Alber Training and Education Product Tutorial Battery Monitor Data Manager Software (BMDM) 1
Tutorial Topics Introduction System Computers Battery Monitor Data Manager Software Overview String Status Screen Location View Screen Alarms Report Generation Remote Reporting Fax, Page & Email Notification of Alarms 2
Introduction Alber monitors provide valuable battery operational information including voltage, temperature, internal cell resistance, interconnection resistance, battery current, float current and discharge history The data collected from the monitor is automatically sent to a system computer and stored for historical purposes The historical data can be used to generate a variety of reports to indicate trends that occur as the battery ages 3
Personal Computer Interface A personal computer is connected to the monitor locally or remotely to allow a user to perform a wide variety of tasks View battery data Cancel, reset and silence alarms Adjust alarm thresholds Generate reports Perform maintenance & administrative tasks 4
Remote Status Notification Alber monitors provide the user with immediate notification of potential battery problems using a variety of communications methods and notification functions including local alarm annunciation, fax, paging and email when the system is appropriately equipped and configured 5
6 System Computers
System Computers and Battery Monitor Data Manager Software Introduction System Computers Battery Monitor Data Manager Software Overview String Status Screen Location View Screen Alarms Report Generation Remote Reporting Fax, Page & Email Notification of Alarms 7
Introduction Alber monitors can provide valuable battery operational information including voltage, temperature, internal cell resistance, interconnection resistance, current and discharge history The data collected from the monitor is automatically sent to a system computer and stored for historical purposes The historical data can be used to generate a variety of reports to indicate trends that occur as the battery ages 8
Personal Computer Role A personal computer is connected to the monitor locally or remotely to allow a user to perform a wide variety of tasks View battery data Cancel, reset and silence alarms Adjust alarm thresholds Generate reports Perform maintenance & administrative tasks 9
Alarm Notification Via Computer Alber monitors can provide the user with immediate notification of potential battery problems using a variety of communications methods and notification functions including local alarm annunciation, fax, paging and email when the system is appropriately equipped and configured 10
Computer Required All Alber monitoring systems employ at least one computer for data storage, alarm notification and system management functions A computer must remain connected to a monitor locally on site or remotely at all times 11
IBM Compatible PC An IBM compatible computer meets the requirements for a system computer Certain minimum specifications must be met 12
System Requirements Microsoft Windows XP or 2000 Pentium 1Ghz or higher processor One modem if communicating over phone line 128MB memory for Windows 2000 256MB memory for Windows XP 150MB hard disk space 1GB hard disk space for data storage CD drive 13
Computer Function and Connection 14 The system computer runs the Battery Monitor Data Manager (BMDM) software System computers can connect to a monitor using several methods Direct connection via RS-232 Direct connection via USB on newest models Remotely via modem Remotely via a network Corporate network Wide area network Internet
Types of System Computers Central computer Local computer Service computer The specific computer configuration for your system is indicated when the BMDM software is open see next slide 15
Type of Computer Indication The type of computer is displayed in the menu bar in the String Status screen 16
Central Computer This is the main computer of the system The Central Computer maintains the complete history of the system in a file called a database There must be only one central computer that ever connects to a monitor once the system has been installed and commissioned Having more than one central computer will divide the data resulting in an incomplete database 17
Central Computer Authority After a Central computer extracts data from the monitor, the monitor memory is cleared 18
Local Computer A Local computer is typically deployed in a system when it needs to be physically close to the system If there is only one computer on the system it should be set up as a Central computer 19
Difference Between a Local and Central Computer A Central computer deletes the data from monitor after it receives A Local computer leaves the data on the monitor after receiving it 20
Computer Polling Times The Local computer receives the daily data from the monitor with the first poll of the system hardware after 10:00 p.m. The data remains on the hardware so the Central computer can poll, extract and delete the data 21
Service Computer The Service Computer is used to set up new battery monitors as well as to service existing systems Used for viewing a system either locally or remotely When a database is opened with a Service Computer a Service location is displayed This will allow the Service Computer to connect to any Monitor regardless of the names assigned A service Computer can be used to setup a system but it cannot set the names in the Monitor Location name Battery name String name 22
Example of Central, Local and Service Computer Placement BDS-40 Local Computer Local Computer Firewall Internet BDS-40 Service Computer (Commission) Central computer 24X7 Local Computer via VPN 23
Battery Monitor Data Manager Software Overview 24
Basic Software Overview - Introduction The Battery Monitor Data Manager (BMDM) is the software that works with all Alber monitoring products The BMDM is installed on an IBM compatible computer and serves as the interface by which the user controls and maintains all aspects of the system A full help file is installed with the program. Context sensitive help is also available on many screens Context Sensitive Help Button 25
BMDM Functionality The BMDM serves many functions for the system System control Parameter monitoring Alarm annunciation Data management and storage Report generation Data analysis If only one computer is going to be used with a system, that computer must be a Central computer 26
Microsoft Access Database Integration A Microsoft Access database file is integrated into the BMDM program operation A system database is resides on the Central computer and contains all setup, alarm, reporting and polling instructions The database can also reside on a Local computer The database holds all battery historical data as well as all of the system programming established by the user 27
Making Changes to the System To adjust settings in the monitor, also called the hardware, changes are initially made using a system computer running the BMDM The settings are then sent to the monitor hardware using one of the available communications methods RS232 Modem Network USB (XL hardware) 28
String Status Screen When the BMDM is started, it automatically loads the last database used as well as the previous status of the batteries The string status screen lists all battery systems for the database One database can handle many monitors 29
String Status Screen Data The status screen lists primary identifying information about the batteries their status String ID Customer name Location name Battery name String name String status Monitor status Update date & time 30
String Status Screen View 31
String Status Communication Indicator The BMDM provides a continual visual indication regarding status of the communications between the system computer and the monitor(s) to which it is connected Status indicators are found in the bottom of the status screen 32
Key Buttons on the String Status Screen Key buttons provide quick access to frequently used functions Open Database Backup Database Setup System Connect to a String System Summary Historical Events Extract All Data Close Database Setup Communication Hang-up Modem Summary Report Show All Alarm Events Call All Modem Strings 33
Right-Click Menu While in the string status screen, the right-click menu is active 34
String View Screen There are two ways to view battery data Real time A System Computer must be connected to a monitor Offline Allows viewing of historical data that is stored in a System Computer database Available Data Cell voltages Temperature measurements Internal resistance measurements Discharge history Alarm history 35
Viewing Data in Real Time Select the desired string on the string status screen by clicking on it Click the connection button or right click, then click connect Actual readings will be viewed Cell voltage Internal resistance if available 36
String View Screen 2. Click the connect button 1. Select a string 3. String view screen appears and defaults to voltage readings. The screen displays real-time data 37
View Data Offline Select the desired string from the string status screen From the dropdown menu, select View, then Offline The resulting screen displays historical data from its database 38
String View Screen Offline Viewing A range of dates can be selected by the user or it can be set to access to all data in the database 39
Offline Viewing 2. Click View / Offline 1. Select a string 3. Offline historical readings are displayed. You can then select specific historical data based on reading dates from the date field 40
String View Screen Viewing Internal Resistance Use the same process as for voltage Click on the resistance tab to display those values 41
String View Screen Discharge Data Alber monitors can capture discharge data based on installed options and BMDM settings The data can be viewed during a discharge or played back at a later time Cell voltages, battery voltage, start and end times are recorded Discharge reports will be addressed later 42
Viewing Discharge Data 1. Select a string to view off line, then click Connect. 2. Click View / Offline 43
Viewing Discharge Data-cont d 3. Click View / Discharge and select a discharge from the list 4. Click View / Discharge Replay 5. Click Replay Forward button The discharge will replay and show time, battery voltage, current and all cell/unit voltages. 44
Alarms The monitor has 3 alarm memory areas Current Alarms - hardware Current Historical Alarms - hardware Historical Alarms system computer database 45
Current Alarms - Hardware The Current Alarms screen indicates active or latched alarms Active indicates a parameter is presently violating a threshold When the parameter returns to normal, the alarm clears on its own Latched indicates the parameter returned to normal, but the alarm relay is still energized and must be manually reset 46
Accessing the Current Alarms Screen 1. Select a string and connect 2. Click on the View Alarm button. The Current Alarm screen will appear See next slide 47
48 Current Alarm Screen
Current Historical Alarm - Hardware This screen displays alarms that reset or cleared on their own and were not set to latch Select this alarm to view alarms still in the monitor memory Normal indicates an alarm returned to normal on its own Reset indicates a latched alarm was reset During daily polling, the alarm data is sent to the database and saved under Historical Events 49
Current Historical Alarm Screen Click here to display the Historical Alarm screen below 50
Historical Alarm System Computer Database This screen displays a history of alarms that were transferred to the database from the monitor during polling 51
52 Historical Alarm Screen Click here to display the Historical Alarm screen below
Report Generation The BMDM software utilizes an integrated, feature-rich report generator to meet user needs when electronic or paper documentation is needed Reports can be archived in the database for retrieval in a.zrf format. They can be printed or emailed and viewed using Alber s archive reader software and is available at no charge The reader does not allow report data to be edited 53
Types of Reports Summary reports Detail reports Trend reports Discharge reports Alarm reports A System Computer must be connected to the desired monitor and a string selected or be set to View/Offline a specific string to generate reports Archive reports are saved on the System Computer and can be retrieved anytime 54
Summary Reports A Summary Report for all strings in the database can be generated using the Summary Report button on the String Status screen Note: Using the Summary Report button can result in a report containing many pages of data depending on the number, size and detail selected from batteries contained in the database 55
Summary Report Templates Summary Reports These reports can be set up using a named template so the user does not have to set report parameters each time the report is generated. More than one template can be setup and saved. This type of report provides brief, concise information about a specific battery 56
Summary Report Setup Screen Click the Summary Report button in the above screen. The report Setup screen appears. From here you can design a custom report that will summarize all batteries in the database. See the next slide for an example. When you are finished designing, you can preview the report before printing it. 57
58 Summary Report Preview
Detail Reports These reports provide information relating to a specific parameter, such as cell voltage or internal resistance Users can select how many data sets are used to generate the report Customizable thresholds and graph scaling are among several options available when designing a Detail Report Options can be saved for future report generation and can be changed any time 59
Trend, Discharge and Alarm Reports Trend Reports Generated for cell voltage, cell resistance, overall voltage, temperature and intertier connections Discharge Reports The BMDM can generate summary and detailed reports of all logged discharge activity Alarm Reports At some point, a user may want to compile a report of alarm history All of these reports are easily performed with the BMDM 60
Report Generation The next slides illustrate several of the many features of the BMDM software regarding report generation capability 61
Detail Cell Voltage Report 1. Select a string from the String Status screen. 2. Click on either View / Offline or connect to the string. 3. From the String View screen, click on View / Reports / Detail / Cell Voltage. The Detail Cell Voltage Setup screen will appear below. 4. Select the information you need in the report, then click Preview to see how it will look before printing or archiving. The following 3 slides is an example of this report 62
Detail Cell Voltage Report Pages 1-2 63
Detail Cell Voltage Report Page 3 64
Detail Cell Voltage Report Page 4 65
Trend Reports 1. Connect to a string or view off line. From the String View screen, click on View / Reports / Trend / Cell Resistance. The Detail Cell Voltage Setup screen will appear below. 2. Select the information you need in the report, then click Preview to see how it will look before printing or archiving. 66 The following 3 slides is an example of this report
Trend Report by Cell Number 67 This page of the report is displaying the trend history of Cell #1 over a period of time. When a trend report is generated, one graph for each cell can be displayed, printed or archived in one report. The header pages have been left off in this example.
Discharge Reports 1. After connecting to a string or selecting to view data off line, from the String View screen, click on View / Reports / Discharge. The Discharge Setup screen will appear below right. 68 2. Using the Setup screen to the right, select the information you want in the report. You can preview the report before printing or archiving.
Discharge Report Tabular View 69 Cell Voltage Summary All Cells at 2 Minute Point in Discharge
Discharge Report by Cell Number 70 Detail Cell Voltage Curve for Cell #1 One Graph for Each Cell If Desired
Discharge Report Curves 71 Discharge Curves for Voltage, Current and Power
Alarm Reports 1. After connecting to a string or selecting to view data off line, from the String View screen, click on View / Reports / Alarm. The Alarm Setup screen will appear below right 2. Using the Alarm Setup screen to the right, select the type of alarm information you want to appear in the report. You can preview the report before printing or archiving. 72
Alarm Report Summary and Detail 73
74 Advanced Software Features
Setting Alarm Operation Alarms can be set to operate in one of two ways Automatic reset Latch Automatic reset When the alarm condition clears on its own, the alarm relay contacts deenergize without user intervention and the alarm resets to normal state Latch The alarm remains active as a Current Historical Alarm and relay contacts remain energized until the alarm is manually reset by pressing the remote or optional local reset switch on hardware or resetting via BMDM 75
Remote Alarm Reset Installation note The remote alarm reset input requires 12-32 VDC wetting voltage to perform the reset function 76
Setting Alarm Thresholds Users have the capability to set alarm thresholds for all monitored parameters Voltage Temperature Internal resistance Current Discharge Float 77
Accessing the Alarm Thresholds Screen The primary area to set up thresholds is the Battery Setup screen There are two tabs to make settings Access to this screen is password protected Tabs for thresholds Float alarms Discharge 78
Customizing Alarm Thresholds Thresholds can be customized in a number of ways Latching/non-latching Remote reporting Fax Page Email Print Sound alarm on System Computer Alarm criticality Maintenance Critical 79
Float Alarm Screen 1. Type access password to get to the Battery Setup screen. 2. Click the float alarms tab 3. Enter the appropriate threshold settings 4. Float alarms must be enabled 1. 2. 3. 4. 80 1. Select a string and connect. 2. Click Setup / Battery from the dropdown menu. 3. Enter the Password alber (default). 4. Click the Float Alarms tab. 5. Enter the desired high/low limits based on your system. 6. Float alarms must be enabled. 7. When done, click the Send button to transfer changes to the monitor. 7.
Alarm Threshold Settings Screen From this screen, you can also set the alarm to latch or reset on its own. 1. The type of alarm can be set to Critical or Maintenance based on your requirements. Check the desired box. 2. Check the Remote Reporting box to enable remote paging, faxing, email, etc. as needed. 3. Check the latch box for each alarm as needed. 4. Be sure to click the Send button to transfer settings to the monitor 3. 2. 1. 81 4.
Setting Discharge Threshold Parameters 1. Access the Battery Setup screen then, click on the Discharge tab. 2. Check the Enable box to allow automatic logging of discharges. 3. Enter a discharge current that will trigger the discharge. 4. When done, click the Send button to transfer changes to the monitor. 1. 2. 3. 82 4.
Print, Fax, Page and Email Notification of Alarms The BMDM software can provide notification of alarms using several methods Printing Faxing Paging Email 83
Enabling Alarm Reporting Global enabling/disabling of Alarm reporting is set on the Preferences Screen 1. From the String Status screen, click File / Setup / Preferences. 2. Note the red circled area. This checkbox should be unchecked when you want to be notified via print, fax, page or email methods. Check this box when you want to inhibit these alarm notifications. 3. After making any changes in this screen, click OK to save and exit. 84
Print Notification of Alarms Printing Alarms can be directed to print to a local computer connected to a System Computer or any another printer that is accessible on a network 85
Selecting a Printer for Alarm Notification Selection of a printer is very easy 1. From the String Status screen, click File / Printer Setup. 2. Find the desired printer in the dropdown next to the properties button. 3. Click OK and the selected printer will print all alarms. The printer can be connected to the System Computer that serves it, or a network printer 86
Fax and Page Notification of Alarms Faxing and Paging A System Computer requires a modem in order to send fax and/or page notification of alarms Faxes can be sent to the Customer Contact, Location Contact and to persons listed in a Contacts List as well as Contact Groups, using the Contact List tab to the right of the Reporting tab Alarms can be sent to a numeric and alphanumeric pagers as well as cell phones. Alpha numeric pagers and cell phones must support text messaging. 87
Setting Up Page Notification This example illustrates the settings required to enable alphanumeric pages to a text supported cell phone or alphapager. 1. From the String Status screen, click Setup / System. The Password is alber. 2. Click on the Reporting tab 3. Complete the Access Telephone Number and Pager PIN Number Fields 4. Click Page ON Alarm box and the Alpha option 5. Click the Save button 6. Close the screen 4. 2. 6. 5. 3. 88 When using a text supported phone to receive pages, enter the phone number in the Pager PIN Number field. In the Access Telephone Number field, enter the TAP access number. This is the number that the system calls to send the text message. The phone is used as the PIN number. Contact your cell phone carrier for a specific TAP number.
Notification Using a Contact List The Contact List Allows users to set up one or more groups of people from a master contacts list so specific people can be notified of certain alarms and at specific times of the day/night Detailed information and contact methods can be established for each person on the Contact List FAX Page Email» Based on individual work schedule The following slides show how these screens are accessed and the selections that are available 89
Creating a Contact List This is the Contact List screen. It is next to the Reporting screen in System Setup. This is where names contained in the Contacts list in the right pane are sourced to be placed into specific Group lists. Contact and Group information can be changed anytime. To edit existing Contacts, double-click the name in the right pane. To access the information screen and to add a new Contact, click the New button on the bottom the right pane. The next slide illustrates how to enter and edit Contact information. 90
Setting Up Contact Schedules Contact personnel schedules can be set using the time tables and check boxes to the right. Enter the Start Time followed by the number of hours the contact is on duty for a given day. A person working from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. would be entered as 7:00 in the Start Time field and 9:00 in the Time On field. This is the Contact Information screen and is used to enter or edit personnel contact information. From this screen, a contact can be set up to receive a page, a fax and/or email, based on the check box settings. 91
Enabling the Contact List This example illustrates the settings required to page personnel on a call list. 1. From the String Status screen, click Setup / System. The Password is alber. 2. Click on the Reporting tab 3. Click on the checkbox to enable Print Alarm Event, Contact and individual and Contact list personnel. Select names and Group Names from the dropdown lists. 4. Click the Save button when done. 5. Close the screen. 2. 5. 4. 3. 92
Setting Up a Resistance Test Schedule Use the Test Parameters screen under Battery Setup to establish a measurement interval for resistance tests and logging of historical data Select the day of the month Keep the two dates 14 days apart Be sure the desired functions are enabled 93
Setting and Enabling a Resistance Test Schedule In order to set up a Resistance Test, access the Test Parameters screen. 1. From the String Status screen, select a string and connect. 2. Select Setup / Battery from the dropdown menu. 3. Enter the Password alber. 4. Click on the Test Parameters Tab. 5. Enable the test by clicking on the Enable option 6. Enter the day of the month (1-28) and the time the test should be done 7. Click the Send button to make changes in the hardware 8. Close the screen. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 94
Manual Resistance Tests A manually initiated resistance test may be performed when needed. 1. From the String Status screen, connect to a string. 2. On the upper right portion of the String View screen, click the Start button. 3. The resistance test will start and a window will pop up indicating Resistance Test in Progress...Please wait. 4. The test may be stopped by clicking on the Stop button. 5. The time needed to complete a resistance test depends on the number of load steps and the number of cells in the battery. When the resistance test is finished the Resistance Test in Progress...Please wait message will disappear. 6. The Get button will become active. Click it to retrieve the readings just taken. 95
Technical Assistance Product support is available Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. ET Main Phone 954-623-6660 Email support support@alber.com Web www.alber.com Downloads User manuals Installation instructions Product literature and more Service Bulletins 96
More Tutorials from Alber Please visit our website at www.alber.com/training for additional tutorials about monitoring products and software Battery monitoring theory Monitoring system basics BDS-40 monitor BDS-256 monitor MPM-100 monitor Battery monitor data manager software 97