Set Up the Breaker Aging Calculations

The breaker aging and wear calculations and assessments are performed by a background service in PME. This service automatically detects compatible breaker devices that are configured in the Management Console. The service connects to these breakers, retrieves the relevant data and then performs the necessary calculations.

Setting up the breaker aging calculations includes the following steps:

  • Starting the ION Software Modbus Gateway Service
  • Adding a new calculation service provider
  • Adding a new site for the calculation service
  • Adding a Breaker Aging and Wear Provider device

See the descriptions below for details on how to complete these tasks.

To start the ION Software Modbus Gateway Service,

  1. Open the Windows Services panel, for example through Administrative Tools > Services.
  2. Find and start the ION Software Modbus Gateway Service and set the Startup type to Automatic.

To add a new calculation service provider,

  1. In File Explorer, navigate to ...\Power Monitoring Expert\system\bin and run ModbusServiceConfigurationTool.exe.
  2. In Modbus Services Configuration Tool, click Add.
  3. From Available Services select Breaker Aging and Wear Calculation Service.

  4. In Unit ID enter a value of 1 if this is the first service provider you are adding. Otherwise, enter the next incremental value for Unit ID.
  5. Click Configure.
  6. In Breaker Aging Service Configuration, review the settings and leave the values at their defaults. The defaults are a Real Time Request Polling Interval of 5 seconds and a Real Time Request Priority Level of 0. Click OK.

    NOTE: These settings control the real-time data requests for breaker aging and wear calculations. These settings do not affect other real-time data requests in the system, such as for Vista, Diagrams, or Gadgets. Only modify these settings if certain load conditions in the system require a change in the polling priority and frequency of meter real-time data.

    Real Time Request Priority Levels:

    Frequency (in seconds)Priority
    0Low
    250Medium
    500High
    1000Intermediate
    5000Urgent
    10000Control
  7. In Breaker Aging Service Configuration, click OK.

  8. In Modbus Service Configuration Tool, click OK. A dialog appears informing you about the configuration change and the need to restart the ION Modbus Software Gateway Service.

  9. In Configuration Changed, click Yes to continue and to restart the ION Modbus Software Gateway Service.

To add a new site for the calculation service,

NOTE: You only need one site for the ION Modbus Software Gateway Service in your system. Skip these steps if you have already set up a site for other applications of the Modbus Software Gateway Service.

  1. Open Management Console and log in with a supervisor-level account.
  2. In the left pane, click Sites.
  3. Add a new Ethernet Gateway Site. Enter the following information:
    • Name: Enter BreakerAgingWearSite.
    • TCP/IP Address: Enter <Your local PME server name or IP address>.
    • TCP/IP Port: Select ModbusTCP Device|502.

  4. Click OK.

To add a Breaker Aging and Wear Provider device

  1. Open Management Console and log in with a supervisor-level account.
  2. In the left pane, click Devices.
  3. Add a new Serial Device on Ethernet Gateway Site. Enter the following information:
    • Group: Enter Breakers.
    • Name: Enter BreakerAgingWearProvider.
    • Device Type: Enter Breaker Aging And Wear Provider.
    • Unit ID: Enter the same Unit ID you configured in the Modbus Service configuration tool.
    • Site: Select the BreakerAgingWearSite.
    • Enabled: Select Yes.

  4. Click OK.