DNP Configuration Guide using AFSuite

AFSuite provides a tool to configure the PCD’s DNP parameters and points. This step-by-step
guide will assist you in programming this DNP configuration, and provide useful tips along the
way.

Step 1. The following must be set from PCD’s front panel Communication Setting menu:
Unit Address: This setting is entered in HEX for firmware. v2.6 and under,
decimal for fw. v2.7 and later.
RP Baud Rate: Rear Port Buad Rate. All devices must be set the same. The
higher the baud rate, the better.
RP Frame: Rear Port Buad Rate. All devices must be set the same.
RP Protocol: Rear Port Protocol. All devices must be set to DNP3.0.
Save your changes when finished.

Step 2. Connect to the PCD with AFSuite. If your unit has a front RS-232 port, connect to that
port with a null-modem cable. This allows simultaneous connection to the back port with your RTU or
SCADA system.

Step 3. Set the communication parameters located under the Comm. Parameters tab in AFSuite.
Refer to the ABB “DNP Implementation for the PCD/SCD” manual for a complete description of
parameters. This list ONLY includes the “most commonly” modified settings. For the remainder of
the settings, the default settings have been shown to work in most cases, though not always.

Step 4.
Description Comment Default
Parameter Value
4 Transmission Sets the amount of time the PCD will wait after a request 500 ms
Delay is received before the it will transmit a response. This
can be a useful setting for radio applications.
5, 6, 7, 8 Scan Groups Enables groups of points reported to the master. With 255,255,
AFSuite, these settings are no longer necessary to set, as 255,7
they will automatically be determined and set when you
specify points using the Binary/Analog Input screens.
16 Write Time Specifies how often the PCD will synchronize its time 30 minutes
Interval with the master. The PCD will also automatically
synchronize time as part of its start-up process.

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24 Protocol This feature allows the user to communicate with the PCD with Disabled
Autodetect AFSuite or another Modbus ASCII master even though the unit is
in DNP mode. In order to do this while the unit is in service, it is
necessary to halt DNP communications temporarily. After each
Modbus response, the unit will automatically switch back to DNP.
If you do not plan to use the port for this purpose and you intend
to program and download information from the unit using the
front port only, it is recommended to leave this setting disabled.

Step 5. If you are using Unsolicited Responses, the following parameters need to be set, else, you can skip
to the next Step.
Parameter Description Comment Default
Value
11 Unsolicited Specifies the delay before the PCD issues its 15 seconds
Response unsolicited response. This time will typically be less
Notification than the Class 1, 2 or 3 polling intervals set up in your
Delay SCADA system.
12 Destination This setting is necessary for unsolicited responses. 003
Address This tells the PCD where to send the unsolicited
(master response. Be careful to select the actual device that the
address) PCD is being polled by. If that device is an RTU in the
substation, use that RTU’s address. This number is set
in decimal.
13,14,15 Min. Number Specifies how many events in each class are required to 10,25,50
of Class x generate an unsolicited response. For testing, it is
events for helpful to set this number to a low number such as “1”
unsolicited so that you can capture button pushes.
responses
18 Unsolicited Sets the amount of time the PCD will be “quiet” if the 15 minutes
Offline master not respond to the unsolicited response retries
Interval (set by parameter 25). If the master does not respond
to the first set of repeated responses, after the offline
interval time the PCD will then retry the specified
number of times.
25 Unsolicited Sets the number of retries that the PCD will issue an 3
Max. Retries unsolicited response.
Mode Unsolicited Turns the Unsolicited feature ON or OFF. In order for Disabled
Paremeter Mode your SCADA system to work with unsolicited, it must
5 perform an Unsolicited Enable command to the PCD
after you enable Mode Parameter 5

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If it is desirable to reduce or reassign the DNP binary points, analog points, or report by exception (RBE)
classes, the next few steps provide instructions and tips for working with point assignment. If point
reassignment is not desired, you are complete with your setup.

Note that ABB has example AFSuite files generated that have a pre-programmed reduced DNP points list. This
includes a descriptive paper, plus an exported file programming the preferred points. This can be obtained from
the website or by contacting ABB Technical Support.

Step 6. DNP Binary Input point reassignment

• All PCD’s are shipped with the defaults identified in the implementation manual. If you
reassign points and you want to go back to defaults, you will need to reset factory defaults in
the unit, or copy the DNP settings from the AFSuite example over and into the PCD.
• The (index x) number next to the description of each point identifies the original default point
and always stays with that description for reference back to the manual
• Reassign points by double clicking on the Assigned Index field in the order you want them
arranged.
• It is best to reassign all points in one sequence, as after each point that is picked it disappears
from the pick list, helping to keep track of where you are in the list.
• Points 176, 177, 178 are point indexes that belong to this SCAN Group. These points will show
up on SCADA when this SCAN group is enabled.
• As you move a point up in the sequence all the ones below that point are shifted down one spot.

DNP Binary Input Assignment Menu.

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Step 7. SCAN group Selection
• Once you have your points reordered, you can reduce the amounts of data being sent to the
master by turning off groups of points by setting that Scan Group to “Disable”. Note that once
you do this you cannot access the points within that group. If you need to reassign a particular
point in that group for reporting to SCADA, you will need to set the Scan Group to “Enable” in
order to access the point for reassignment.
• Set the Scan Group to “Disabled” for all the unwanted groups. This will automatically update
the Scan Group values in the Comm. Parameters.

Step 8. Set the Assigned Class value by double clicking on each point. There are four choices for each
point, “Class 1”, Class 2, Class 3, and No Class. By default, all the binary input points belong to Class 1,
Analog to Class 2, and counters to Class 3. These can be changed on a point-by-point basis. If it is desirable to
report certain points when SCADA does an integrity poll, but not when it does the more frequent event polling
the user can set that particular point to “No Class”. Setting the point to No Class will also prevent unsolicited
reporting on that point.

Step 9. DNP Analog Inputs

The ABB analog input point setup is arranged in the same manner as the binary inputs. Follow the same
procedure outlined in Steps 5, 6 & 7. Once this is complete, you are finished!

DNP Analog Input Point Assignment Menu

Call 1-800-929-7947 or +1-407-732-2000 for any other questions you may have.

ABB Inc. has made every reasonable attempt to guarantee the accuracy of this document, however, the information
contained herein is subject to change at any time without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of ABB
Inc. Should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently, please contact ABB Inc. – Body text 1

ABB Inc.
655 Century Point Telephone Fax www.abb.com/mediumvoltage FAQs
1-800-929-7947
Lake Mary, FL 32746 +1-407-732-2000 407-732-2161 Doc # Rev. letter
Date