Frequently Asked Questions - General
General
Is it possible to update with SD card a VIPA CPU?
Is a password for downloading on the VIPA homepage required?
Is it possible to apply modules from VIPA System 200V together with VIPA System 100V?
How the single CPUs in the Simatic manager will be projected?
Which protocols are supported by VIPA in Modbus and on which CPU?
How to set up S7 connection in TIA portal?
What can I do if I cannot find a specific S5 module in HW catalog?
What causes the entry "EFFF" in PLC's diagnostic buffer?
Do VIPA PLCs support IEC 60870-5-104?
Can a VIPA PLC be updated with a SD card?
Is it possible to use VIPA system 200V I/O modules with VIPA system 100V PLCs?
Do VIPA products meet the safety category according to EN954-1 category 2 or EN ISO13849-1 level C?
Do VIPA CPUs support Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP?
General
Is it possible to update with SD card a VIPA CPU?
No, the SD card does not work with VIPA PLCs. Only MMC and MMC Plus with a capacity of 1GB could be applied.
Does VIPA CPUs support PCS7?
Yes, partly possible. The alarm processing is supported. All further functions are not tested.
Is a password for downloading on the VIPA homepage required?
No, you do not need any password for downloading on the download area on the VIPA homepage. Only if you want to download STP-files you will have to register a user login.
Is it possible to apply modules from VIPA System 200V together with VIPA System 100V?
Yes, the modules from 200V and 100V could be operated together. Here for the GSD data file from System 100V have to be used.
How the single CPUs in the Simatic manager will be projected?
The following table displays the projected PLCs.
| VIPA CPU | Projected CPU in the Somatic Manager |
|---|---|
| 100V | 6ES7 315-2AF03 V1.2 |
| 200V | 6ES7 315-2AF03 V1.2 |
| 300V | 6ES7 315-2AF03 V1.2 |
| 300S | 6ES7 318-2AJ00 V3.0 |
Further details could be found in the CPU manual of the single Systems chapter 4.
Which protocols are supported by VIPA in Modbus and on which CPU?
S100V: Modbus RTU/master_slave
Modbus ASCII/master_slave
S200V: Modbus RTU/master_slave
Modbus ASCII/master_slave
S300V: Modbus RTU/master
Modbus ASCII/master
How to set up S7 connection in TIA portal?
In the device and network overview you are able to setup network connection between the devices in your project. After choosing a connection type you can set all needed parameters in the properties area.
Choose the device and network overview to show all configured devices of your project.
Actions:
- Press connections
- Choose S7 connection
Specified connection: Choose an interface of your device and drag and drop the connection line to the interface of the 2nd device.
Unspecified connection: Pull away the connection line from your device by holding the left button of your mouse and drop them back into the same interface.
∫ = Symbol must appear
Double click the left button of your mouse, inside of the Ethernet interface that the S7 connection will be generated.
Mark the S7 connection
What can I do if I cannot find a specific S5 module in HW catalog?
Modules not existing in HW catalogue may be accessed by using XBYTE DI / DO / DIO.
ATTENTION: Never use "universal module" for this application! It will cause an error on IM306!
What causes the entry "EFFF" in PLC's diagnostic buffer?
This entry results of an error the plc causes while accessing its analog-IOs. The function did request data too fast. This issue can be fixed by upgrading PLC firmware to version >= V3.55
IM306: How to implement IM306 in HW-Config and how to use GSD-files "Zeige 115U Steckplaetze" and "Zeige 135U Prozessabbild"?
Following steps are necessary to configure IM306 in a S7 project:
- Choose slave from GSD files, enter PB address and connect it with the PB master.
- The existing modules in the S5 rack have to be chosen from GSD files. Add them to the slave configuration OR use function "ShowRackProcessimage"/"Show135UProcessimage"/"Show115USlotaddresses" without any other GSD files in the rack to display the plugged modules in a "VAT"
- Example: "VAT" monitoring the modules' addresses 135U
- Example: "VAT" monitoring the modules' addresses 115U above HW1, FW1.09
- Addressing S5 modules in HW-Config
Do VIPA PLCs support IEC 60870-5-104?
This standard is not currently supported.
Can a VIPA PLC be updated with a SD card?
Only SLIO PLCs support SD cards, all other PLCs require an MMC or MMC Plus card or at most 1GB. All SD or MMC cards must be formatted as FAT16.
Is it possible to use VIPA system 200V I/O modules with VIPA system 100V PLCs?
Yes, the modules from 200V and 100V could be used together. The VIPA System 100V GSD files must be used to configure the 200V modules.
Do VIPA products meet the safety category according to EN954-1 category 2 or EN ISO13849-1 level C?
All of our latest products like CPUs and I/O modules do not have any certification and therefore neither fulfill the category according to EN954-1 nor any performance level (PL) according to EN ISO13849.
Do VIPA CPUs support Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP?
Select PLC models support Modbus RTU/ASCII and/or Modbus TCP. See the specific PLC datasheets for details or email info@vipausa.com.
Returns and RMAs
To request a return, please email support@vipausa.com or call +1-678-880-6910. Please have the following information available, if possible:
- Product SKU ex. 315-4PN12
- Serial Number ex. 0001234
- Approximate date of purchase
- Detailed description of fault
Getting Started with VIPA
Picking a Controller
VIPA offers a wide range of controllers, ranging from a simple 8KB PLC up to the powerful 8MB Speed7 CPUs. Several PLCs offer multiple communication options such as Profibus, Profinet or EtherCAT.
Coming from Siemens
Former Siemens users will feel right at home using VIPA products. Every current VIPA CPU can be programmed using Step 7 V5.5, with select models even supporting TIA Portal. VIPA CPUs can even reuse your existing programs, sometimes with no changes required.
For those used the the S7-300 platform, VIPAs 300S series is perfect. It offers I/O modules that can directly replace existing S7-300 modules and CPUs with up to twice the memory as a comparable S7-300 CPU.
Coming from Allen-BradleyMany Allen-Bradley users are scrambling to find a replacement for the aging MicroLogix platform. VIPAs SLIO CPU is a great replacement. It offers superior performance, expandability and connectivity at a price point that will satisfy any OEMs budget.
Need to replace a CompactLogix CPU? SLIO can even replace some existing applications, and when it can't, the 300S CPU is there to take on any existing challenges.
The Right SoftwareVIPA CPUs support several programming packages. Unlike other PLC plat forms who want to lock users in to one pieces of software with a yearly fee, VIPA offers choice.
VIPAs current programming package is Speed7Studio. It can be used to program all VIPA CPUs (with the exception of 100V), VIPA HMIs and select Siemens S7-300 CPUs.
WinPLC7 is also available from VIPA, and a Lite version is included for free with every 100V CPU. It can be used to program all VIPA CPUs, and select Siemens S7-300 CPUs. It does not support creating Profinet connections, but does support Profibus-DP.
All VIPA CPUs can be programming using Step 7 V5.5, and select 200V, 300S and SLIO CPUs can be programming using TIA Portal V11-13.
Programming Cables
All VIPA CPUs feature a MPI port for programming, and can be programmed using our 950-0KB31 cable.
300S, SLIO and select 200V CPUs have a built in PG/OP ethernet port and can be programmed with a standard ethernet cable.
Need help with something else? Submit a ticket and our support team will be happy to assist you.