Control Panel Firmware 5.0 Features

The FUSION Control Panel is provided free with all our microprocessor-based controllers. This software allows you to conveniently monitor and adjust your controller settings.

In 2014, we are releasing our controllers with Control Panel 3.5, which is required to run Version 5.0 firmware.
Firmware 5.0 adds new features and made the control panel even more customizable. These include: 1) Custom display, 2) Zero Cross Transformer Mode, 3) User Lock, 4) Three Phase Load Imbalance, 5) monitor parameters, and the ability to name IP addresses

In this video, we will cover a few of these features, found under display control, and user settings.

First, connect to a powered controller via USB. Open the Control Panel and click "Connect" on the left side of the screen. Then click on the system tab, and on the right side of the screen you will find the Display Control Options and User Settings.

The display control options dictate what information will be available on your controller's digital display.

Clicking on "Default Screen List" returns the Control Panel to manufacturing defaults.

Selecting Custom Screen List opens a new window. From here you can choose what relevant data appears on your controller display, or create custom text.

The controller can display a maximum of 50 screens. Each screen contains up to two lines of text. The Screen List tells us which parameters are currently being displayed.

To add or remove screens, select a parameter from the Display List and select "Add," "Remove," or "Replace." For example, say I want "Control Loop Response" for Zone 1. I would like it to display above Feedback Zone 1, so I select that parameter and click "Add."

This third window tells us how the parameter will appear on the controller display: as "Slew Rate Z1." When we click "Program," these changes will be applied.

Custom text may be useful for naming a controller or giving instructions specific to your task. Enter the text you wish to display in the Custom Text fields, (maximum of 16 characters per line) highlight "Custom Text" from the end of the Display list and choose "Add" or "Replace."

Under "Analog Input Monitor Params" are options to specify titles and units for Monitor parameters. We will cover how to use analog inputs for general purpose in another tutorial.

Again, to approve changes, select "Program" and close the Custom Screen List dialog box. You must then reset the controller for the changes to take effect.

Many parameters can be edited from the controller display. Parameter lock prevents users from changing specific parameters unless they enter the right password. By default, this password is "4000."

From the parameter lock menu, select the parameters you wish to lock, enter your password, and click "Program" to make the change.  You may also choose to use the Lock All or Unlock All buttons.
Once the initial password is entered, you may also change the password by selecting the Change Password checkbox and entering a new 4-number combination into the field. 

An editable parameter will appear on the controller display with a dot preceding the text. Pressing the green checkmark key will allow you to edit the parameter value. When the parameter is locked, an asterik (*) appears instead, and the green checkmark key will prompt you to enter the password.

Use the arrow keys to enter the correct combination, pressing the green key to move forward to the next number. If the correct password is entered, parameters are unlocked and can be locked again by pressing and holding the plus sign (+) key.

Let's return to the Display Control options. If the "Auto-Scroll Enabled" checkbox is selected, the controller display will cycle through the approved parameters. Auto-scroll also resumes after ten minutes of inactivity, and can be turned on via the controller display panel by pressing and holding the Up Arrow key.

Moving on to User settings. These options are available in Firmware version 5.00 and later releases. Click Save to Backup after making changes to save your settings to your computer.

Restore From Backup allows you to restore previously-saved custom settings.

For more information, you can visit our website at www.ccipower.com, or contact the experts directly at Control Concepts, Inc.