ASCII Communication
January 2023
•
Rev. 0
• Standard Devices User Manual
30
Streaming Mode
In streaming mode, your device automatically sends a line of live data at regular intervals. Only one unit on a given COM port may
be in streaming mode at a time. To put your device into streaming mode, type:
Begin streaming:
unit_id
@ @
Example:
A@ @
(puts device A into streaming mode)
This is equivalent to changing the unit ID to “
@
”. To take the device out of streaming mode, assign it a unit ID by typing:
Stop streaming:
@@
desired_unit_id
Example:
@@ a
(stops streaming and assigns unit ID of A)
When sending a command to a device in streaming mode, the flow of data will not stop while the user is typing. This may make
the commands you type unreadable. If the device does not receive a valid command, it will ignore it. If in doubt, press Backspace
a number of times, then
, and start again.
The default streaming interval is 50 ms. This can be increased by using the set streaming interval command:
Set streaming interval:
unit_id
NCS
number_of_ms
Example:
ANCS 500
(streams new data every 500 ms)
Taring Commands
Before collecting flow data, be sure to tare your device. If auto-tare is enabled on a controller (
), this can be accomplished
by providing a setpoint of 0 for at least 2 seconds.
Manual taring can be accomplished through two separate commands for flow and pressure. Taring flow sets the zero flow reading
and must be done when no flow is passing through the device:
Tare flow:
unit_id
V
Example:
AV
(sets flow reading to zero)
Taring a gauge or differential pressure sensor must be performed when the device is open to atmosphere.
Tare pressure:
unit_id
P
Example:
AP
For devices equipped with a barometer, the second tare aligns the internal absolute pressure sensor with the current barometer
reading and must be done with the device open to atmosphere:
Tare absolute pressure:
unit_id
PC
Example:
APC
Data Collection
Collect live flow data by typing the
unit_id
command or by setting your device to streaming. Each line of data for live
measurements appear in the format below. The measurements present are dictated by the type of device. Meters and gauges
do not show a setpoint.
Mass Flow Controller
A +15.542 +24.57 +16.667 +15.444 +15.444 22741.4 N2
ID Abs. Pressure Temperature
Vol. Flow
Mass Flow
Setpoint
Totalizer
Gas
Gauge Pressure Controller
A +20.00 +20.00
ID Gauge Pressure Setpoint
Liquid Controller
A 14.70 +24.57 +02.004 +02.004
ID Gauge Pressure Temperature
Vol. Flow
Setpoint
Single spaces separate each parameter, and each value is displayed in the chosen device engineering units (
). You
can query the engineering units of the serial data frame by typing:
Query live data info:
unit_id
??D*
Example:
A??D*
(returns the data frame descriptions)
