Networking XLogic PLCs

My house is run with XLogic PLC controllers.  The manuals are thorough, but are written in terrible Chinglish.  Which is unfortunate, because the UIs are almost completely incomprehensible.

All "manual" references in these notes are to the X-Messenger manual and xLogic's "eSms Config" software unless indicated otherwise.

WIFI PLC - Network Module

My network includes one EXM-12 series module with ethernet and wifi.  It was a real bear to understand the unintuitive setup process.  It'll go better for you if you think of all the TCP networking as being located in a stand-alone external module with its own CPU, which talks to the PLC over a 9600 baud serial interface.

Web Interface

 The device has a mostly useless web interface.  You can use it for two things:

• change WIFI between AP (Serve as a wifi access point) and STA (Connect to your existing AP).  You should use a serial cable instead.
• You can also use it to screw up some other settings:
• the serial connection to the PLC.  Must remain at 9600 N 8 1.
• the ethernet port
• If you reset the device from the panel->set->network menu, it sets the network module's serial speed to 57600, which is incompatible with the PLC.  You *must* connect by wifi and change it back to 9600 before you can make any serial changes to the network module.

Ethernet  

• I couldn't make it work at all, not even respond to ping.
• The LEDs on the ethernet are hijacked to indicate WIFI status.  Nothing to do with ethernet.  (pg 356)
• Open/Closed in this context means the ethernet port is active or disabled.
• Possibly the ethernet port is only useful for Modbus TCP -- I didn't test this.

WIFI Modbus/TCP

• Initial configuration is AP mode.  Connect to it at http://10.10.100.256, credentials admin / admin.
• You should probably change wifi settings with eSMS config and a serial cable
• If you're feeling lucky, you can use the web interface to change it to STA mode and have it connect to your AP.  If you screw up the cryptic settings for security, you won't be able to access the unit over WIFI anymore, and you'll need to fail over to changing settings with the config software
• MAC field is optional.

eSms Config

Use an onboard RS232 port if you're using the serial cable.  I had very little luck with USB-RS232 converters [update 2019: I found a genuine PL2303 device that worked, albeit not very well].  If you own the xLogic USB cable you'll probably be in better shape than me, but I couldn't bring myself to pay US$25 shipping on such a simple part.  Anyhow, once you have a physical serial connection, the process looks like this:

1. Tools->Configuration
2. Select RS232 port and EXM address
3. Click "connect to EXM"
4. Check that you have a valid connection 
• Use "get time from PLC" (toolbar L-circle-up-arrow)
5. Tools->Wifi Param
6. On every screen in Wifi Param,  click "READ" to see current state.
7. If you make changes, also click "WRITE".
8. I have no idea what the apply button does.

The left (Program) port is Com0.  The right (Extend) port is Com1.

HMI / SCADA development

See my later blog entry.