Source Time Stamping

Source time stamping is supported by version .2 (and higher) of the BME NUA 0100 module (BME NUA 0100.2).

To use source time stamping in an application, you need to enable then activate it.

Enabling Source Time Stamping

Source time stamping is enabled in the Project Settings window. Navigate to General > Time > Time Stamping Mode then select System.

NOTE: The default Time Stamping Modesetting is Applicative. If you do not change the default setting to System, the detected error is displayed when the application is built.

Activating Source Time Stamping

Use the IPConfig tab of the BME NUA 0100 configuration dialog to activate and configure time stamping.

In the Source Timestamping section, configure the following settings:

Setting

Description

Activated

Activates source time stamping for the application.

Polling of buffer (ms)

The polling rate for event read requests handled by the BME NUA 0100.

Valid settings range from:

  • 250 ms minimum, to

  • 5000 ms maximum

in increments of 250 ms.
NOTE: The maximum number of source time stamped variables in Control Expert is 5000.
NOTE: If the M580 local rack includes two BME NUA 0100 modules, source time stamping can be activated by only one module.

Monitoring Times Stamped Alias Variables

The BME NUA 0100 recognizes time stamped BOOL or EBOOL Alias variables created in Control Expert, but will not similarly recognize any corresponding "Alias of" variables. An example of Alias and “Alias of” variables is shown below:

To be recognized by the BME NUA 0100, the Alias variables need to be embedded in the data dictionary.

BOOL or EBOOL Alias variables and their corresponding "Alias of" variables share both the same logical address inside M580 memory and the same EventID in the M580 time stamping buffer. Source time stamping is managed only on the Alias and not on "Alias of" variable. In other words, you need to subscribe the Alias variable (OPC UA node) in the OPC UA client to be able to receive the source time stamping from the device instead of from the BME NUA 0100 module.

Because neither the BOOL or EBOOL "Alias of" variable is seen as being at source time stamped by the BME NUA 0100 firmware, the Alias must be embedded in data dictionary. In that case, you need to add the Alias variable as a monitored item in an OPC UA subscription, in order to achieve source time stamping set by the device.