After 15 years in production, component availability is forcing the early retirement of A.Eberle’s REG-PED SCADA cards that are used in REG-D, REG-DA voltage regulators and similar products.

NOTE: There are no changes in supply of REG-D and REG-DA themselves.

A new series of cards providing enhanced cyber-security, which have been in development, are now being released to take over from the REG-PED.

For REG-D
The new REG-PED^SV (SV = Sampled Values) is a pin-compatible replacement to the REG-PED. As standard, the REG-PED^SV offers two Ethernet ports, but can be optionally fitted with an additional retrofitable module providing a further two Ethernet ports – for gathering sampled measured values from IEC 61850-9-2 process bus environments. The REG-PED^SV features an on-board pluggable micro-SD-card, which can be loaded with new firmware and the card jumpered to firmware update on reboot. The micro-SD-card can also be used for storing of logging data (or even manuals), with its contents accessible via the new front-panel USB interface (micro B type).

The RJ45 copper Ethernet interfaces are 10/100/1000 Mbit rated. Where equipped with fibre optic interfaces for Ethernet Ports 1 & 2, these are 100/1000 Mbit software selectable, allowing use on gigabit systems. Fibre optic ports 3 & 4 need to be specified at order as either 100 or 1000 Mbits.

The new REG-PED^SV card will:

• Require WinConfig version 13.1 (or later) to be used to load SCADA settings
• Offer LC connectors only where fibre is specified. Optional 1m LC-to-ST fibre adaptor cable can be made available if required
• Need a new rear cut-out if a REG-PED^SV as the cut-out provided at the back of a new relay with a REG-PED^SV is a slightly different shape

For REG-DA
A version of the REG-PED^SV is available for the REG-DA which offers the same features as that described for the REG-D. However, this requires one more expansion slot than the existing REG-PED. Therefore, it does not allow, for example, 2 x PT100 inputs to be fitted.

Where customers want to retain access to the two 'spare' slots in the REG-DA, a new REG-PE card is available. The new REG-PE features two Ethernet interfaces, so from our point of view, it’s the logical alternative for the existing REG-DA ‘PED’.

The new REG-PE (with two Ethernet ports) will:

• Only require two slots, leaving two free (like the old REG-PED SCADA card did)
• Have two Ethernet ports with choice of 2 x Cu, 1 x CU + 1 x FO or 2 x FO interfaces. The FO interfaces can be ST or LC type
• Require WinConfig version 13.1 (or later) to be used to load SCADA settings

Old PED cards are no longer available, so supply of REG-PED^SV and new REG-PE cards are being expedited. We will contact customers shortly where this needs to occur for an existing order. We’re expecting there might be a few technical questions, so remind you the quickest route to support is to contact our Service Support team on 0800 HV CALL.

You do not need to update the REG-D/DA firmware to use the new SCADA protocol cards, but must use new SCADA protocol software WinConfig 13.1 or later.

Example of REG-PED^SV SCADA card for REG-D.

A new firmware version is available for REG-D/DA Voltage Regulators. (Version 2.27 is for the standard S1 processor equipped voltage regulators and Version 3.27 is for the more powerful ‘ColdFire’ S2 processor hardware.)

Key features (compared to 2.23/3.23):

• Enhanced detail in the log book – now the trigger source of the event is included in the logbook. For example, now rather than just reporting the relay changed to manual (hand) mode, the cause is included, such as this was due to E-LAN, SCADA command, binary input, H-Code command etc
• Logbook can now record setting changes (selected by pre-defined group, not individual settings)
• Support for up to 15 parallel transformers (yes there is an application using this – it is a site with paralleled generator transformers)
• More UDM (user-defined menus), including the ability to select a UDM for start-up screen
• Additional REG-L commands for high speed switching 'limit bases'
• Additional alarm limit for oil temperature trip
• Additional limit, delay and hysteresis for oil temperature trip
• New intelligent Master-Follower parallel program when starting with different tap positions

Intelligent Master Follower parallel program:
If a tap difference between master and slave is detected when the parallel program is started, a new synchronisation procedure is started that tries to achieve the same tap position of master and slave taking in consideration the voltage – but set point influence will also be taken into account. The method is derived from the method 'Delta I * sin (phi)' where instead of the circulating reactive current, the tap position difference is evaluated.

Webpage for firmware download and release notes.

This is new and revolutionary. After more than five years of development and research, A Eberle release the TrafoStick. Using ultrasound spectroscopy this innovative device provides real-time reporting of transformer oil dielectric strength. Reporting oil BDV at current operating temperature and normalised to 20 deg C, the TrafoStick also reports ‘oil humidity’ (in ppm).

TrafoStick allows operators to have a reliable prediction of transformers' remaining service life. It eliminates the need for periodic manual sampling and testing of breakdown voltage – making that information available online and in real time.

TrafoStick outputs information via MODBUS protocol, but of course your REG-D/DA can be used to convert and report to SCADA in DNP protocol. TrafoStick can be installed in the drain valve, oil pipe work, or optional hardware is available with pump to circulate oil to a TrafoStick mounted externally.

Download the TrafoStick brochure.
Download the TrafoStick white paper.

TrafoStick for online voltage breakdown measurement.

‘WinPQ smart’ setup and analysis software version 4.4.2 for the ‘PQI-DA smart’ has now been released. A free update is available online. This new software borrows layouts from the ‘WinPQ mobil’ software, providing a graphical layout for basic device setup. Online data views have also been improved, together with various fixes. Download from here.

Note ‘PQI-DA smart’ firmware remains at V1.8.6. Please upgrade promptly to V1.8.6 if you have not already done so.

DIGSI 5 (v7.8) is the first version of DIGSI 5 that supports the Automation Licence Managers (ALM) floating licence capability. Rather than having DIGSI 5 licences installed on individual machines, this allows a copy of the ALM to be installed on a network server, with the licences installed there. Individual users still have DIGSI 5 installed on their machine, but if a local licence is not found, the software will look to see if there is a network ALM server, and if an unused licence is available there. The server ALM will allow the same number of simultaneous copies of DIGSI 5 to be operated as the number of licences on the server. As one user shuts down DIGSI 5, the licence becomes available to another.

Installing the licences on a network server is a great solution for engineering organisations who need to share licences between multiple office bound (network) users.