System Control Computer

DFA uses a Dell® computer with a Microsoft Windows® operating system for the system controller in most Telemetry/SCADA Systems. Hardware availability and specifications change so frequently that the factory needs to be consulted for the current SCC PC configuration. On average the following SCC hardware configuration is the current System Control Computer (SCC) minimum standard or the latest hardware available or as specified by customer.

  • Dell® OptiPlex 7020 Minitower, minimum or latest available.
  • Intel® Core i7-4790 Processor.
  • 500GB Hard Drive, 8 GB 1600MHz DDR3 Memory.
  • Integrated network card.
  • Peripherla equipment connection ports are 1 parallel port and 3 serial ports.
  • CD ROM/DVD ROM, 16X DVD+/-RW Drive.
  • A Dell® 104 QuietKey USB Keyboard.
  • Two button USB Optical mouse with scroll.
  • 24″ Dell® Color Monitor with Sound Bar.
  • Desktop External Hard Drive, 3.5″, 1 TB, 3.0 USB for continuous field data backup.
  • For battery backup, Tripp Lite 600VA Sine Wave Tower UPS, Model BC600SINE.
  • Internet access supplied by customer.

Licensed run-time versions of software loaded on the System Control Computer’s hard drive include:

  • Microsoft Windows® 7 Professional Operating System, 64 bit.
  • Latest Real VNC®, Enterprise Edition. This remote access software enables a user to remotely access and control a computer from another computer or mobile device. It is ultra-secure with 128-bit AES encryption and 256-bit AES encryption.

The Telemetry/SCADA System user software interface is loaded onto the hard drive of the System Control Computer (SCC) as runtime modules. Developed by DFA using National Instruments LabVIEW®, a leading process control programming language, these Telemetry/SCADA user software interface modules are as follows:

  • The Main Control Panel is a software graphical interface with pushbutton access to individual software screens for each Telemetry/SCADA System site and a System Overview screen. This module may include the control algorithm for each site, field data logging and charting, alarming, alarm logging, and operator specific security functions.For water and wastewater applications, this software interface is WaterMACS™; For pivot irrigation applications, PivotMACS™; For natural gasfield and oilfield applications, ProductionMACS™; For power substation applications, PowerMACS™.
  • LVDialer™ is the software graphical interface for the Synthesized Voice Auto Alarm Phone Dialer Card. From this sofware interface all functions of the Phone Dialer can be managed including setting up the phone list database.
  • LVMAC™ is the radio communications driver software interface which depicts current polling activity by site, polling statistics by site, and system communication alarms.
  • The SCADA Report Module manages the administrative reporting of logged field data and generates reports on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. .
  • DFA diagnostic support software for System support.

The System Control Computer (SCC) screens and controls may be available at the Utility operator’s home PC or laptop computer by using a remote access software interface. DFA also offers a Web server that is available for browser access to the SCC for cell phones and PDAs that have internet access.

Every SCC must have a wide area communications network to communicate to remote sites. These networks are either radio, hardwire, phone, cellular, fiber optic, Ethernet or internet. The DFA remote terminal unit (RTU) is capable of communications on all of these various networks. However, the largest number of Telemtry/SCADA Systems are radio networked. When the DFA System Control Computer is radio networked, it is accompanied by a wall mounted base radio modem and related communications equipment.

DFA is an authorized OEM distributor for Dell, Inc. and Motorola, Inc. As such, DFA uses and recommends Dell™ computer products and Motorola® radios.

Caution:

The System Control Computer (SCC) is tasked with real-time monitor and control system software. Using the SCC for games or Office type products may cause operating problems for the SCADA / Telemetry System and void the DFA warranty.