.

System monitoring

Each Controlstar® has extensive internal monitoring to present a detailed view of the state of the unit. These parameters are available to the user for display on both mimics and the control algorithm pages. The ‘Fusion’ support program is used to map the parameters into the Control algorithm, from here they maybe displayed as live mimic elements, trended, and used as analogue inputs to the control algorithm. The monitored parameters within the Controlstar® are as follows: -

  • Primary supply voltage
  • Secondary (solar) voltage
  • Battery voltage
  • Auxiliary voltage
  • Main bus voltage
  • Controlstar® ambient temperature