A few weeks ago we wrote an article on this blog dedicated to the software which permits generator sets to be controlled remotely from any mobile device: the DSEWebNet app. (See Remote Monitoring and Control for Generator Sets with the DSE Mobile App.) Today we are going to explain how the DSE 890 hardware works as well as the system in its entirety. (We also made reference to the hardware in a previous article: Innovative Remote Control System.) In order to understand its usefulness, first let’s look at two situations which may arise in any company:
Situation 1. The client controls their generator sets remotely
As the person responsible for the maintenance of a generator set or a fleet of gensets installed in a single location, you want to have remote access to them when you are in a different geographical location. Alternatively, from a single location you want to have remote access to a group of gensets installed in various locations.
Situation 2. Inmesol offers the client remote technical assistance
As the person responsible for the maintenance of a generator set or a fleet of gensets, you may have questions or problems regarding their operation or you might need remote technical assistance. In this case, the client provides the Inmesol technicians with the relevant passwords so they can access the equipment information stored in the cloud and help them to resolve any anomalies or answer any queries.
In each case, the remote control system allows the user to visualise the monitoring information (fuel level, filter conditions, etc.) and interact with the generator sets’ control panel in real time. In other words, it enables you to perform all types of checks and tests, to program and reprogram alarms and notifications, and to control the gensets as though you were physically standing in front of the control panel. This represents a huge saving in technical staff and travelling costs (with a consequent reduction in pollutant emissions).
Global System Operation
Every generator set currently on the market should come with an integrated switchboard or control panel. This panel must be compatible with the remote control system’s hardware and software (not all of them are). At Inmesol, all our generator sets have compatible control panels (DSE), except for model 3110.
The first step consists of making the connection between the generator set’s switchboard and the DSE890 hardware, which has an internal memory to store information related to the gensets. Subsequently, the connection is made between the hardware and the server or cloud for the information to be sent there. To access the server, the DSEWebNet application must be downloaded onto the user’s mobile device. (DSEWebNet is available for both Apple and Android devices.) The image below shows us the entire system.
Let’s move on to the issue of compatibility and the various connection systems available for each scenario depending on whether we are going to remotely control a single generator set or a fleet of them.
Compatibility Between DSE Control Panels and the DSE890 Hardware
At INMESOL we use DSE control panels (DSE 60xx, DSE 73xx and DSE 86xx), as well as the types of ATS controllers shown in the compatibility table below:
How Is the Connection Made Between the Generator Set Switchboard and the Hardware?
The connection system depends on whether we are going to control just one generator set or more than one switchboard. In each case we have two options.
Connection via USB cables and RSS to control a single switchboard:
To control just one switchboard, we can connect the generator set to the hardware using a USB, RS232 or RS485 cable.
Connection via an RS485 port to control multiple switchboards:
To control more than one switchboard, we use an RS485 port with a connection cable that has a resistance of 120 Ω.
Connection via Ethernet to control a single switchboard:
In this case, we use a network cable.
Connection via a router to control multiple switchboards:
In this case, we use a standard Ethernet cable with RJ45 connectors.
How Is the Connection Made Between the Hardware and the Cloud?
The connection between the DSE890 hardware and the server can be made either by Ethernet or by GPRS, as shown in the image below.
Basic Diagram Showing the Connection System
As the image above shows, the connection between the generator set’s switchboard and the hardware can be made via USB, Ethernet, RS232 or RS485, while the connection to the server uses either Ethernet or GPRS.
Once the connections have been made and the software application has been downloaded to your computer, tablet and/or mobile phone, you will be able to use your devices to access the server (or cloud) in order to visualise all the data corresponding to the monitoring of the generator sets. You will also be able to carry out the maintenance and control tasks mentioned previously.
With the DSE remote control system, what used to be a project under development is now a reality. The system facilitates the safety of your company’s generator sets and the work of your technical team, saving time and financial resources. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact our technical service.