SOFTWARE MANUAL

FOR
STRING MONITOR BOX
(ST G24_1 1N01)

CLIENT

: TATA POWER SOLAR

PROJE CT
PLANT

: 1.85 MW (D C) BIRLA SATNA SOLAR POWER

MAN UFACTU RED BY

CAPE ELECTRIC CORPORATION
#TS-76, Sidco Tiny Sector, T.V.K Industrial Estate,
Ekkattuthangal, Chennai - 600 032.
Tel : +91 44 3257 7292 / 4554 0041
HTTP: www.capeindia.net

Page 1 of 7

VII. DESCRIPTION OF STRING MONITORING CONTROL CARD (SPCL505)

String monitoring control card is the main control unit of string monitoring box. It controls
and monitor different parameters of string monitoring box. The Strings box is equipped
with several monitoring functions. This control card monitors and controls different
parameters like current of each channel, voltage of the string, Over Voltage Protection
device status (optional), analog inputs, output status and relay contact. All the
parameters measured by this control card are monitored through RS 485 MODBUS RTU
protocol. This communication protocol is two wired, half-duplex and its range is up to 1
kilometers. All channels current, Status of SPD, status of DC switch, Output DC BUS
Voltage and Cabinet Temperature are measured and sent through this protocol for
remote monitoring.

Figure: String Monitor control board

The specifications of string monitoring control card are as under:

Power Supply 230V AC 1P, 50Hz,
15% No. of Strings up to 24
Bus Voltage 1000V DC
Data Communication MODBUS over RS485
Baud Rate 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 38400

Page 2 of 7

B. Setting in String Box

For the identification of the individual Strings Box it is necessary to set it network address.
How to set the address:

Display
Network address display
INC. S/W
DEC. S/W

Selection Switch

1.

Switch Off Output Disconnector switch.

2.

Open the left cover.

3.

The address must be set via INC and DEC SWITCH installed on the control board
(SPCLPV)

4.

This address can be displayed by seven segment display DS1, DS2 & DS3.

5.

For convention the Strings Box address begin from 1 and continue according the
strings boxes number installed on the plant.

Conditions of Selection Switch

A) Display shows Slave ID
User can set Slave ID with INC and DEC switch and
Press INC and DEC switch together for 10 second
then user can select No. of I/P in String Box.

1-ON
2-ON
3-OFF
4-OFF

A) Display shows Baud Rate

User can set Baud Rate with INC and DEC switch

1-ON
2-ON
3-OFF
4-ON

A) Display shows Display Parameter

like current of each string

1-ON
2-ON
3-ON
4-OFF

A) Calibration Mode

1-ON
2-ON
3-ON
4-ON

Page 3 of 7

A. STRING BOX MODBUS REGISTERS MAP

1) - STRING BOX MODBUS REGISTERS MAP FOR 24 INPUT
STRING BOX MODBUS REGISTERS MAP
Register

Description

Access

40001
40002
40003
40004
40005
40006
40007
40008
40009

Current1
Current2
Current3
Current4
Current5
Current6
Current7
Current8
Current9

R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R

40010

Current10

40011

Current11

40012

Current12

40013

Current13

40014

Current14

40015

Current15

40016

Current16

40017

Current17

40018

Current18

40019

Current19

40020

Current20

40021

Current21

40022

Current22

40023

Current23

40024

Current24

40025
40026

DC Voltage
SPD Status
Output
Disconnector
Switch Status
Internal Ambient
Temperature
Slave ID
Baud Rate
Digital Input1

R
R

Current of the string connected at I/P1

Current of the string connected at I/P2
Current of the string connected at I/P3
Current of the string connected at I/P4
Current of the string connected at I/P5
Current of the string connected at I/P6
Current of the string connected at I/P7
Current of the string connected at I/P8
Current of the string connected at I/P9
Current of the string connected at
I/P10
Current of the string connected at
I/P11
Current of the string connected at
I/P12
Current of the string connected at
I/P13
Current of the string connected at
I/P14
Current of the string connected at
I/P15
Current of the string connected at
I/P16
Current of the string connected at
I/P17
Current of the string connected at
I/P18
Current of the string connected at
I/P19
Current of the string connected at
I/P20
Current of the string connected at
I/P21
Current of the string connected at
I/P22
Current of the string connected at
I/P23
Current of the string connected at
I/P24
DC Voltage of the String
1- SPD operates, 0- SPD not operates

1-OFF, 0-ON

On board temperature

R/W*
R/W*
R

Set by on board INC,DEC S/W

Baud Rate of the String monitoring Box
1-digital input present,0-no digital input

40027
40028
40029
40030
40031

EEPROM

Remarks

Page 4 of 7

40032

Digital Output1

40033

Digital Output2

40034

Analog Input1

1-digital output present,0-no digital

output
1-digital output present,0-no digital
output
20mA/10V

40035

Analog Input2
Total Input
channel
Baud Rate
Number

20mA/10V

R/W*

Total Number Of Channel

R/W*

Displayed Baud Rate Number

40036
40037

Registers marked with * are saved in EEPROM when modified and the saved values
are reloaded at the power-on.
1.1

40001/40024: CURRENT AT INPUTS

This is read only registers. The values read at these registers are the values of the input
currents. (If the value of register is X then String Current= X/100A).

1.2

40025: DC VOLTAGE

This is read only register. The value read at this register is the value of string DC Voltage. The value is
expressed in Volts.
Average DC Current = Z/100

1.3

40026: SPD STATUS

This is a read only register. The value read at this register is the Status of the SPD. If SPD operates
then value of this register will be 1 otherwise value of this register will be 0.
(If the value of register (X) = 1 then SPD operates,
If the value of register (X) = 0 then SPD not operates)

1.4

40027: OUTPUT DISCONNECTOR SWITCH STATUS

This is a read only register. The value read at this register is the Position Status of the Output Disconnector Switch.
(If the value of register (X) = 1 then Switch is in OFF position, If
the value of register (X) = 0 then Switch is in ON position)

1.5

40028: INTERNAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

This is read only register. The value read at this register is the value of the temperature expressed by
this formula given by the on board sensor. If the value of the register is Y then,
Internal Ambient temperature = Y/10C

1.6

40029: SLAVE ID*

*The permitted Slave ID addresses for the SPCL- 505 are from 1 to 255, settable with the switches INC
and DEC. Each string box connected to the Modbus network must have an only address.
Default: 01

1.7

40030: BAUD RATE*

This register is used to set different Baud Rate i.e. 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 and 38400.Master
should send these values to change the baud rate. If user wants to change baud rate in string
monitoring box then by these two key it can possible. Press the INC and DEC key at the same time.
Then seven segment displays shows the baud rate. Press the INC or DEC key to change the value
according to table.

Displayed
value
br1
br2
br3

Baud rate
300
600
1200
Page 5 of 7

Default: 9600

1.8

br4
br5
br6
br7
br8
br9

2400
4800
9600
14400
19200
38400

40031 / 40033: DIGITAL INPUTS

This is read only register. The values read at these registers are the values of the Digital Inputs. If digital
input is present value of this register will be 1 and if digital input is not present value of this register will
be 0.

1.9

40034/ 40035: ANALOG INPUTS

This is read only registers. The values read at these registers are the values of the Analog Inputs. The
values are in the range of (0-1000), where 1000 is the value given when the analog input voltage is
10V or analog input current is 20mA.

1.10 40028: TOTAL NUMBER OF CHANNEL

*The permitted number of channel for the SPCL- 505 are 8,16,18 and 24, settable with the switches INC
and DEC. Press INC and DEC key for 10 seconds then display will show total number of channel.

1.11 40029: BAUD RATE NUMBER*

This register is used to set different Baud Rate i.e. br1, br2, br3, br4, br5 and br6.Master should send
these values to change the baud rate. If user wants to change baud rate in string monitoring box then
by these two key it can possible. Press the INC and DEC key at the same time. Then seven segment
displays shows the baud rate Number. Press the INC or DEC key to change the value according to
table.

Baud rate
300
600
1200
2400
4800
9600
14400
19200
38400

Displayed
value
br1
br2
br3
br4
br5
br6
br7
br8
br9

All the data from individual strings is transmitted to control card via shielded multi core
twisted cable. All the sensing is through isolated Hall Effect sensors so that is no way is
high DC Voltage (upto 1000V) transmitted to control section of SMU.
Similarly for sensing of DC bus voltage a separate high isolated power supply is
used. There is adequate opto isolation IC as well to prevent HV entry into SMU.
Surge protection device are provided on communication line as well to prevent surge enter
into system.
Power supply Requirement: String Monitoring Box requires 230V AC, 1Ph 10% supply
to perform the intended function. Other controls supplies such at 15V & +5V are generated
internally. Input power requirement is around 6Watts. The supply requirement can be
changed to 110VDC or 220VDC on costumer requirement.

Page 6 of 7

VIII. TERMINALS CONNECTION

A. CONTROL TERMINALS
S.NO.

SIGNAL

X49

LINE (IN/OUT)

X50
X51

Description

Wire Color
White On Blue

NEUTRAL
(IN/OUT)
EARTH
(IN/OUT)

White On Brown
White On Red

X52

RS485 (D-)

( Receive/Transmit data MODBUS line A)

Violet On White

X53

RS485 (D+)

( Receive/Transmit data MODBUS line B)

Yellow On White

X54

GND

Orange On White

Page 7 of 7