Crimson: RLC Instrument Driver

06 Jun 2025

Industrial Automation Tech Note 11 - TNIA11

Abstract:

This document describes how to use Crimson 3 to configure the Red Lion Controls (RLC) Instrument Driver to communicate with Red Lion Controls Panel Meters with ASCII serial communications capabilities.

Products:

RLC CR1000 HMI, CR3000 HMI, DA Series Data Stations, DSP, G3 HMI, G3 Kadet HMI, Graphite® Controller, Graphite HMI, Modular Controller, and ProducTVity Station™

Use Case:

Configuring communication between Crimson programmed products withT\ the panel meter associated with each previously identified RLC product must be correctly configured to ensure proper operation. Crimson 3 is used to configure panel meter communications and protocol settings.

Required Software:

Crimson® 2.0, 3.0, or 3.1

 

Introduction

This document describes how to use Crimson 3 to configure panel meter communications, protocol, port, and data tag settings.

Panel Meter Configuration

Panel meter configuration consists of specifying the communication settings required for communications between the panel meter and Crimson 3, selecting the protocol to be used for the panel meter’s serial port, and creating a data tag for the device. Communication Settings The available communication settings vary between device types; referring to Figure 1 the black items below are common to all devices:

Fig_1.png

Figure 1.

NOTE: Use of Abbreviated is recommended.

Communication Configuration

Protocol Selection

To select the protocol to be used, perform the following:

1. Start Crimson 3 and click on the port to be configured.

2. Click Pick, next to the Driver option; the Driver Picker for Serial Port popup shown in Figure 2 appears.

3. Select Red Lion as the Manufacturer and RLC Instrument as the Driver.

Fig_2.png

Figure 2.

4. Click OK.

5. Configure the remaining Port Settings to match the panel meter.

Device Configuration

Referring to Figure 3, perform the following:

1. From the Navigation Pane, click on the desired device below the port; DEV1 in this example; the Communications - RS-485 Comms Port - DEV 1 popup appears.

2. Set the Drop Number to match the Addr setting of the panel meter; 1 in this example.

3. Select the appropriate Red Lion Device; PAXI/PAXCK/PAXDP in this example.

4. Set the Protocol Mode to Abbreviated.

Fig_3.png

Figure 3.

Data Tag Creation

Create the data tag to be associated with the panel meter by performing the following:

1. Create a new Numeric tag.

2. Change the Tag’s source to the RLC device; the Select Address popup shown in Figure 4 appears.

Fig_4.png

Figure 4.

3. Enter the Register ID of the parameter to be associated with this tag; A in this example. Refer to the Register Identification Chart in the Communications section of the panel meter’s user manual for additional information.

4. Click OK.