i³ RTC Tutorial
Introduction Knowledge
The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate the RTC functions of the i3 by programming a simple time-based
operation process, ie. Green House watering system.
The tutorial will also demonstrate one way to set the RTC clock, using the S_Clk function and user entry into registers through the screen. A method
of synchronising the clock with the PC will be shown also.
The program will then go on to operate outputs at specific times through a working day in a working week.
The i3 has a Real Time Clock (RTC) that allows operations to be activated at specific times and on specific days. The i3 RTC is intelligent in that i3
knows how many days are in a particular month and so invalid dates will not be accepted.
Operations can be set to go ON at a particular time on a particular day of the month for a set amount of time and then turn off. For example, we can
set a pump running for the time between 8am and 9 am every Tuesday of the Month of May, in the year 2006.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Programming the Real Time Clock Functions Knowledge
There is only one specific time function and that is to set the RTC clock. This is not the only way to set the
clock as it can be synchronised with the PC.
To use the RTC we need to use the comparison functions and the specific System Registers where the
time is stored.
SR Number Description Name Limits
%SR0044 RTC Seconds RTC_SEC 0-59
%SR0045 RTC Minutes RTC_MIN 0-59
%SR0046 RTC Hours RTC_HOUR 0-23
%SR0047 RTC Day of the Month RTC_DATE 1-31
%SR0048 RTC Month RTC_MON 1-12 (1=January)
%SR0049 RTC Year RTC_YEAR 1996 - 2095
%SR0050 RTC Day of the Week RTC DAY 1-7 (1=Sunday)
Synchronising the RTC with the PC
Connect the i3 to the PC using the programming cable and configure the I/O. Select from the controller menu “View/Set Clock”
Click this button to
Synchronise the
RTC to the PC
Click the close
button to finish
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Changing the RTC values through Ladder Logic Knowledge
Select the S_Clk function icon from the Special Functions menu.
Select the function and insert it into the ladder diagram.
Enter the starting register
that will contain data to be
moved into the SR register.
The next 6 adjacent registers
will also be used.
Insert a NO contact and The RTC will be updated
assign it to the 1st function with the values in registers
key. %R01 to %R06 when the F1
key is pressed.
There will be two screens associated with this piece of code; One to enter the values into the registers %R01 to %R06 and a second to view the
current time and date of the RTC.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Programming the Compare Functions with the RTC Knowledge
We are first going to ensure that the day is a working day and that the hours are office hours. We are going to use
Limit functions from the Compare Operations menu.
Limit
Function
Insert a N/O contact and assign it to %S07, Always On. Next select the Limit function and insert it on the same Rung.
Insert the following data to
check whether or not the
day lies in the working week
and click OK. Enter another
Limit function to check if it
falls between office hours.
Insert the data shown to
ensure that the hours are
between 9am and 5pm.
Finally enter a NO coil after
the two Limit functions,
assign it to %M01. This coil
will be operated when both
functions are true.
Next, we need to set up the four outputs to come on individually in the four different quadrants of a minute. Output %Q01 will be on between 0-15s,
%Q02 16-30s, %Q03 31-45s and %Q04 46-59s. However, they will only come on if it is during the working period.
Start a new Rung with a N/O coil and assign it to %M01. On the same Rung insert a Limit function with the limits for %Q01. After the limit function
insert a N/O coil and assign it to %Q01.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Knowledge
Repeat this code for the remaining outputs.
Output %Q02
Output %Q03
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Output %Q04 Knowledge
There will be one HMI screen to illustrate the outputs on during the cycle time.
Screen Editor Programming
We need to program three screens.
1. The initial screen will display the RTC current time and date and have two screen jump buttons: one to jump to the setting the RTC screen, with
the second to jump to the output cycle screen.
2. The RTC setting screen will have 6 numeric data entries and a screen jump button to go back to the initial screen.
3. Output cycle screen will have 4 lamps to display the state of %Q01 to %Q04. There will also be a numeric data function to display the RTC seconds
and a text table to display the RTC day of the week.
Initial Screen
Click the Time Data icon an insert it into the screen. Position it to the top left of the screen. Double click and enter the data as shown.
Enter the starting register as
%SR044 and the next 2 registers
will also be used. This will provide
the hours, minutes and seconds
for display.
Select the format HH:mm:ss
Click OK when complete.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Select another Time Data function to display the current date. Knowledge
Select %SR047, RTC_Date as the
starting register to display the
date.
Select the format: dd-mm-yyyy
Click OK when complete.
Finally select the screen jump icon , to insert two screen jumps.
Set the first screen jump to jump to
screen 2, with the legend set and
the second to jump to screen 3,
with the legend O/P.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
The initial screen should now look something like the screen opposite. Knowledge
RTC Setting Screen
Select the data numeric function icon and insert it to the screen. We need to set up six such numeric functions for seconds, minutes, hours,
date, month and year.
Enter the following data into 6 numeric data functions, all of which should be “editable”.
Register Legend Digits to display Min-Max entry
%R01 Sec 2 0-59
%R02 Min 2 0-59
%R03 Hr 2 0-23
%R04 Day 2 1-31
%R05 Mth 2 1-12
%R06 Yr 4 1996 - 2095
Finally insert a screen jump function to go back to the initial screen.
The second screen
should now look like
the screen opposite.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Output Cycle Screen Knowledge
Select the numeric data function icon and insert it into the screen. Position it in the top right and enter the
following details.
Next select the text table icon and insert into the screen.
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i³ RTC Tutorial
Now select the lamp icon and insert lamps for the outputs %Q01 to %Q04. Knowledge
Lastly select the screen jump icon to
insert a screen jump back to the initial
The final screen should now look like the screen below.
Please see the i3-Configurator tutorial program “[Link]”
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REF: i3 RTC Tutorial 1118
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