Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

s SIPROTEC Devices with PROFIBUS DP

FAQs
on
PROFIBUS DP

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

s FAQs on PROFIBUS DP
Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1. References

FAQs about:
2. General PROFIBUS DP and SIPROTEC PROFIBUS DP Modules
3. Electrical (RS485) Interfaces and Networks
4. Fiber-Optical Interfaces and Networks
5. Redundant PROFIBUS DP Networks
6. Time Synchronization of SIPROTEC Devices via PROFIBUS DP
7. Transmission of Indications with Time Stamp

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

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References

Please also refer to the following manuals:

Siemens AG, PTD EA

Manual
SIPROTEC4 Communication module – PROFIBUS-DP Communication profile
C53000-L1840-B001-03
Revision from V4.0
www.siprotec.com Æ Prot. Devices Æ General information Æ Complete
documentation to all communication modules and protocols Æ PROFIBUS DP

Siemens AG, PTD EA

Manual
SIPROTEC4 Communication module
Device specific PROFIBUS DP Bus mapping documentations
(one manual per device type, e.g. for 7SJ61/62/63/64, 7UM61, 7UM62, 7SA522/7SA6
etc.)
www.siprotec.com Æ Prot. Devices Æ General information Æ Complete
documentation to all communication modules and protocols Æ PROFIBUS DP

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

s FAQs on PROFIBUS DP
General PROFIBUS DP and SIPROTEC PROFIBUS DP Modules

Question Answer
Which max. data transfer rates (baud rates) are possible with • 6 MB/s with SIPROTEC RS485 PROFIBUS modules and
PROFIBUS DP and SIPROTEC PROFIBUS DP modules? • 3 MB/s with SIPROTEC fiber-optical PROFIBUS modules.

A GSD file describes the technical data of the PROFIBUS DP

device and it is required for the bus configuration. Every
manufacturer has to deliver a GSD file for its PROFIBUS DP
device.
What is a GSD file used for and where to get it from? For the SIPROTEC devices there exist two GSD files, one for
devices with RS485 PROFIBUS module and one for devices with
fiber-optical PROFIBUS module.
Æ You find these GSD files in the communication modules
user manuals directory on www.siprotec.com.
Yes, this is possible with Communication module from HW
revision 4 and a SIPROTEC device firmware 4.6 or higher (if
Can I see the parameterized PROFIBUS DP address of the
such a firmware version is already available for the device
SIPROTEC device in one of the devices menus in the display?
type).
Select: MENU Æ Test/Diagnosis 5 Æ Modulinfo 5 Æ Port B
SIPROTEC communication modules HW revision 2 can be
replaced directly by the same type of a communication module
Can I replace a SIPROTEC communication modules HW HW revision 4 without any changes of the device parameteri-
revision 2 with a communication module HW revision 4 and zation.
must I adapt the device parameterization? Please note, that communication modules from HW revision 4
need another firmware version but they are already delivered
with the correct firmware version.

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

s FAQs on PROFIBUS DP
Electrical (RS485) Interfaces and Networks

Question Answer
Electrical (RS485) topologies consist of so-called bus segments.
At most 32 devices with a RS485 interface can be connected to
one segment. Repeaters are used to expand the bus with
How many devices can be connected to a RS485 bus?
additional segments (and additional devices).
The max. number of PROFIBUS devices is 126 because of each
device needs its unique address in the range 0…125.

This is because of the RS485 bus driver load (hardware

Why there is a limitation of 32 devices in one segment?
requirement) and does not come from the PROFIBUS protocol.

Terminating resistors have to be enabled at both ends of each

RS485 segment. Use either the terminating resistors integrated
in the plug or on the communication module.
What do I have to know about terminating resistors?
The terminating resistors need power supply from the device. If
the device with the terminating resistors switched off, switch
on the resistors on the device before in the line.

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

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Fiber-Optical Interfaces and Networks

Question Answer
Depending on the data transmission rate:
How many devices can be connected to a fiber-optical ring? 187.5 kB/s Î 55
500 kB/s and 1.5 MB/s Î 41

The SIPROTEC fiber-optical PROFIBUS modules use different

Why does an Optical Link Module OLM/G12 support up to
fiber-optical transmitter and receiver which only support
12 MB/s and the SIPROTEC fiber-optical modules only 3 MB/s?
3 MB/s.

No, let’s take an example:

With about 40 PROFIBUS devices, 100 bytes to transfer in input
Is the max. baud rate of 3 MB/s of the SIPROTEC fiber-optical
and output direction (sum of both) and 1.5 MB/s, the bus cycle
modules a disadvantage for the customer?
time of the PROFIBUS DP system is approx. 40 ms which is
normally faster than the cycle time of the PLC.
Yes, set “Retry Limit” = 3 and the “Number of OLM” equal to the
sum of Optical Link Modules (OLM) and SIPROTEC devices with
fiber-optical module in the ring (every fiber-optical module
Are there special configuration settings for fiber-optical ring contains an OLM). This must be observed because of
topologies to observe in the PROFIBUS DP master? transmission delays of the OLM.
Æ A separate Service Info “SIPROTEC with fiber-optical
PROFIBUS DP Modules” is available in the communication
modules user manuals directory on www.siprotec.com.
What is the order number of the Optical Link Modules
OLM/G12 (e.g. for connecting SIPROTEC devices with fiber- PROFIBUS OLM/G12 V3.1 6GK1502-3CB10 (up to 09/2007)
optical PROFIBUS DP interface to a PROFIBUS DP master with PROFIBUS OLM/G12 V4.0 6GK1503-3CB00 (from 10/2007)
RS485 interface)?

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

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Redundant PROFIBUS DP Networks

Question Answer
SIPROTEC devices have a single (non-redundant) PROFIBUS DP
interface. In order to connect them to a redundant PROFIBUS DP
system with a S7-400 H, so called Y-Links are necessary.
We want to connect SIPROTEC devices to a redundant
These Y-Links are devices from Siemens A&D which are used for
PROFIBUS DP master system (S7-400 H). Is this possible?
connecting non-redundant PROFIBUS DP slave devices to a
redundant S7-400 H PROFIBUS DP master system.
Order no. for Y-Links e.g. 6ES7197-1LA11-0XA0.

Please refer to our Application Web Page www.siprotec.de Æ

Is there an example for network configuration with Y-Links Applications Æ Communication.
available or do driver blocks for PCS7 exist? There you find a description of a PCS7 driver block from IT plant
solutions I&S for connecting a 7UM62 via Y-Link to a S7-400 H.

It depends on the number of input and output bytes which are

transferred (this is fixed by the selected Standard mappings).
A Y-Link supports at most 244 bytes in the input direction and
How many SIPROTEC devices can be connected to a Y-Link
244 bytes in the output direction.
(How many Y-Links do I need)?
Please, add the input and output bytes of the SIPROTEC devices
(independently) and if one sum exceeds 244 bytes, then the
device must be connected to the next Y-Link.

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

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Time Synchronization of SIPROTEC Devices via PROFIBUS DP

Question Answer
Yes, but the master must support this (this is not a standard
function of PROFIBUS DP-V0).
All S7 400 CPU with PROFIBUS DP master and firmware from V3
Can the SIPROTEC devices be time-synchronized via
and all S7 CP443-5 extended PROFIBUS DP modules as well as
PROFIBUS DP?
the CP 5613 PC card support this.
Æ For SIPROTEC devices connected via Y-Link to a redundant
system please observe the next question/answer.
Time synchronization via PROFIBUS DP for devices connected via
Y-Links to a redundant system is only possible with Y-Links
Can the SIPROTEC devices also be time-synchronized via 6ES7197-1LA11-0XA0 using the IM 157-2 High Feature
PROFIBUS DP if they are connected with a Y-Link to a modules (situation in Nov. 2007).
redundant PROFIBUS DP system? Other Y-Links do not relay the time synchronization messages
and therefore time synchronization of SIPROTEC devices then
will not be possible!
Absolute difference of ≤ 10 ms between the devices.
What accuracy can be reached with time synchronization via
PROFIBUS DP? For time synchronization of devices connected to a Y-Link the
absolute difference is ≤ 20 ms between the devices.

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Power Transmission and Distribution Energy Automation

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Transmission of Indications with Time Stamp

Question Answer
Yes, with the following preconditions:
• Select a PROFIBUS DP mapping file for the SIPROTEC device
that supports the event list mechanism via PROFIBUS DP
(available for all SIPROTEC devices except 7VK6 and 7SJ602).
• The PROFIBUS DP master (PLC) must be programmed to read
Can time-stamped indications be transferred via PROFIBUS the time stamped information according to the handshake
DP from the SIPROTEC device to the PROFIBUS DP master and mechanism described in our “PROFIBUS DP – Communication
what prerequisites are to observe? profile” user manual!
Æ You find the manual in the communication modules
user manuals directory on www.siprotec.com.
• The SIPROTEC device should be time synchronized (via
PROFIBUS or another method, like e.g. IRIG-B). This is not
necessary but recommended for evaluation of time stamps.
No.
Indications with time stamp can also be transmitted to the
Is the restriction for time synchronization via Y-Link also valid PROFIBUS DP master if the SIPROTEC device is connected to a
for transmission of indication with time stamps? Y-Link which do not support time synchronization via bus.
Use then e.g. IRIG-B or DCF for external time synchronization of
the devices over port A.

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