Intelligent HART Gateway HG1 Plus

Features

Product Description

The HG1plus is an advanced HART communications module designed for industrial and factory automation applications. This versatile device provides HART to Modbus protocol conversion, HART to HART network bridging, HART Modem interfaces and allows remote access to field devices over local and wide area networks in support of effective asset management. The stand-alone DIN rail mounted HG1+ is rugged, compact and low power, making it an ideal solution for applications wanting to exploit the many advantages of Smart field instrumentation.

Modbus Gateway

The HG1 provides an interface between instruments on a HART network and Modbus clients such as SCADA, DCS and PLC systems. The HG1 automatically communicates with the HART devices and maintains an internal database of their configuration and process data. This data can be read or written using a choice of Modbus interfaces including RS232, RS422, RS485 and Ethernet. The HART to Modbus gateway allows host systems with no native HART capability to access the wide range of data available from HART capable devices. Multiple Modbus connections are supported simultaneously, making it possible to hand off transmitter data to any number of independent systems or consumers. The HG1+ supports HART networks with multiple devices (multi dropped) and may act as either a primary or secondary master device. It implements all mandatory and common practice HART commands and supports device specific communications through the use of installable device templates. Both the encapsulated RTU and Modbus TCP/IP interfaces may be accessed remotely.

HART bridge

A pair of HG1s may be used to combine two independent HART networks together via a local area network so that they behave as if they were a single unified network. Such a situation may occur when two groups of transmitters are located too far apart to extend a single HART loop to cover all devices. Once bridged using the HG1s the combined network behaves and performs as if the transmitters were all on a single network.

HART Modem

The HG1 provides a HART modem interface for industry standard device management software such as Pactware and Fieldcare. This interface is available through a direct serial connection - selectable as either RS232, RS422 or two wire RS485 - and via a virtual serial port on PC computers connected to the same Ethernet network as the HG1. The HART Modem interface may be used at the same time as the Modbus gateway functions, allowing both Modbus access for process control and data gathering and simultaneous device management from a maintenance PC. The HG1 automatically and transparently arbitrates HART network bandwidth between the two applications. The HART modem does not require the host application to control the serial ports RTS signal (a requirement with most HART modems) as this is handled automatically by the HG1. As a result the HG1 allows the use of two and four wire electrical standards for the serial port connection.

Remote Access

All the networked features of the HG1, including HART modem access, Modbus communications, configuration and maintenance can be performed remotely over a local area network or over the internet. From a single location you can manage and maintain your field assets where ever in the world they are. Remote access from a central location lends itself to meaningful asset management with improved failure prediction, reduced downtime and significant reduction in costs associated with routine and non scheduled maintenance that would otherwise require an engineer to travel to site.

Additional features

Device Cloud
The HG1 can report its status, and that of any connected field instrument, back to the RAP device cloud. System managers can access this cloud from a PC and get an instant overview of current and historical device performance and health. Email Alerts
For immediate notification of selected events such as transmitter failure or out of limit process values the HG1 can be configured to automatically send user defined emails to named recipients upon such events occurring.

Configuration tools

Management of the HG1 is accomplished through a suite of PC based tools for easy setup and configuration. Using these tools the HG1 can be completely configured, Modbus maps generated (as plain text files, or in a form suitable for import into Microsoft Excel) and software updates and device template installed. Utilities are included that allow the user to directly view HART instrument data and to check the integrity of the HART communications loop. Included in the suite are virtual serial port drivers and related software to support remote access to distributed HG1 devices.

Product Support

Customers are entitled to one years complimentary telephone and email support and includes all software updates. Several levels of chargeable support are also available including

• On site (commissioning, maintenance or upgrades)
• Custom device template design
• Device configuration service
• System design service
• Telephone or email support beyond the first year

Technical Data 

Supplied by DP-Flow