Troubleshooting AutoEXEC and AutoPILOT PRO Systems

P/N 1-0443-072, Rev. B

Revision History
Rev.

Date

Description

10-09

Initial release (per ERO 7101).

06-10

Revised per ECO 7324.

1410 Gillingham Lane

Sugar Land, TX 77478

Ph: 713-272-0404

Fax: 713-272-2272

1.

Purpose
This document provides troubleshooting for common issues that may be encountered with AutoEXEC
and AutoPILOT PRO systems. Unless otherwise specified, the troubleshooting applies to AutoEXEC
and AutoPILOT PRO.
Note: It is assumed that the RTU and AutoCONFIG software have been installed properly.

2.

References
You should have access to and be familiar with the following:

3.

Latest version of AutoEXEC user guide (P/N 1-0443-048) or AutoPILOT PRO user guide
(P/N 1-0500-005), as applicable

AutoCONFIG configuration software

AutoCONFIG help, accessible through AutoCONFIG by going to Help > Knowledge Base

Troubleshooting
The problems addressed in this document are grouped as follows:

3.1.

Communications issues

Flow rate issues

Memory issues

Power issues

I/O board issues

Communication Issues

1. I am having difficulty accessing the Ethernet port with AutoCONFIG.

a. In AutoCONFIG, go to System > Connection. Check the Communication Parameters screen.
Do the AutoEXEC/PILOT PRO address, port number, and IP address parameters match the
Table #96 Ethernet port setup? See Figure 1.
b. Is the calculation enabled? See Figure 1.
c. Is Slave selected as the mode? See Figure 1.
d. Are the Ethernet IP Address/Gateway/Netmask, Modbus Port Number, and Modbus IP Port
Number set up correctly? See Figure 1.
e. Is the Ethernet cable connected directly from your PC to the AutoEXEC/PILOT PRO? If so,
you need a crossover cable (RX>TX, TX>RX). You do not need a crossover cable if you go
through router.
g. If you have gone through these steps and still have the problem, go to Tools > Warm Restart
and try again.
Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems

Figure 1. Communication Parameters and Table #96 Ethernet Port configuration screens

Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems

2. I am receiving COMM errors in AutoCONFIG / AutoCONFIG is running slowly.

The PC may not be set up to use a greater share of the processor time to run background services.
Check this setting as follows:
a. Go to Start > Control Panel > System or right-click on the My Computer icon on the PC
desktop. This will open the System Properties screen.
b. Click the Advanced tab, and under Performance, click Settings. Click the Advanced tab on the
Performance Options screen. Check what is selected under Processor scheduling. Select
Background services if not already selected. Click Apply.

Figure 2. Accessing processor scheduling setting

c. Click OK to return to the desktop.

d. Run AutoCONFIG to determine if changing this setting has resolved the communication
problem.
3. For AutoEXEC: The host port or communication expansion port is not working.
a. What kind of cable are you using? It should be a crossover cable.
b. The host/communication expansion port must be enabled (Table #96 in AutoCONFIG), and all
the parameters must match the host software.
c. Do you see a solid green LED on the communication expansion board? If not, the board may
not be seated properly or it may be bad.

Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems

4. For AutoEXEC: The system is working but one or more channels are noisy.
a. For differential signals like RS485 and isolated signals like the digital input board and DE
communication, it is best to use twisted pair cabling.
b. If noise is still present, use a shielded twisted pair cable and ground the shield on one end.
Experiment to determine which end works the best, but do not ground both ends. The ground
should be an earth ground like a metal water pipe or ground rod.
c. If steel conduit is available, routing the signals through it may help, but do not route the signal
cables close to any power cables. Grounded conduit is also good for reducing the effects that
electrical storms may have on a units operation.
3.2.

Flow Rate Issues

1. The Table #38 DP flow calculation net flow rate is higher/lower than expected.
a. Check the Fpv factor. Are you using the correct Fpv calculation method? Options are:
NX-19: Gas calculation, 1985
NX-19 Analysis: Gas calculation with full gas components, 1985
AGA 8 Short: Gas calculation (no longer used)
AGA 8 Gross: Gas calculation, 1992
AGA 8 Detail: Gas calculation with full gas components, 1992
GERG91 Mod: A supercompressibility calculation (Fpv) method used in the calculation of
the gas flow equation. This option should only be selected for the GOST gas flow
calculation.
Constant 1.0: Assumes Fpv value as 1
NX19 mod
b. Is the Static Pressure parameter set for gauge or absolute?
c. By default, the following calculation factors are disabled. Should they be enabled?
Fpwl Correction (Location Factor tab): The gravitational correction factor for a dead-weight
calibrator.
Well Stream: The factor used for the assigned stream.
Fwv: The water vapor factor.
d. Verify engineering units are set properly.
e. Calibrate the differential pressure, static pressure, and temperature (go to Tools > Calibrate).
f. Is the correct GQ data definition block selected?

Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems

2. The Table #39 AGA 7 flow calculation corrected flow rate is higher/lower than expected.
a. Check the Fpv factor. Are you using correct Fpv calculation method? Options are:
NX-19: Gas calculation, 1985
NX-19 Analysis: Gas calculation with full gas components, 1985
AGA 8 Short: Gas calculation (no longer used)
AGA 8 Gross: Gas calculation, 1992
AGA 8 Detail: Gas calculation with full gas components, 1992
GERG91 Mod: A supercompressibility calculation (Fpv) method used in the calculation of
the gas flow equation. This option should only be selected for the GOST gas flow
calculation.
Constant 1.0: Assumes Fpv value as 1, default
b. Check the K-Factor. Theses values are usually obtained from the meter manufacturer.
c. Are you getting the right frequency? Are you feeding in a sine wave, square wave, or close contact
to the RTU?
d. Is the Static Pressure parameter set for gauge or absolute?
e. By default, the following calculation factors are disabled. Should they be enabled?
Fpwl Correction (Location Factor tab): The gravitational correction factor for a dead-weight
calibrator.
Well Stream: The factor used for the assigned stream.
Fwv: The water vapor factor.
f. Verify engineering units are set properly.
g. Calibrate static pressure and temperature (go to Tools > Calibrate).
h. Is the correct GQ data definition block selected?
3.3.

Memory Issues

1. For AutoEXEC: The time and date are set in AutoCONFIG but when the power is removed and
reapplied, the time and date display incorrectly.
a. The memory backup battery may be depleted. Remove power, and remove the CPU. Slide the
battery out of its holder and replace it with a new one. If the chassis is plugged in, the battery
should last virtually forever. Without power applied to the CPU, the battery should be good for
more than 5 years.

Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems

3.4.

Power Issues

1. For AutoEXEC: Power is connected but the LCD is not on and board LEDs are not lit.
a. The green LED on the power supply indicates whether the power supply is generating 12 Vdc
output. If it is not on and the power supply has a fuse, check it.
b. Measure the incoming voltage at the screws of the terminal blocks on the power supply faceplate.
3.5.

I/O Board Issues

1. For AutoEXEC: The LCD is displaying valid information, but the status LED on one or more I/O
boards is not flashing slowly (once per second).
a. This may indicate a communication problem on the RS485 backplane. Ensure the load resistor
on the expansion chassis farthest away from the CPU is properly installed.
b. If there is only one expansion chassis, remove the I/O card farthest to the right and look down
into the chassis at the backplane. Verify that both switches on the backplane are set to CLOSED.
If several chassis are daisy-chained, the switches on the middle racks should be OPEN and the
switches on the end chassis should be CLOSED.
c. Check the I/O board addresses. Each I/O board on a backplane or series of backplanes must
have a unique address.
2. For AutoEXEC: The system is set up but either the digital input board or the DE communication
board is not operating properly.
a. The digital input and DE communication boards need to have a transducer that is isolated from
ground. To determine if this is the problem, bring a transducer in from the field (or use a
backup transducer of the same type) and connect it close to the I/O board with the transducer
lying on some insulating material (like newspaper).

4.

Contact Information
If you require additional assistance, please contact Thermo Fisher Scientific.
1410 Gillingham Lane
Sugar Land, TX 77478
USA
Phone: +1 713-272-0404
Fax: +1 713-272-2272

14 Gormley Industrial Avenue

Gormley, Ontario
L0H 1G0
CANADA
Phone: +1 905-888-8808
Fax: +1 905-888-8828

Ion Path, Road Three

Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 3GA
UNITED KINGDOM
Phone: +44 (0) 1606 548700
Fax: +44 (0) 1606 548711

On the Web
www.thermo.com

Troubleshooting AutoEXEC & AutoPILOT PRO Systems