Software Alarms configuration
TIP: You can open Software Alarms from the SETTINGS > Alarms > Software Alarms page in Web Applications or from Management Console > Tools > Web Tools > Alarm Configuration.
Use Software Alarms to set up software-based alarms in PME. For software-based alarms, the alarm conditions are defined and monitored in the software instead of on the device. PME provides Alarm Templates to simplify the configuration of software-based alarms. Software based alarms can be defined for real-time data or for logged data.
Real-time Alarms
These Alarms are based on real-time data coming from monitoring devices. Reliable communication links to the devices are required for these Alarms to function correctly. Use real-time Alarms for alarming on power system operational parameters such as currents and voltages.
The following real-time Alarm Templates are available:
| Template | Notes |
|---|---|
| Breaker Status | Use this alarm to monitor the breaker trip status. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Protection alarms. |
| Communication Status | Use this alarm to monitor communications between the software and devices. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Communication Status alarms. |
| Over Current | Use this alarm to monitor phase currents. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Over Current alarms. |
| Over Voltage (Line to Line) | Use this alarm to monitor line to line phase voltages. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Over Voltage alarms. |
| Over Voltage (Line to Neutral) | Use this alarm to monitor line to neutral phase voltages. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Over Voltage alarms. |
| Realtime Digital Setpoint | Use this alarm to monitor Boolean (True/False) values. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as General Setpoint alarms. |
| Realtime Setpoint | Use this alarm to monitor analog values. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as General Setpoint alarms. |
| Under Voltage (Line to Line) | Use this alarm to monitor line to line phase voltages. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Under Voltage alarms. |
| Under Voltage (Line to Neutral) | Use this alarm to monitor line to neutral phase voltages. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Under Voltage alarms. |
See Real-time Alarms UI for information on Real-time Alarms configuration.
Logged Data Alarms
These Alarms are based on data that has been logged to the database. Logging of the required data must be configured, and data logs must be in the database for these Alarms to function correctly. Use logged data Alarms for alarming on consumption type parameters, such as energy or WAGES.
PME provides two types of logged data Alarms: Fixed Setpoint Alarms and Smart Setpoint Alarms.
Fixed Setpoint Alarms
Fixed Setpoint Alarms use pre-defined, fixed threshold values for the Active and Inactive conditions. For example, you can configure an Over Demand Alarm that goes Active when the Demand exceeds 800 kW and goes Inactive when the Demand falls below 600 kW. The following Fixed Setpoint Alarm templates are available:
| Template | Notes |
|---|---|
| Demand | Set up Alarms for over or under demand. Demand data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Demand alarms. |
| Water Consumption | Set up Alarms for water consumption. Water volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Water alarms. |
| Air Consumption | Set up Alarms for compressed air monitoring. Air volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Air alarms. |
| Gas Consumption | Set up Alarms for fuel gas monitoring. Gas volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Gas alarms. |
| Electricity Consumption | Set up Alarms for electric consumption. Electric energy data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Electricity alarms. |
| Steam Consumption | Set up Alarms for steam monitoring. Steam volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Steam alarms. |
| Datalog Digital Setpoint | Set up Alarms for any logged digital measurement in your system. Data logs for the measurement are required for this Alarm. |
| Datalog Setpoint | Set up Alarms for any logged analog measurement in your system. Data logs for the measurement are required for this Alarm. |
| Data Log Status |
Set up Alarms to monitor the retrieval of data for devices connected via gateway and also for devices, which is not connected to the software all the time. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Data Log Status alarms. |
See Logged Data Alarms UI (Fixed Setpoint) for information on fixed setpoint logged data Alarm configuration.
Smart Setpoint Alarms
Smart Setpoint Alarms use threshold values for Active and Inactive conditions that are based on data of the monitored input measurement itself. For example, you can configure an Over Demand Alarm that goes Active when the Demand is the "Highest Value in last 30 days", or when the value is "Abnormally High for the day of the week". The following Smart historical Alarm Templates are available:
| Template | Notes |
|---|---|
| Demand (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for over or under demand. Demand data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Demand alarms. |
| Water Consumption (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for water consumption. Water volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Water alarms. |
| Air Consumption (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for compressed air monitoring. Air volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Air alarms. |
| Gas Consumption (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for fuel gas monitoring. Gas volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Gas alarms. |
| Electricity Consumption (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for electric consumption. Electric energy measurement data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Electricity alarms. |
| Steam Consumption (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for steam monitoring. Steam volume data logs are required for this Alarm. Alarms generated by this template are categorized as Steam alarms. |
| Datalog Setpoint (Smart Setpoint) |
Set up Alarms for any logged analog measurement in your system. Data logs for the measurement are required for this Alarm. |
See Logged Data Alarms UI (Smart Setpoint) for information on fixed setpoint logged data Alarm configuration.
Software Alarms considerations
Take the following into account when using Software Alarms:
- Configuring many Alarm Rules with short update intervals can affect overall system performance.
- Alarm state is not evaluated if a device is disabled. For example, a communication loss is not triggered ON or OFF for a disabled device. Activities like maintenance on a meter can be done without the need to change the Alarm Rule.
- Communication Loss Alarms are only applied to physical devices. Any logical devices or downstream devices are removed from the Alarm Rule.
- The Alarm Rule name must be unique in the system. That means you cannot have two Alarm Rules defined with the same name.
- The Alarm Name must be unique for a source. That means you cannot enable two Alarms with the same Alarm Name for the same source.
To configure software Alarms, see:
- Adding a new Alarm Rule
- Enabling or disabling an Alarm Rule
- Editing an Alarm Rule
- Duplicating an Alarm Rule
- Deleting an Alarm Rule
- Using the Setpoint Calculator
- Adding a Schedule
For reference information see: