TG – Synch NB Clock to CP1L-E - Synch NB Clock to CP1L-E Clock

Purpose

This document provides the instructions necessary to automatically synchronize

the NB HMIs real time clock (date and time) to the CP1L-E system clock

Problem Explanation/Objective

The PLC system clock is available for ladder logic to programmatically read.  The challenge is to mine and re-format the PLC clock data, and make it available to the NB HMI.  Once available to the NB, the NB application, with a timed macro trigger, will update the HMI real time clock

Supported devices

NB HMI with EtherNet

NB Designer 1.63

CP1L-E 

CX-Programmer

Requirements

Prerequisites include basic knowledge of how to program an NB HMI, as well as basic understanding of how to program CP1L-E controller

Procedure

Step 1 Create the CP1L-E Variables

In CX-Programmer, create the following variables in the Global Symbols Table

Individually, double click the symbols “Seconds”, “Minutes”, “Hours”, “Day”, “Month”, and “Year”, and check the Link to CX-Server file

Step 2 Create the CP1L-E code

Step 3 Create a Macro in the NB to set the Real Time Clock

Create a Macro from the Options / Macro menus in NB Designer

Choose HMI0 as the PT, and macro_0.c will automatically be created. Click OK.

In the Project File Window, expand the tree and double click on 0:macro_0.c to open the macro

Create the following Macro Variables by right clicking in the Macro Variable Table, and selecting

Add Variable

Create the following code in the macro. This code assigns each of the parts of the Real Time

Clock from the NX / NJ CPU to the corresponding parts of the Real Time Clock in the NB

Step 4 Create a timer to call the macro

Open the Common Window (screen 1) and place a Timer object from the Function Parts list on

the screen. The Common Window is a screen that is always open in the background of the NB

project, regardless of which screen is being displayed.

Set the Timer properties as shown. This will trigger the macro every minute to update the HMI

Real Time Clock.

Step 5. Download the project to the NB and test the functionality

Date/Revision History

Jan 20, 2025 - Submitted for review

Author:

Ed Gallagher, Technical Support Specialist

References

V106 - NB Designer Operation Manual

V107 - NB Setup Manual

V109 - NB Startup Guide

V122 - NB User’s Manual

W516 - CP1L-EL/EM CPU Unit Operation Manual

W451 - CP1H/CP1L CPU Unit Programming Manual