Basic System Configuration

Initial Configuration

This covers the first configuration of a new ECS control system, from first power up to a system ready for functional testing. Work through it in order. Several steps depend on the ones before, and the timebase in particular is difficult to correct retrospectively.

First connection

1. Energise the control supply only, leaving power circuits isolated.
2. Connect a laptop to the engineering port and confirm you can reach the controller.
3. Change the default credentials before anything else, and record them in the project handover pack.

System settings

1. Set date, time and time zone, and synchronise to an NTP source where one exists. Every event log and trend afterwards depends on this being right.
2. Enter the site and panel identification exactly as it appears on the drawings, so alarms are traceable to a physical unit.
3. Configure the network address per the project addressing scheme, not the factory default.

Process configuration

1. Map I/O addresses against the field wiring schedule, and verify each one by forcing the point and confirming the field device responds.
2. Enter site specific parameters: voltage levels, current ratings, set points and alarm limits.
3. Configure protection settings from the issued study. Never leave relay defaults in service.
4. Set up operator access levels so that routine users cannot alter protection or calibration.

Save and verify

1. Save the configuration to the device and export a backup copy to the project folder.
2. Print or export the parameter list and have it checked against the design by someone other than whoever entered it.
3. Only then proceed to functional testing.

The exported configuration is the only thing that makes a controller replaceable in an hour rather than a day. Take the backup before it is needed.