Abstract

The Boomerang family of cell-connected distribution monitors continues to expand. This expansion includes updated hardware, added features and new capabilities. These changes along with customer input have driven the need for additional DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol 3) points to be added to the PMI point map. Whitepaper 118 (An Overview of DNP3 and the Boomerang Point Map) contains PMI’s original point map created to support the single phase, voltage-only Boomerang 2S. This first version of the point map was superseded by the version 2.0 map to support the growing Boomerang product line as described in WP167 (Boomerang DNP3 Point Map 2.0). This whitepaper details the additions to the 2.0 map since the release of WP167 nearly four years ago.

DNP3 Points Defined

The DNP3 protocol is used by SCADA systems to monitor and control a wide range of external devices. The protocol itself is freely available to device manufacturers so that products from different vendors can be utilized on the same SCADA system. The DNP3 protocol is very generic in its method used to access the data on a device (known as RTU’s, remote terminal units or outstations). The protocol utilizes a series of groups and points within each group. The groups of data types (binary input, analog output, etc.) are defined by the protocol while the points within each group are defined by the manufacturer of the outstation. Some of the new points that have been added to the Boomerang map expand groups that are already in use. Other points have been created within previously unused groups representing new types of input and output being supported by some Boomerangs.

New Points for All Boomerangs

Some of the newly added points are available on all versions of the Boomerang utilizing the 2.0 point map (excludes the voltage-only Boomerang 2S). A Boomerang firmware update may be required to gain this functionality.

Binary counters (group 20) now has a point (point 23) for monitoring the total time in seconds that the Boomerang has been successfully connected to the cellular data network. This may be useful in conjunction with the run time (point 20) for monitoring the network availability.

There have been two general information points added to the analog input group (group 30). These are the Boomerang’s firmware version on point 20 and the device serial number on point 21. These points can be read at any time and may be useful for ensuring all Boomerang outstations are operating at the same firmware level or to check availability of all expected devices.

Analog input deadband support (group 34) has been added and is useful as an alternate (or additional) means of monitoring variations in voltage, current and power. A common method for monitoring values is for the SCADA master to retrieve data periodically and act on the results. Deadbands allow for setting a deviation zone for a given measurement. If the current value (voltage, current or power) varies from the last value that caused an event by more than the deadband amount in either the positive or negative direction then a new analog input event is generated. Up to 50 events will be stored with an associated time of occurrence and can be retrieved by the SCADA master on a periodic basis. The Boomerang can also be configured to send events asynchronously as they occur which can help to reduce the amount of data being consumed on the Boomerang’s cellular data plan. The deadband points can be written at any time or can be read to see the active deadband values. A deadband value of zero for a given measurement disables the associated deadband processing. Zero is the default setting for all deadbands.

Analog outputs (group 40) has a new writable configuration point (point 25) to allow a SCADA master to set the duration of the averaging window used by the Boomerang when reporting averaged voltage, current and power values. Group 40 also has new channel oriented points for saving the initial deadband settings used at power up instead of having the SCADA master set them at run time.

The Eclipse – DER Remote Control Solution

PMI’s soon to be released Eclipse DER control device can control remote equipment as well as optionally monitor remote voltage and current levels. Designed specifically for the needs of DER remote monitoring and control, the Eclipse adds two binary inputs and outputs with their own DNP3 points. The binary inputs return a true result when 120 VAC is present on the input terminal, and false when this voltage falls below approximately 60 VAC. There are also two binary outputs connected to relays within the Eclipse that can be wired to external devices or other controllers. These Form C relays provide both normally open and closed contacts for maximum flexibility. The inputs and outputs are managed by a utility SCADA master to monitor and control devices external to the Eclipse.

The two binary inputs (group 1) have been created as points 20 and 21. These points can be read at any time to query the status of the input for the presence of 120 VAC. Two binary outputs (group 10 or group 12) are used to control the relay outputs on points 20 and 21. The binary outputs reside in two different groups due to the flexibility built into the DNP3 protocol. The group 10 points use simple write commands to the outputs without a status return indicating the actual state of the output. The status returned from a group 10 write reflects the success or failure of the command and not the actual effect on the output. The usage of group 12 requires the output to be first selected and then operated upon. This method will return the actual state of the output or an error code upon command failure.

Conclusion

The Boomerang family of products continues to expand and gain additional functionality. Sometimes new capabilities are added based on industry needs and occasionally based on customer request. The DNP3 protocol has the flexibility to handle these changes with the addition of select data points added to the proper groups for complete coverage of the Boomerang feature set.

Group 1 – Binary Input Conditions

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved For V1 Point Map
20	120v RMS AC input 1
21	120v RMS AC input 2
22-99	Unused binary inputs

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Binary Input Conditions
100	200	300	Voltage normal
101	201	301	Voltage low low
102	202	302	Voltage low
103	203	303	Voltage high
104	204	304	Voltage high high
105	205	305	Current normal
106	206	306	Current low low
107	207	307	Current low
108	208	308	Current high
109	209	309	Current high high
110	210	310	Real power normal
111	211	311	Real power low low
112	212	312	Real power low
113	213	313	Real power high
114	214	314	Real power high high

Group 2 – Binary Input Events

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20-99	Unused binary input events

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Binary Input Events
100	200	300	Voltage returned to normal
101	201	301	Voltage crossed low threshold
102	202	302	Voltage crossed low threshold
103	203	303	Voltage crossed high threshold
104	204	304	Voltage crossed high high threshold
105	205	305	Current returned to normal
106	206	306	Current crossed low low threshold
107	207	307	Current crossed low threshold
108	208	308	Current crossed high threshold
109	209	309	Current crossed high high threshold
110	210	310	Real power returned to normal
111	211	311	Real power crossed low low threshold
112	212	312	Real power crossed low threshold
113	213	313	Real power crossed high threshold
114	214	314	Real power crossed high high threshold

Group 10 – Binary Outputs

Points	Description
0-19	Unused in v1 point map
20	Latching relay 1 (direct write)
21	Latching relay 2 (direct write)
22-99	Unused binary outputs

Group 12 – Binary Outputs

Points	Description
0-19	Unused in v1 point map
20	Latching relay 1 (select, operate)
21	Latching relay 2 (select, operate)
22-99	Unused binary input events

Group 20 – Binary Counters

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20	Run time in seconds
21	Received bytes (TCP + UDP)
22	Transmitted bytes (TCP + UDP)
23	Network up time (seconds)
24	120v RMS AC input 1 state changes
25	120v RMS AC input 2 state changes
26	Latching relay output 1 state changes
27	Latching relay output 2 state changes
28-99	Unused binary counters

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Binary Counters
100	200	300	Voltage low low events
101	201	301	Voltage low events
102	202	302	Voltage high events
103	203	303	Voltage high high events
104	204	304	Reserved
105	205	305	Time voltage low low
106	206	306	Time voltage low
107	207	307	Time voltage high
108	208	308	Time voltage high high
109	209	309	Time voltage normal
110	210	310	Current low low events
111	211	311	Current low events
112	212	312	Current high events
113	213	313	Current high high events
114	214	314	Reserved
115	215	315	Time current low low
116	216	316	Time current low
117	217	317	Time current high
118	218	318	Time current high high
119	219	319	Time current normal
120	220	320	Real power low low events
121	221	321	Real power low events
122	222	322	Real power high events
123	223	323	Real power high high events
124	224	324	Reserved
125	225	325	Time real power low low
126	226	326	Time real power low
127	227	327	Time real power high
128	228	328	Time real power high high
129	229	329	Time real power normal

Group 22 – Binary Counter Events

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20-99	Unused binary counter events

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Binary Counter Events
100-129	200-229	300-329	Not yet implemented

Group 30 – Analog Inputs

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20	Firmware version
21	Serial number
22-99	Unused analog inputs

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Analog Inputs
100	200	300	RMS voltage (1 second average)
101	201	301	… (programmable window average)
102	202	302	RMS voltage (1 second minimum)
103	203	303	RMS voltage (1 second maximum)
104	204	304	Reserved
105	205	305	RMS current (1 second average)
106	206	306	… (programmable window average)
107	207	307	RMS current (1 second minimum)
108	208	308	RMS current (1 second maximum)
109	209	309	Reserved
110	210	310	Real power (1 second average)
111	211	311	… (programmable window average)
112	212	312	Real power (1 second minimum)
113	213	313	Real power (1 second maximum)
114	214	314	Reserved

Group 32 – Analog Input Events

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20-99	Unused analog input events

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Analog Input Events
100	200	300	Reserved
101	201	301	Voltage returned to normal level
102-105	202-205	302-305	Reserved
106	206	306	Current returned to normal level
107-110	207-210	307-310	Reserved
111	211	311	Real power returned to normal level
112-115	212-215	312-315	Reserved

Group 34 – Deadbands (Analog Inputs)

Points	Description
0-99	Unused deadband values

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Deadbands (Analog Inputs)
100	200	300	RMS voltage (1 second average)
101	201	301	… (programmable window average)
102-104	202-204	302-304	Reserved
105	205	305	RMS current (1 second average)
106	206	306	… (programmable window average)
107-109	207-209	307-309	Reserved
110	210	310	Real power (1 second average)
111	211	311	…. (programmable window average)
112-114	212-214	312-314	Reserved

Group 40 – Analog Outputs

Points	Description
0-19	Reserved for v1 point map
20	Commit output settings to flash storage
21	Threshold hold off time (seconds)
22	Threshold hysteresis
23	Current range (0-3)
24	Circuit type (0-2)
25	Average window (seconds)
26-99	Unused analog outputs

Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3	Analog Outputs
100	200	300	Voltage low low threshold
101	201	301	Voltage low threshold
102	202	302	Voltage high threshold
103	203	303	Voltage high high threshold
104	204	304	Voltage deadband
105	205	305	Current low low threshold
106	206	306	Current low threshold
107	207	307	Current high threshold
108	208	308	Current high high threshold
109	209	309	Current deadband
110	210	310	Real power low low threshold
111	211	311	Real power low threshold
112	212	312	Real power high threshold
113	213	313	Real power high high threshold
114	214	314	Real power deadband