BACnet Client
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BACnet Client

UniLogic now enables you to easily implement BACnet Client communications by configuration rather than programming.

BACnet Client functionality complements our existing BACnet Server capabilities (Ethernet/IP only), and supports two communication methods:

You can operate both communication methods simultaneously or choose to use only one option.

  • BACnet Client requires a license purchase. For more information, please contact your Unitronics' sales representative.

  • One-hour Trial Offer: this free, fully functional trial offer enables you to explore UniStream's BACnet Client for 60 minutes at a time. Click here for Trial activation instructions.

  • BACnet Client Limitations: 64 devices, 16 objects per device.

 

Configuring BACnet Client

 

BACnet Client over Ethernet/IP

  1. On the Solution Explorer tree, click PLC Communications to expand it, then Protocols > BACnet Client > Panel Ethernet > Devices, and then click Add New Panel Ethernet Device Connection.

  2. Click in the Panel Ethernet Device Connection fields to specify the Name and Device ID.
    UniLogic creates a dedicated struct for each device connection.

  3. Set the Common Device Settings definitions in the Properties WindowCommon Device Settings definitions in the Properties Window.

    BACnet Client Panel Ethernet Device Connection Properties Window Parameters

    Client Device ID

    Enter the ID of the client device to be accessed. The range is 0 - 4194304

    Client IP Address

    The IP address is automatically inherited from the PLC configuration

    Port (UDP)

    Enter the port. The range is 0 - 65535

  4. For each Ethernet/IP device, add new operations.

 

BACnet Client over Serial

To begin, include an I/O module or enable the USB Serial in your application:

  1. In the Solution Explorer, select Hardware Configuration > Uni-I/O & Uni-COM, and add one of the I/O modules (UAC-CX-01RS2 or UAC-CX-01RS4).
    In the Properties Window, configure the port for BACnet Client.

  2. Alternatively, in the Solution Explorer, select PLC Communications > Physical > Controller USB Port.
    In the Properties Window, enable the USB for serial device, and from the Panel USB Port Settings drop-down options, initialize the port for BACnet Client.

  3. Default BACnet Port Settings are loaded automatically, with the option to modify Baud Rate according to your application.

  4.      You can now add serial device connections.

  5. On the Solution Explorer tree, click PLC Communications to expand it, then Protocols > BACnet Client > Serial > Devices, and then click Add New Serial Device Connection.

  6. Click in the Serial Device Connection fields to specify the Name and Device ID.
    UniLogic creates a dedicated struct for each device connection.

  7. Set the Common Device Settings definitions in the Properties WindowCommon Device Settings definitions in the Properties Window.

    BACnet Client Serial Device Connection Properties Window Parameters

    Client Device ID

    Enter the ID of the client device to be accessed. The range is 0 - 4194304

    Serial Communication

    Select the physical interface for serial communication.

    Client MAC address

    Enter the ID of the client on the network segment. The range is 0 - 127

    Max Masters

    Maximum address allowed on the network. The range is 1 - 127

    Max Info Frames

    Maximum number of  messages a device can send. The range is 1 - 255

    Timeout (ms)

    Determine the time to wait for a response. The range is 50 - 2000

  8. For each Serial Device, add new operations.

 

Adding Operations

For each BACnet Device created, you can add Aperiodic or Periodic operations. The parameters differ as listed in the next table.

Name

Definition

ID

Unique identifier auto-generated by UniLogic, starting from 0.

Name

Enter an identifying name for your convenience.

Object Type

Click to select the BACnet object type to be accessed.

  • Analog Input (AI)

  • Analog Output (AO)

  • Analog Value (AV)

  • Binary Input (BI)

  • Binary Output (BO)

  • Binary Value (BV)

  • Integer Value (IV)

  • Multi State Input (MI)

  • Multi State Output (MO)

  • Multi State Value (MV)

Data

Link to the tag the data value for the Read/Write operation.
Note that the tag type must match the object type.

Supported Services

Click to select the desired services for the selected object type (Read/Write)

Write Priority

Optional priority level for Write operations only. Range 1-16 

Property Identifier

The BACnet property to access (currently limited to Present_Value)

Object Instance ID

The specific instance number of the BACnet object on the server.

Status

Optional detailed status information per each Periodic and Aperiodic operation:

-3 - BACnet Request Disconnected - Client is disconnected from the BACnet server

-2 - BACnet Request Time Out - Operation request has timed out

-1 - BACnet Request Error - General error occurred during operation

0 - BACnet Request Finished OK - Operation completed successfully

1 - BACnet Request in Progress - Operation is currently being processed

Periodic Parameters: relevant for periodic operations

Execution Interval (ms)

Determine the time between successive executions of the operation. Range 500-10000 (default 1000)

 

To add Aperiodic operations:

  1. Select the tab with the desired operation type, and click Add New Operation. UniLogic adds a row to the table.

  2. Click in the fields to edit and make selections.

 

You can convert Aperiodic operations to Periodic, and vice versa. Note that you can also duplicate the operations.

 

Note that the ID parameters allow you to use Aperiodic Ladder elements to run the operations via your program.

 

BACnet Client Aperiodic Ladder Functions

The ladder functions listed below can run via Ethernet/IP or Serial channels in UniStream.

Use this to publish a specific operation according to the operation ID number.

You must not place an Aperiodic function on the bus bar, or anywhere it will be continuously activated. Use a delay of 10-50 msec between requests.

 

 

 

 

Parameter Name

Purpose

A

BACnet Device Interface

Select the required Device Interface channel; Ethernet or Serial.

B

ID to Publish

This is the ID# of the operation. You can provide a constant or a tag.

C

Status

The value indicates the status of the function:

 0 - No error

 1 - Function started

 2 - Function in progress

10 - Function start error

-1 - Invalid request ID

-2 - Server disconnected

-3 - General error

 

BACnet Client Device Struct

When you add a server device, UniLogic automatically creates a supporting data tag struct. Use the members of the struct to monitor the server status.
Note that these parameters are read-only.

Name

Data Type

Definition

Is Connected

Bit

Indicates the connection status with the server.

Code

 Message

0

Disconnected

1

Connected

Return Code

INT8

Indicates the status of the most recent request sent by the client to the server.

Code

 Message

0

No data sent

1

Success

2

Failed

 

Licensing: Activating BACnet Client

Trial Activation

To activate the BACnet Client Trial license:

  1. Create a UniLogic project.

  2. Add a BACnet IP or serial client as shown above; include I/Os, Schedules, and other items according to your project needs.

  3. Download your BACnet project to a UniStream controller.
    At the end of the download, your PLC will restart, and the One-hour Trial will automatically start.

  4. When the trial hour completes, UniStream will display this HMI screen:

 

You can reactivate the 1-hour Trial by restarting the PLC or HMI, or by selecting the Reset HMI or Reset PLC option in UniApps.

Full Activation

When you purchase a license from your Unitronics sales representative, you receive a license key number.

In UniApps, select Licensing > Activate BACnet (Client) License > Enter Key and follow the on-screen instructions for Activation.