McQuay

Description
This document describes the FieldServer driver used to transfer data between a FieldServer and MicroTech® controllers. Such
transfers are done using the controller's Data Terminal Communications Protocol. In this document the protocol is referred to as
the McQuay Micro Tech Open Protocol. The McQuay MicroTech® Open Protocol driver allows the FieldServer to transfer data to
and from devices over either RS-232 or RS-485 using McQuay MicroTech® Open Protocol. The FieldServer can emulate either a
Server or Client.

In emulating a client, the driver allows the FieldServer to request ‘Everything’ from the McQuay device as well as a number of
advanced options which allow specific fields to be read or written and device scaling to be applied.

In emulating a server, the driver provides basic functionality only, by providing an emulation of the byte memory of a device and
responding to read and write requests.

Connection Facts
FieldServer Mode Nodes Comments
Only one OPM can be connected per port. If an OPM is present, up to 255 MicroTech 1 controllers can
Client 1 (255) be on the field side of the OPM. If no OPM is present up to 32 MicroTech 1 controllers can be connected
to a FieldServer via the first MicroTech panel.
Server N/A

Formal Driver Type

Serial, Client or Server

Compatibility
FieldServer Model Compatible FieldServer Model Compatible
ProtoCessor Yes QuickServer FS-QS-10xx No
ProtoCarrier Yes QuickServer FS-QS-12xx Yes
ProtoNode Yes QuickServer FS-QS-20xx Yes
ProtoAir Yes QuickServer FS-QS-22xx Yes
QuickServer FS-QS-3x10-F Yes

Connection Information
Connection Type: RJ45 Pigtail for RS-232/RS-485
Baud Rates: 9600 (Vendor Limitation)
Data Bits: 7 (Vendor Limitation)
Stop Bits: 1 (Vendor Limitation)
Parity: Even
Multidrop Capability: Yes

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and other Countries. For all other trademarks visit
Revision: 7.B
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Protocol Number: FS-8700-80
Protocol Driver Sheet – McQuay

Devices Tested
Device Tested (Factory, Site)
200CFC 200 Series Centrifugal Chiller Site
RPS105CLA Site
SCU 5060002J Site
RMC-E01 Site
PEH-063-DCBC Site
PFH087-BCCB Site
PEH126-BCBB Site
CSG3S04G Site
CSG3S04J Site
Vintage Flooded Screw Chiller Site
Self-Contained Air Conditioning Controller Site
OPM Site

Communication Functions
Functions
Function Description
Read Reads a single data field.
Writes a single data field to the McQuay device. Only some
Write
data fields in the McQuay device may be written to.

Data Types Supported

FieldServer Data Type Description (or Device Data Type)
200CFC - 200 Series Centrifugal Chiller
100CFC - 100 Series Centrifugal Chiller
001ASC - Air Screw Chiller Data fields of interest may be specified using the data field name or by specifying the ‘address/memory location.
000SCU - Self Contained Unit
0050RPC - Reciprocating Chiller
Any other device which supports McQuay’s Open Protocol™ Data Communications Information Packet Version 1.4 April,
1996 can be read or written using this driver. When reading or writing these ‘other’ devices, the data fields of interest are
Other devices
specified using the ‘address/memory location’ specified as a hexadecimal number (obtained for the product specification). If
requested, the driver can be updated to allow the fields to be specified by their field names.

MSA Safety
1000 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 USA
O. +1 408 964-4443 TF. +1 800 727-4377 E. [email protected]
www.MSAsafety.com
Protocol Driver Sheet – McQuay

Unsupported Functions and Data Types

l Arising from a feature of the McQuay MicroTech® Open Protocol is the peculiarity that when a multi-byte value is written
to a McQuay device, the write is done one byte at a time (one byte of data can be transferred per poll/response message
pair) allowing for the possibility that the multi byte value is only partially correct until all the messages have been
completed.
l The vendor equipment is limited to a maximum of 9600 baud. Given that each message packet can only transfer one
byte of data and that some data of interest is multi-byte, users of this protocol should expect low data transfer rates.
l Port expansion is not supported for this driver.
l Each MicroTech® controller is shipped from the factory with a unique job site password. The passwords are provided by
the McQuay International representative at the time of startup. The driver does not validate passwords when configured
as a Server. This means that requests to read or write data will succeed even if the password supplied with the request is
incorrect.

A document identified as Ed15050 MicroTech Network Operations contains important information regarding the connection
requirements of 3rd party equipment such as the FieldServer to a Microtech network. The document also defines a number of
limitations for such connections. The following quotations from this document outline some of this information:
PC Connection: The PC connection to a MicroTech controller is through an available port A that is configured as TTY. It is best
to connect the PC to a level-1 controller because data transmission is the fastest. However, a PC can be connected to any level-2
controller that does not have level-3 controllers connected to it or to any MicroTech level-3 controller. Regardless of where you
connect the PC, you have access to the entire network.
You can connect two or more PCs to the network, but only one PC can be connected to a particular controller. The PC that you
use most often should be connected to the level-1 controller for best performance. For example, you may have one PC that you
use on site and another PC that you use off site. In this situation, you may want to connect the on-site PC to the level-1 controller
and the modem for the off-site PC to a level-2 or level-3 controller.
If a PC is connected to a level-2 controller, a level 1 controller must poll that level-2 controller connected to the PC so that the PC
has access to the entire network. Defining a level-2 controller in the level-1 controller Server list causes the level-1 controller to
poll the level-2 controller.
Port Configuration: The communications port that the PC is connected to must be configured as a TTY port. The default port
configuration for most MicroTech controllers sets port A as TTY. The port configuration is a software setting.
A separate software setting defines the communications rate of each port. In most controllers, the default rate is 9600 bps.
TTY: A TTY port is used to connect a PC for monitoring purposes. It uses the RS-232C interface standard and the Data Terminal
Communications protocol.

The following quote from “MicroTech® Data Terminal Communication Packets, Open Protocol™ Data Communications Inform-
ation Packet” highlights an important limitation of the protocol:
Data terminal communications may be sent via RS 232C or RS-485. Regardless of the electrical standard used for
communications, this protocol is a single ended type (i.e., communications to one MicroTech controller maximum).

McQuay Equipment Types Recognized by the Driver

Code Description
200CFC 200 Series Centrifugal Chiller
100CFC 100 Series Centrifugal Chiller
001ASC Air Screw Chiller
000SCU Self-Contained Unit
0050RPC Reciprocating Chiller

MSA Safety
1000 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 USA
O. +1 408 964-4443 TF. +1 800 727-4377 E. [email protected]
www.MSAsafety.com