C More HMI Panel Unboxing (Automation Direct)

In this video I unbox my new C MORE HMI (Human machine interface) panel that I purchased from Automation Direct. Throughout this project I have been using automation direct more and more because they have a great product at a very competitive price, as well as the availability on the products is excellent. When I first built the control panel, I used cheap parts from various sites like Ebay and Amazon, however after working with ADC, they have proven to shine in the world of automation.

The reason for installing this panel is for the simple fact that I came to a point with my system where I was getting ready to install new batteries, LiFePO4 Prismatic lithium iron cells, and there was a need for more control to properly manage those batteries (They do not like overcharging or undercharging). This left me with a choice to make - Either add more buttons and lights to the existing control panel (And keep in mind the existing control panel was already consuming over 30 terminals of IO for 8 buttons and a handfull of indicator lights. Space within the control panel was starting to get limited. With the use of the HMI panel, I eliminated all of those front panel communications and am left with boatloads of space within my control panel enclosure.

In order to handle all of the holes in the panel that remain from the old controls, I will most likely be making a 20ga 304 series s/s, #4 finish, skin, that will not only cover the holes but give a far more professional look to the whole panel (This is a brushed metal finish). For those of you that do not know, I work in the foodservice stainless steel industry and at work have access to a 4000 watt laser that can cut things no problem. I would take advantage of that in order to make this panel...It would be as simple as drawing it on AutoCad, dropping in my cutout for the HMI, then sending it to get cut and tossing a few bends on. The hardest part with this whole thing is getting it from Idaho where I work to California where this off grid setup is located.

One of the things that I will be detailing better next week is the new control panel I added on the other side of the room. This was installed with the intention of housing the battery monitoring equipment. Things like the battery balancer boards will be located in here, as well as the voltage transducer that you saw in the video, and possibly a few shunts. I learned yesterday that I can tie in a shunt with the PLC by using a thermocouple input module. I was struggling to figure out yesterday how I could get a 50mv signal into my PLC and then was told that thermocouple modules are in the millivolt range. Did some reading and WOW! Moral of the story is there is a good chance that I will be installing a dedicated PLC in the small enclosure to handle the analog IO capability.

Anyway, Thank you all for watching, and don't forget to join the discord!

[GammaZed.]

You should leave your emergency stop button. In case of an HMI failure you'll be able to have a reliable emergency stop. Besides that cannot wait to see the finished product.

[RoboSkyrat]

"This was made possible by viewers like you"
I didn't know I was watching PBS

[skoto.power.systems]

wooo pretty good I can't wait to see it working with the new batteries. Good job, keep the good work going.

[glennedgar]

Good video. I use Automation Direct Click PLC's to control my irrigation system. My plc units are hundred of yards away.
Modbus communication whether serial or eithernet is transparent to plc or cmore programming. You can use the three wire rs485 cable to communicate with your remote units like your well.
I run my modbus interface at 38k.
Also the serial connector has a 5v power supply so you can power rs232 to rs485 dongles.

[kevinderheimer]

Thanks for the videos! I would love to see the PLC and HMI programming.

[SparkyLife]

Looks great 👍🏻, always read the manual after you have problems 🥴😀

[infl]

never clicked so fast!! i think i’m obsessed with that room 😂

[jordygommersjg]

a good tip for screen protectors. before you take off the sticky part stick a tape to the top of the protector then tape the other half to the display so you can make a hinge then you can line up everything and when its good (open Up) the screen protector and peel off the protective backing then let it drop on the screen you will have the best result (hope u understand)

[crisislord]

You can unscrew the colour caps of the lamp indicator print what ever label you want stick it inside the lamp and screw the cap back on.

[tfinnm]

You should also leave the timers and buttons for quick actions that you do often.

[zapityzapzap]

Next time you look at LAN switches, check out the Netonix WISP switches (offered with DIN rail mounts).


I'm very curious to know if something like a Raspberry Pi running Windows 10 IoT is capable of running AdvancedHMI applications.

[MrGTAfan]

GoPro is in some troubble... DJI gonna kick them it in the ass with their new fancy action cam.

[sparkyprojects]

With everything you said you woukld be removing, i would have thought a smaller panel would be better, and they make stainless steel cabinets ;)

[MarkFunderburk]

There was no uncertainty about what was in the box, you only mentioned it in like 5 videos :p

[climatechangepreppersfaceb]

Takes off protective plastic for no reason. Immediately lays screen face down on very rough floor. OMG

[Whigu]

Here in Finland I watch Formula 1 from cmore :-)

[thedoorknobman]

There's a bobcat in the box #xkcd

[nap]

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